LinkedIn is now the #1 cited source for professional queries across every major LLM. Which means if you're not here, you're invisible to AI. I was at LinkedIn's NewFronts last month and got the chance to sit down with Davang Shah, LinkedIn's VP of Marketing. We covered a lot of ground. The platform's goals, what they're focused on this year, where they see the creator ecosystem heading. It was incredibly insightful (thanks Davang), but one thing that really jumped out to me was the role LinkedIn is playing in AI discoverability. He shared that, "LinkedIn is the number one cited platform for professional queries across all LLMs." In other words, when buyers go ask ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Perplexity about your category, LinkedIn is what those models are pulling from. Why does that matter? AEO IS THE NEW SEO Answer Engine Optimization. For two decades marketers optimized to rank on Google, but buyers are increasingly skipping search results entirely and just asking AI directly. A McKinsey report from October 2025 ("The new front door to the internet: Winning in the age of AI search") laid out what's happening: • AI search will shape $750B in US consumer spending by 2028 • 44% of AI search users say it's their primary source of insight • Traditional search trails at 31%, brand websites at just 9% Gartner is projecting $1.5 trillion in global AI spending this year. The buyer journey is genuinely getting rewritten and if you're not an AI answer, you don't exist. LINKEDIN ALREADY POWERS B2B DECISION-MAKING LinkedIn was already the most influential channel for B2B buyers, ranking #1 ahead of Google, YouTube, Meta, Amazon, Instagram, and Reddit per the 2025 CMB study. 87% of B2B buyers say they prefer content from trusted industry voices. LINKEDIN IS THE AEO CHEAT CODE LinkedIn is the #1 most cited domain for professional queries across the major AI platforms. Why? As Davang pointed out in our conversation, it's because the platform is grounded in real professionals sharing real perspectives. LinkedIn is the most trusted platform for a reason. The LLMs see that and treat it as the kind of trusted content and insight worth surfacing. So if you want to show up in AI for anything B2B LinkedIn is a worthwhile investment. THE BOTTOM LINE LinkedIn is opens up two channels at the same time. You reach people who already trust LinkedIn as a source AND you reach those turning to AI for recommendations. Brands that don't have a regular creator presence right now aren't only invisible to buyers. They're also invisible to the AI those buyers are asking. Create today, get cited tomorrow. Stay silent today, stay invisible tomorrow. -------- Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network & follow Brendan Gahan for more. Interested in LinkedIn Influencer Marketing? Reach out to us Creator Authority.
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