37% of consumers now start their searches with AI tools like ChatGPT instead of going straight to Google.

That's a big shift in how people discover businesses - and most business owners have no idea what AI is saying about them.

With AI becoming the first filter in customer discovery, understanding where you show up (or don't) has never been more important for your marketing strategy.

I think there's a new layer sitting outside Google's "Messy Middle" - I'm calling it The Decision Zone - and it's where your customers are forming their initial shortlist before they even hit a search engine.

In this episode, we explore:

- What "The Decision Zone" is and why it matters for your business

- The latest research on AI search behaviour (and what 47% of consumers say about AI and brand trust)

- How customer discovery has shifted from keywords to conversations

- Why less than 25% of AI citations come from your own website

- Practical steps to audit and improve your visibility in AI tools

Whether you're a business owner trying to understand how customers find you, or a marketing lead figuring out where to focus your efforts, this episode will help you understand the new first impression your business is making - before anyone even visits your website.