Case Study
Digital PRHow a digital PR agency discovered the gap between media coverage and AI visibility
Ace Branding gets clients into Forbes, USA Today, and Nasdaq. But when AI answers questions about their clients industries -- those placements were not showing up.
“Ace Branding gets clients into Forbes, USA Today, and Nasdaq. But when AI answers questions about their industries, those placements were not showing up.”
The Challenge
Great press. Invisible to AI.
Ace Branding is effective at guaranteed media placements in major outlets. But they noticed: despite prestigious coverage, clients were not appearing in AI-generated answers. The question was simple and consequential -- why do some placements earn AI citations while others don't?
What We Found
We analyzed client industries across ChatGPT, Claude, and AI Overviews; mapped which publications earn AI citations versus which don't; identified the content format patterns that drive AI visibility; and built an AI-visibility scoring model for media placement prioritization.
KEY INSIGHT
Not all prestigious publications carry equal weight with AI answer engines. AI has its own trust hierarchy -- industry-specific, data-rich content earns significantly more AI citations than general press coverage.
AI has its own rules
What we discovered analyzing placements vs. AI citations.
Not all publications carry equal weight with AI answer engines. AI has its own trust hierarchy.
Industry-specific, data-rich content earns significantly more AI citations than general press coverage.
Content format and structure matters -- AI favors content that directly answers specific questions.
The Strategic Shift
From prestige placements to AI-grade PR.
Before
“Get featured anywhere prestigious”
After
“Get featured where AI looks for answers”
- Developed AI-visibility scoring for media placement prioritization
- Created methodology for PR that drives both traditional and AI visibility
analyzed across Google and AI answer engines
publications scored for AI citation authority
AI Visibility Analysis offered as premium service
The Results
A new capability for a proven agency
Ace Branding now operates with a framework for AI-optimized PR campaigns: publication-level scoring across 5 client verticals, AI-preferred publication lists with citation frequency mapping, and a premium service tier for clients seeking AI visibility alongside traditional press.
Identified AI-preferred publications across 5 client verticals
Developed AI-visibility scoring for media placement prioritization
Created framework for PR campaigns driving both traditional and AI visibility
Enabled Ace Branding to offer AI visibility analysis as a premium service
Where Ace Branding fits
Ace Branding is also a Pressfit reseller. Our suite powers their AI Visibility Analysis, which they offer as a premium service to the clients they already serve.
See how AI views your coverage
Find out which of your media placements AI actually cites -- and where the gaps are.