AI Discovery Is Reshaping Higher Ed Search

AI-powered discovery is rewriting the rules of higher ed search. In this episode, we unpack what changes when AI overviews and answer engines — not institutional websites — become the first stop for prospective students, how to measure your school's visibility and share of voice in AI results, and what smaller institutions can do to compete through focused differentiation, reputation management, and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Chapters 00:00 — Why AI discovery is reshaping higher ed search 02:30 — Brand strength matters more than website traffic alone 04:04 — Are institutional websites still the main storefront? 06:44 — How to measure AI visibility, citations, and share of voice 09:33 — Where AI gets information and how schools should show up 13:23 — How smaller institutions can compete with focused differentiation 19:25 — Managing reputation and integrating AEO into search strategy 24:03 — The website still matters, but it is no longer the only entry point Resources AEO Audit Tool: https://aeo.rgiconsulting.net/audit 00:00 Why AI discovery is reshaping higher ed search 02:30 Brand strength matters more than website traffic alone 04:04 Is the front door changing with AI overviews—are websites no longer the main storefront for discovery and decision-making? 06:44 How to measure AI visibility, citations, and share of voice 09:33 Are we still doing SEO on our site, or do we need to do things differently now—like adding FAQs and answering more conversational questions for AI-driven search? 13:23 How smaller institutions can compete with focused differentiation 19:25 Managing reputation and integrating AEO into search strategy 24:03 The website still matters, but it is no longer the only entry point