Why ads alone can't capture AI-influenced buyers
Paid advertising captures intent you can target. AI visibility captures intent you can't—when users ask AI for recommendations before ever clicking an ad.
| FEATURE | ADSX (AI VISIBILITY) | PAID ADVERTISING |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Source | —Organic recommendations from AI | —Paid clicks from ad placements |
| Cost Model | ✓Fixed investment, compounding returns | ✗Pay per click, costs scale with volume |
| Trust Level | ✓Recommendation from trusted AI | ✗Clearly labeled as advertising |
| Targeting | ✗Appears for relevant natural queries | ✓Precise demographic and intent targeting |
| Funnel Position | —Early research and consideration | —Can target any funnel stage |
| Scalability | ✓Scales without proportional cost increase | ✗Costs increase linearly with volume |
Paid ads and AI visibility serve different purposes. Ads capture intent you can target; AI visibility captures intent that happens before search. The best strategies use both—AI visibility for early influence, ads for conversion capture.
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