Google announced its biggest search overhaul in 25 years. The list of links has been removed. Going forward, Google Search will engage users in an AI-driven interactive experience. Will this impact businesses looking to increase brand awareness? Landing on an interactive AI search result could be a winner-takes-all moment. That’s why the need to be cited in earned media is greater than ever.
“Combined with analysis showing that 84% of AI search citations come from earned media, the path forward is clear for businesses looking to survive,” said Jonathan Narvey, founder and CEO of Mind Meld PR. “In 2026, companies need to deploy resources and a solid PR strategy to get earned media now. Without earned media citations, companies will be invisible.”
Mind Meld PR won in the Top PR Company category at Clutch’s Global Awards, announced this week on May 20th. “This award was presented to the most accomplished agencies, selected through verified client reviews and proven industry expertise,” says Narvay.
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Clutch is the leading global marketplace for B2B service providers. The Clutch Global Awards aim to help business decision makers confidently identify trusted partners in areas such as marketing, development and design.
Google’s search traffic is already down 33% worldwide. Today, 60% of Google searches end without a single click to a website. “But even before Google made this announcement this week about changes to search, the rules of business were clear: If you don’t have a brand, you compete on price. It’s a death spiral. But now it’s even harder,” he explains.
“In this winner-take-all, be-seen-or-die economy of attention, where your competitors can create an atmosphere where your products are coded overnight, you can quickly become a commodity. Big brands will fight that.”
As an example, just last week, the founders of Mind Meld PR attended Web Summit, one of North America’s largest technology conferences, along with more than 20,000 founders, builders, and investors, and were concerned about the lack of brand differentiation among presenters and attendees.
“As I walked the floor, I was shocked to see almost every booth spouting the same words about AI and productivity, fused with common taglines. There’s nothing wrong with building a great product, but not building your own brand so your customers know who you are is a big problem. I’ve seen and met hundreds of companies that seem to be doing something very similar with their marketing. You can’t have that attitude online or you’ll be crushed in the market.”
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