Blog
Field Notes.
Practical advice on SEO, paid search, AI strategy, and digital marketing, written from inside real accounts, not from a conference stage.
August 9, 2026
·9 min read
The Attribution Playbook: Why Server-Side Tracking Matters More Than Ever
iOS privacy features, ad blockers, and cookie restrictions have hollowed out the conversion data most paid media programs rely on. Zach Hipes explains why server-side tracking (Meta CAPI, GA4 server-side, offline conversion imports) is now table stakes, and how to implement it.
August 2, 2026
·10 min read
How a Honda Dealership Went From Invisible to #1 in AI Search
A Salt Lake City Honda dealership had a 9.4% AI visibility score. Zach Hipes walks through the exact AEO and GEO work that took it to 40.9%, outranking Honda's corporate site on the top five most-searched Honda questions nationally.
July 17, 2026
·9 min read
How Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, and ChatGPT Actually Choose Sources
Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, and ChatGPT all cite sources differently. Zach Hipes breaks down what each engine weights, how they pick who gets quoted, and what to change on your site to win citations across all three.
May 9, 2026
·7 min read
What Is GEO? Generative Engine Optimization Explained
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the next evolution beyond SEO and AEO. Zach Hipes explains what GEO is, how it differs from traditional search optimization, and why it matters for businesses in 2026.
May 6, 2026
·6 min read
What Is AEO? AI Engine Optimization Explained
AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is how businesses get cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Zach Hipes breaks down what AEO is, why it matters, and how to start.
April 28, 2026
·10 min read
Schema Markup for Small Businesses: The Complete Guide
Structured data helps search engines and AI models understand your business. Zach Hipes walks through every schema type a small business should implement, with examples and common mistakes to avoid.
April 18, 2026
·8 min read
5 Google Ads Mistakes Costing Small Businesses Money
Most small business Google Ads accounts waste 30-50% of budget. Zach Hipes breaks down the five most common mistakes and how to fix them immediately.
April 6, 2026
·8 min read
How to Get Your Business Cited by ChatGPT
ChatGPT is becoming a search engine. Zach Hipes explains the specific signals that make AI models cite your business over competitors, and the steps to build those signals.
March 24, 2026
·7 min read
Local SEO in Atlanta: What Actually Works in 2026
What's actually working for local SEO in Atlanta in 2026. GBP optimization, review strategy, local landing pages, and AI search readiness.
March 3, 2026
·9 min read
AI Marketing Strategy for Small Businesses
How small businesses can actually use AI for marketing. Not the hype, but the practical systems that save time and drive revenue.
February 20, 2026
·7 min read
Landing Page Conversion Checklist: 15 Things to Fix Today
Most landing pages convert at 2-3%. The 15-point checklist I use to push pages to 10%+ conversion rates, with real examples from client campaigns.
February 10, 2026
·5 min read
Why Your CPA Matters More Than Clicks
Cost-per-acquisition is the only paid search metric that matters for your business. Here's why agencies that report on clicks are wasting your money.
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