By Lisa Miller
I've spent over two decades at the intersection of technology and high-stakes business. From my years as a "recovering IBMer" to managing mortgage branches and running an accounting firm, I've seen tech "revolutions" come and go. I remember when having a website was optional, and I watched as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) turned from a dark art into a multi-billion dollar industry.
But I'm telling you now, from the perspective of someone who has seen the view from the corporate heights of IBM and the trenches of small business finance: The era of the "Blue Link" is ending.
If you are still obsessing over traditional SEO rankings, you are optimizing for a world that is already in the rearview mirror. Welcome to the age of GEO - Generative Engine Optimization.
The Shift from Links to Answers
In my accounting and mortgage days, if a client wanted to find me, they typed "Mortgage Branch Manager near me" into Google and clicked a link. Today, they ask their AI: "Find me a tech-forward partner who understands both customized software and financial compliance."
The AI doesn't give them a list of ten websites. It gives them an answer.
If your business isn't the one the AI "reasons" its way toward, you don't exist. This is why at Oak Harbor Tech, we are shifting our focus from just "being found" to "being cited."
Why My Background Matters in a GEO World
AI engines like ChatGPT and Gemini are now programmed to look for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). This is where my history becomes the "unfair advantage" for the businesses I consult.
Because I've sat in the chairs you sit in - managing the high-stakes compliance of a mortgage branch and the meticulous data of an accounting firm - I look at your digital presence differently than a standard "web developer" would. I don't just see code; I see a business that needs to be trusted by both humans and machines.
How I Want You to Position Your Business for 2026
If you want to stay relevant, you need to stop thinking about "ranking" and start thinking about "authority." Here is exactly how I recommend you audit and shift your business strategy to win in the GEO era:
Own Your Niche with "Information Gain"
One thing I learned at IBM is that data is only valuable if it's unique. AI is already trained on the "generic" version of your industry. If your blog posts look like everyone else's, the AI has no reason to cite you.
- My Advice: Don't just write "How to Save Money." Write "How my accounting firm saved a local manufacturer 14% on overhead by restructuring their tech debt."
- The Goal: Give the AI "Information Gain" - new, specific data it can't find anywhere else. That is how you become a cited source.
Speak the "Language of Machines" (Schema)
In my mortgage days, if the paperwork wasn't filed correctly, the loan didn't close. SEO is the same way now. You can have the best content in the world, but if the AI's "crawlers" can't categorize it instantly, you lose.
- My Advice: You must implement Structured Data (Schema Markup). This is a layer of code that tells the AI: "This is a service, this is our price, and this is the expert who wrote this." It's the digital equivalent of an airtight audit trail.
Build a "Trust Moat"
In a world flooded with AI-generated "noise," your real-world footprint is your moat. AI engines look at "Off-Page" signals to see if you are who you say you are.
- My Advice: Clean up your digital footprint. Ensure your details are identical on your website, your LinkedIn, and platforms like Alignable.
- The Strategy: I tell my clients to focus on getting high-quality, descriptive reviews. One review that mentions a specific problem you solved is worth ten reviews that just say "Great service!" because the AI uses that text to understand your capabilities.
Humanize Your Brand
The more "AI-driven" the world becomes, the more humans (and the algorithms that serve them) will crave the "Human Element."
- My Advice: Put yourself front and center. Use real photos of your office, your projects, and your team. Share your "recovering [Industry]" story.
- The Result: When an AI summarizes your business, it should be able to say, "Led by Lisa Miller, a tech veteran with 20 years of experience," rather than "This is a company that provides services."
The Bottom Line
I didn't survive two decades in tech and finance by following the crowd. I survived by seeing where the systems were broken and building better ones. The "Blue Link" era of search is broken. The "Generative Answer" era is here.
Don't wait until your traffic drops to zero to make the switch. Let's look at your current site and see if it's built to be an authority, or if it's just taking up space.
I've seen the "old ways" die before - let's make sure your business is ready for what comes next.