What’s New at North + South: The AIO Era Starts Now
September 19, 2025
Be the answer in Google + ChatGPT.
That’s the heart of our work right now. We’re simplifying how wedding vendors get found by AI tools + chosen by humans, and we’ve shipped a few big updates that we’re excited to share with our friends.
TL;DR
- We’re AIO‑first with one SEO on‑ramp.
- We launched AIO LaunchPad, a two‑week sprint that makes your brand easy for AI to cite.
- We introduced Signals Engine, a no‑PR monthly rhythm that strengthens only the assets you own.
- Our community is now North + South Friends. Come hang out with us.
Why AIO now
Couples aren’t only googling. They’re also asking AI for shortlists, comparisons, + quick answers like “best wedding photographer in [city]” or “venues that fit 150 in [region].” If your brand is hard to parse, thin on Q+A, or inconsistent across your profiles, AI tools struggle to cite you. That means fewer recommendations + slower bookings.
AI Optimization (AIO) solves this with clarity + structure:
- Tight entity signals so tools know who you are, what you do, + where you work
- A living Q+A Bank in your voice so common questions get clean, citable answers
- Helpful schema (QAPage, Org, Service) so answers are machine‑readable
- A steady GBP rhythm with weekly Q+As + updates
- Smart internal links so humans choose faster
Want a friendly primer on why this compounds Read SEO Works While You Sleep. It pairs beautifully with AIO.
What we shipped
AIO LaunchPad
A 2‑week sprint that builds your AIO foundation. You get a 25‑question Q+A Bank, schema on priority pages, a GBP plan, an internal link map, + an AI citation scorecard with screenshots. It’s practical, human, + screenshot‑able.
North + South Friends
Our community. Simple, warm, useful. Think office hours, Q+A prompts, tiny wins. You’ll see “friend” language in our emails + posts because we mean it.
Early lessons from our AI visibility beta
We’ve been heads‑down with beta testers. A few patterns are already clear:
- Q+A Banks outperform vague blogs. Short, specific answers in your voice get surfaced more often than generic how‑tos.
- Clean About pages matter. When services, locations, + niches are spelled out, AI tools cite you more confidently.
- GBP Q+As weekly make a real difference. Consistency beats bursts.
- Internal links reduce decision friction. When your strongest pages point to your money pages, visitors choose faster.
We’ll share more specifics in a future post + scorecard snapshots once we have permission to publish examples.
What this means for vendors
If you want to be recommended by AI + chosen by humans, start with the answers couples actually ask.
- Draft 5 to 10 real Q+As today. Mirror one on GBP each week.
- Add QAPage schema to the page that hosts your Q+As.
- Tidy your About page with services, cities, “same as” links, + a recent review snippet.
- Link your strongest posts to your inquiry page or core services.
If you prefer a done‑with‑you boost, LaunchPad does this in two focused weeks.
The AIO LaunchPad in 90 seconds
- You bring a 45‑minute kickoff, your website access or a dev contact, + links to your GBP + socials.
- We deliver a Q+A Bank, schema, internal links, a GBP plan, review prompts, + an AI citation scorecard.
- We ship light edits, mirror Q+As to GBP, + watch early movement in how AI tools talk about your business.
Ready Join our next sprint here:
Start your LaunchPad →
FAQs
Is AIO the same as SEO?
AIO + SEO play nicely together. SEO chases rankings. AIO earns citations + recommendations in AI tools while improving human clarity. We keep one SEO product as an on‑ramp, then focus on AIO.
How do we measure progress?
We track an AI citation hit rate for a small query bank, take screenshots, then re‑test after updates.
Who is this for?
Photographers, planners, venues, florists, HMUA, DJs, caterers, + stationers who can publish light edits quickly + want their brand to be easy to cite.
Resources you can use today
With love + momentum,
Caroline + Kim
