Our Strategic Framework for LLM SEO
The old SEO playbook is obsolete. In the era of AI-driven search, success requires a new, integrated approach. This is our definitive framework for building a resilient, authoritative, and future-proof brand.
The Master Framework: The 4 Pillars of Modern SEO
This is our comprehensive, long-term strategy for building a deep, sustainable competitive moat that dominates both traditional search and AI-driven answers.
Best For: Businesses seeking to build a comprehensive, long-term competitive moat that dominates both traditional and AI-driven search.
1. The Technical Foundation
The price of entry. We ensure your digital presence is flawlessly machine-readable for any crawler, with a focus on structured data (Schema) to provide the explicit context AI models need.
2. Authoritative Content (GAIO)
Your engine. We architect deep, original "Answer Assets" built on proprietary data and unique expertise, making you a primary source for AI.
3. The Trust Layer (SEVO)
Your public reputation. We build a verifiable "Trust Layer" of off-site validation, earning co-citations and community validation across the web.
4. Strategic Intelligence
Your compass. We provide a sophisticated intelligence function that tracks your visibility in AI, measures "citation share," and analyzes "invisible influence."
The A.C.I.D. Framework
Best For:
Businesses that need to quickly adapt and win visibility in AI answers for their most critical topics.
A = Authority: Rapidly develop on-site "Answer Assets" that prove your expertise to AI.
C = Citations: Execute a targeted campaign to earn the high-value, off-site citations AI models use as trust signals.
I = Infrastructure: Conduct a focused audit to ensure your core data is consistent and implement essential schema for AI comprehension.
D = Dynamic Maintenance: Establish a process for monitoring and refreshing your core assets to ensure they remain current and reliable.
The P.A.C.E.D. Framework
Best For:
Large enterprises in regulated industries that need to balance the need for speed with rigorous internal governance.
P = Pre-Approved Phrasing: Build a "Citation-Ready Language Bank" with legal to enable rapid, compliant content creation.
A = Authoritative Evidence Packs: Bundle the necessary proof that both your legal team and AI models require to trust your claims.
C = Citation Tracking & Training: Establish a feedback loop by auditing your "citation share" in AI answers to identify gaps.
E = Escalation Triggers: Create a tiered governance model to fast-track low-risk content and eliminate delays.
D = Data-Driven Review Logs: Build trust through a transparent, shared log that tracks all content, approvals, and AI performance.
Our Core Philosophy
These frameworks are all built on a single, timeless principle: trust is the ultimate currency. In the AI era, this means moving beyond chasing clicks to building a deep, verifiable "Trust Layer" around your brand. It's about becoming such an indispensable source of truth that your expertise is recognized and validated by every search interface, human or machine.
How They Work Together: A Simple Analogy
These frameworks are not in conflict; they are a suite of tools that can be used together. Think of it like a major city construction project:
The 4 Pillars
Is the complete architectural blueprint for the entire skyscraper.
The A.C.I.D. Framework
Is the agile sprint plan for rapidly building a single, critical floor.
The P.A.C.E.D. Framework
Is the essential city permit and inspection process that ensures the project moves forward quickly and safely.
Find Out Which Framework is Right for You
The right strategy depends on your unique goals, resources, and organizational structure. Our team is here to help you choose and implement the right playbook.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Frameworks
Think of it as a strategic toolkit.
- The 4 Pillars is your complete architectural blueprint for building a long-term, authoritative digital brand.
- The A.C.I.D. Framework is an agile sprint plan used to rapidly achieve a specific, high-impact goal, like winning AI visibility for a new product launch.
- The P.A.C.E.D. Framework is the specialized quality control system for large enterprises to ensure their content can be produced at speed without violating internal governance.
No, not necessarily. The frameworks are designed to be modular and address specific business challenges. During our initial strategic assessment, we work with you to identify your primary goals and constraints to determine which framework (or combination of elements) is the right fit for your organization's current needs.
For most businesses, the best starting point is an assessment based on The 4 Pillars of Modern SEO. This master framework allows us to conduct a comprehensive audit of your digital presence, identify your biggest opportunities, and build a complete, long-term strategy. The A.C.I.D. and P.A.C.E.D. frameworks are often implemented to execute specific parts of that larger strategy.
They don't replace traditional SEO; they upgrade it for the AI era. Core principles like a flawless technical foundation, high-quality content, and building authority are still the bedrock of our approach. Our frameworks simply build upon that foundation, adapting those principles to the new realities of AI-driven search, co-citations, and the need for a verifiable "Trust Layer."
We move beyond outdated metrics like simple rankings and focus on the KPIs that matter in the AI era. Success is measured by:
- Citation Share: How often your brand is cited in AI answers for your key topics compared to competitors.
- Invisible Influence: Correlating our off-site activities with measurable lifts in your direct and branded search traffic.
- Brand Sentiment in AI: Auditing AI platforms to ensure your brand is being represented accurately and positively.
Absolutely. The principles are universal. A small business might not need the enterprise-level governance of the P.A.C.E.D. framework, but the philosophy of the 4 Pillars is essential for building a durable brand. We scale the strategy to your needs, whether it's focusing the A.C.I.D. sprint on a single, high-value "Answer Asset" or building out a long-term content moat.
Mercury's strategy is built on the premise that traditional SEO is the foundation for success in AI search. Research cited in their guides indicates that a high percentage of AI citations come from the top results of traditional search engines. This led them to adopt an 80/20 rule for their own brand:
- 80% of resources are dedicated to a flawless, best-in-class traditional SEO strategy.
- 20% of resources are focused on future-proofing the brand and technical infrastructure to be perfectly understood by AI models.
Measurement and Redefining Success
Internally, Mercury shifted its focus from clicks to influence. They track the "invisible influence" of AI by correlating their off-site SEVO activities with spikes in direct and branded search traffic, proving the ROI of a strategy that no longer relies on the click.