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Hi Reader, He found me through ChatGPT. He was brainstorming ideas on how to fill up his winter trips and asked who he could reach out to for marketing support. And there I was, first on the list. SEO alone will not increase your visibility. How AI understands you will. Travelers are no longer typing keywords. They are talking to ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. And those tools read your tone, your clarity, and the consistency of your story across the web. They do not just crawl your website. They read your social profiles, your interviews, your About page, your community pages, even mentions in other people’s content. They connect it all back to your name. This is what’s now called AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): How AI tools decide whose answers to quote when people ask for guidance. So, if someone asks, “Where can I book a trip that supports local guides and keeps money in the community?” or “Which operator protects wildlife and ensures viewing does not disturb natural behavior?” AI is not guessing. It is quoting. It is looking for alignment. Here is how to make sure it quotes you: ↳ 1. Speak in answers, not slogans. Your homepage should sound like you are responding to real traveler questions. Example: “Join community hosts who share their traditions directly and ensure your visit strengthens local livelihoods.” ↳ 2. Add an FAQ section. Use the questions travelers actually ask and answer with specificity and numbers if applicable. “What percentage of my trip fee stays with local communities?” “How do you ensure wildlife viewing is ethical?” Answer in full sentences. AI uses those first. ↳ 3. Keep your story consistent. When your messaging matches across your website, social feeds, and interviews, AI trusts you and repeats your words. ↳ 4. Show your proof and your process. Community benefit percentages, local partnerships, guide training, conservation outcomes, visitor caps, impact updates. These help travelers and AI understand your integrity and your results. ↳ 5. Write like someone is listening. Because they are. Travelers speak their questions into AI tools. If your copy sounds like a natural answer, it becomes the one AI recommends. That client did not find me because I tried to “beat” the algorithm. He found me because I spoke clearly everywhere. So, if someone asked AI today, “Which social enterprise invites travelers to learn directly from local artisans and reinvests in the community?” or “Where can I book wildlife experiences that protect habitats and support field teams year round?” Would your name come up? If you want to fine tune your website and online profiles for AI discovery, just hit reply and we can explore it together. P.P.S. AI is far from perfect, although it can support responsible travel when we guide it with care. These tools learn from the information we share, so the more positive, accurate, and ethical our content is, the more responsibly they respond. That is why clarity matters. ---- |
I work with freelancing eco creatives to develop and master marketing and messaging skills in an ethical way that helps them stand out and attract mission-aligned clients so that together, they create epic award-winning campaigns that inspire entire generations to connect more with nature and shop consciously.
Hi Reader, On Thursday, November 5, at 12pm EST (6pm CET), I’m joining Tourism Cares for “Technology and Sustainability: Advancing Meaningful Travel in the Modern Age.” Destination leaders and technology innovators will look at how destinations use technology to influence traveler behavior and strengthen community connections, and at the tradeoffs of an increasingly digital future. I've been invited to be on the panel with Dan Flores (Satisfi Labs), Alexis Kreluk (ConnectSeven Group) and Xose...
Hi Reader, I’m joining a Tourism Cares panel on November 5 to talk about AI search in travel. So honored to get this invitation. If you work with travel brands, or run your own creative business in the travel industry, this one is especially for you. Travelers now plan trips by having deep conversations with an AI, and they often get a short list of names. A brand that isn’t on that list may not be considered. Your travel clients may soon ask you about it. What I love about this development...
Hi Reader, I keep having some version of this conversation with travel brand founders, so I'm putting it in writing here too. You already know travelers are asking AIs where to go. You may have also read that this kind of search barely sends any traffic to travel sites directly, and quietly moved it down the priority list. The traffic is there. It just doesn't look like it’s coming from ChatGPT, Claude, and co. Most travelers who get your name from an AI answer don't click through right then....