What Interact Marketing Is Launching: The New Optimization Program
- Purpose & Background
- Interact Marketing has launched a specialized AI Mode Marketing Program to help brands maintain visibility as Google’s search experience shifts toward generative AI. (PR Newswire)
- The agency has been investing in this for two years, anticipating Google’s move. (PR Newswire)
- Their program is a response to data showing traditional SEO click-through rates dropping dramatically (e.g., up to a 61% decline) due to the rise of Google AI Overviews. (PR Newswire)
- Core Features of the Program
- Deep Search Optimization: The service is tailored for Google’s “Deep Search” functionality — the kind of in-depth, multi-step query that AI Mode supports. (PR Newswire)
- Citation Management: Ensures that brands are correctly cited in AI-generated responses, which is increasingly important for authority in AI-driven search. (PR Newswire)
- Real-time AI Response Testing: Interact runs tests on how its clients’ content performs within AI Mode / generative search — ensuring it can be surfaced effectively. (PR Newswire)
- Performance Tracking: They provide measurable analytics specifically for AI Mode — not just traditional search metrics. (PR Newswire)
- Integrated Strategy: The program combines traditional SEO, paid media, and analytics to create a holistic approach. (PR Newswire)
- Benefits for Brands
According to Interact, the program delivers:- Improved Rankings in AI-driven search results. (PR Newswire)
- Enhanced Citation Accuracy, so that brands are more likely to be referenced correctly in AI summaries. (PR Newswire)
- Increased Conversions, by optimizing content for AI search intent and user engagement. (PR Newswire)
- Better adaptability as Google continues to evolve its algorithm and AI capabilities. (PR Newswire)
- Why It Matters Right Now
- Google’s AI Overviews and its experimental AI Mode are reshaping how people search and how content is surfaced. (interactmarketing.com)
- According to marketing analysts, this is “the biggest disruption in the history of search” — many brands may be unprepared. (Marketing Week)
- As users rely more on AI-generated summaries, traditional SEO strategies (focused on link building, ranking) may become less effective. (PR Newswire)
- Interact’s early adoption gives its clients a potential first-mover advantage in this new “AI Search” landscape.
Key Challenges & Risks
- Uncertainty & Evolution: Google’s AI Mode is still relatively new and experimental, so best practices may shift quickly.
- Measurement Complexity: Traditional metrics like clicks may decline, making it harder to measure ROI purely via web traffic.
- Content Strategy Shift: Brands must produce more authoritative, structured content that works both for humans and generative AI — not only SEO-optimized content for links.
- Resource Intensity: Running real-time AI tests, managing citations, and optimizing for Deep Search may require more resources (time, alignment, technical capacity).
- Competition: As more agencies shift into “AI optimization” space, brands may face higher costs or saturated tactics.
Expert Commentary & Analysis
- SEO Experts: The shift toward AI Mode calls for a new discipline beyond SEO — something akin to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) or Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). (Wikipedia)
- Digital Strategists: Interact’s strategy of blending SEO, paid media, and analytics is smart — it ensures that optimization isn’t siloed but is adaptively aligned with AI search.
- Marketing Thought Leaders: Google’s “AI Mode” is forcing a rethink: content must be structured for semantic relevance, trust, and depth. (Marketing Week)
- Performance Marketers: With AI-powered features being tested in search (e.g., Search Live, Deep Search) and ads appearing in new AI-generated formats, there’s a big opportunity — but also risk — for brands that don’t adapt. (Impression)
Bottom Line (Summary)
- Interact Marketing has launched a specialized “AI Mode” optimization program to help brands gain visibility in Google’s new AI-centric search environment.
- The program is built around Deep Search, citation management, real-time AI testing, and performance tracking — combining traditional and AI-specific SEO tactics.
- This is a forward‑looking play: as Google pivots its search experience toward generative AI, brands need new optimization strategies — and Interact aims to lead that shift.
- But it’s not risk-free: the AI search landscape is evolving, and success will depend on agility, quality content, and long-term measurement.
- Good question. While there aren’t many publicly disclosed brand case studies yet (since Interact Marketing’s AI‑Mode optimization program is very new), we can build plausible case‑study scenarios plus expert-style commentary based on Interact’s program description, broader industry context, and commentary from Google / other marketers. Here are some case studies + comments inferred from what Interact Marketing is doing — plus commentary supported by external sources.
Case Studies (Hypothetical / Modeled on Real-World Scenarios)
Case Study 1: A B2B Software Company — Boosting Thought Leadership in Deep Search
Scenario:
A B2B SaaS company that publishes long-form whitepapers and research content is struggling to get organic traffic and visibility for strategic, high-consideration search queries. With traditional SEO, many of their high-value pages don’t rank well for “deep” or multi-part questions, and their content doesn’t show up in “AI Overview” style responses in Google’s emerging AI Mode.How Interact’s Program Helps:
- Interact optimizes their cornerstone content (whitepapers, guides) specifically for Deep Search, structuring subtopics, adding robust citations, and ensuring that the content is authoritative. (PR Newswire)
- They run real‑time AI response testing: Interact tests how Google’s AI Mode would cite or summarize this company’s content by simulating queries, and then refines content accordingly. (PR Newswire)
- They improve citation management, making sure the brand’s research is correctly attributed in AI-generated answers, which boosts brand credibility and drives relevant traffic. (PR Newswire)
Outcome:
- The SaaS company becomes more visible in Google’s AI-driven answers and deep-search responses, increasing qualified traffic (e.g., high-intent leads).
- Their thought-leadership content starts appearing in generative AI responses, leading to greater brand authority.
- Over time, their conversion rate improves because users coming from AI Mode are more engaged and informed.
Case Study 2: E‑Commerce Retailer — Optimizing for AI‑Driven Shopping
Scenario:
An e-commerce brand (e.g., fashion or consumer products) wants to maintain visibility as shopping queries become more conversational and image-driven in Google’s AI Mode. Traditional product search and category SEO isn’t enough anymore.How Interact’s Program Helps:
- Interact aligns product-page content and metadata with AI Mode’s shopping enhancements, such as structured data (schema) and richer product descriptions. (interactmarketing.com)
- They optimize for complex, natural-language shopping queries — for example, “comfortable yellow summer dress for travel” — rather than just “yellow dress.”
- They monitor and optimize internal content performance using Interact’s performance tracking specifically tailored to AI‑Mode metrics. (PR Newswire)
- They help maintain accurate citations and brand signals, so that when Google’s AI Mode generates shopping summaries or product panels, the brand’s products are properly referenced.
Outcome:
- The brand’s products start appearing more frequently in AI-driven shopping results, not just in the traditional SERP.
- Conversion and engagement from AI Mode users increase because the content is better aligned with how users are asking in generative queries.
- The retailer gains a competitive edge over brands that only optimize for classic SEO or paid search.
Case Study 3: Local Service Business — Leveraging AI Mode for Local / Contextual Search
Scenario:
A local business (e.g., a regional chain of fitness studios or restaurants) wants to appear in conversational, context-aware Google searches (e.g., “best yoga class nearby that is beginner friendly” or “healthy lunch spots in [city] with outdoor seating”).How Interact’s Program Helps:
- Interact develops content optimized for personal context and multimodal query types, aligning with Google’s AI Mode features like “Search Live” and contextual personal search. (interactmarketing.com)
- They ensure the business’s local listings, website, and content are highly structured so that AI Mode can use them as trusted sources.
- Interact uses real‑time response testing to simulate AI Mode user queries relevant to local scenarios, then tailors content to ensure the business is cited and shown prominently.
Outcome:
- The local business begins to be suggested in AI-generated summaries for location-based or intent-rich searches.
- Increased foot traffic or online bookings from AI Mode users who ask exploratory, context-rich questions.
- Stronger brand presence in the rising world of conversational and generative local search.
Expert Commentary & Analysis
- SEO & Digital Strategy Experts:
Many SEO and strategy professionals view the shift to AI Mode as the biggest disruption in search since Google moved into mobile-first indexing. As noted in MarketingWeek, AI Mode changes the game: “brands are overwhelmingly underprepared.” (Marketing Week) - On Generative Engine Optimization (GEO):
Interact’s program is closely aligned with what industry observers call GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) — optimizing for visibility within generative AI search rather than just traditional blue-link SEO. (Wikipedia) - Google’s Perspective:
Google’s own marketing team argues that AI Mode offers a “first-mover” opportunity for brands to appear in more meaningful, in-depth AI search experiences — but success requires content that is structured, authoritative, and designed for longer, more complex queries. (Google Business) - Risks Observed by Industry:
- There’s concern about how ads in AI Mode will work. Google is testing new ad formats in this conversational environment. (Search Engine Land)
- Some analysts warn that brands relying purely on traditional SEO might lose visibility as AI Mode grows — because AI-generated answers may reduce click-throughs from traditional SERPs. (Marketing Week)
- There’s also the risk that optimizing solely for AI Mode may require significant investment (content, testing, analytics) without guaranteed return, given that AI Mode is still evolving.
Why Interact’s Program Could Be a Game Changer
- Early Adoption Advantage: Interact started building this program two years ago, giving its clients a head start in AI Mode optimization. (PR Newswire)
- Holistic Approach: It doesn’t just do “SEO for AI” — it integrates paid media, analytics, and AI-driven content workflows, creating a unified strategy for the AI search era. (PR Newswire)
- Measurable Impact: With real-time AI response testing and performance tracking, brands can actually see how they perform in AI Mode — not just guess based on traditional metrics. (PR Newswire)
- Citation & Authority Management: Ensuring brands are accurately cited in AI-generated responses helps build trust and relevance, which is especially important as AI Mode depends more on credible sources.