What Shaped Vincent Nezzer’s Vision (and Why AIO Matters Right Now)

Vincent Nezzer’s journey from SEO strategist to AIO leader reveals how speed, precision, and a people-first mindset are reshaping the future of search.

Vincent Nezzer’s journey into AI and automation didn’t start with technology. It started with curiosity and a love of people.

He got his start in digital marketing 14 years ago as a student at the University of New Mexico, fascinated by the intersection of web content, data, and email marketing. From there, he built a career shaped by a belief in continuous learning and a refusal to coast. That mindset carried him through eight years at a fast-moving agency—Zog Digital, later Investis Digital, and eventually IDX—where he expanded from SEO to paid media, analytics, content strategy, and international market launches.

He now leads the Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) offering at Avenue Z, a role he describes as part of a larger vision: Search Experience Optimization. It’s a new model for how brands show up in an era where people are searching across Google, Amazon, TikTok, AI engines, and beyond.

But Vincent’s impact isn’t just technical. It’s rooted in real client work, from redefining brand strategy for Carter’s to driving digital transformation for Senior Lifestyle during the post-COVID downturn. At Groupon, he helped build one of the agency’s largest local SEO projects—hundreds of pages of content—while learning how to scale editorial systems at speed.

Influenced by Visionaries, Grounded in Real-World Experience

Two leaders helped shape how Vincent sees the world.

From Jeffrey Herzog, he learned the power of execution. Herzog’s motto, “Go. Fast. Now.” drilled home the idea that timing is everything. And if you wait for perfect, you’ll miss the window. That urgency taught Vincent to move, not overthink.

From Whitney Hart, he learned strategic patience. It’s not just about speed, it’s about aiming in the right direction—and understanding what truly differentiates a brand in-market. Hart’s influence pushed Vincent to focus on precision, positioning, and long-term planning.

Together, these insights helped him define a new approach to search—one that balances Herzog’s boldness with Hart’s sharpness.

Why AIO Is More Than a Trend

Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) is becoming essential, not optional. It’s the future of discoverability—and a massive opportunity for businesses to lead, not lag.

Recent research from Harvard found that nearly 40% of U.S. adults have already used generative AI—adopting it faster than both the internet and personal computers. In the workplace, AI is most useful in:

As Vincent puts it: “AI isn’t replacing people—it’s reshaping how they work.” The key is using AI as a multiplier, not a substitute.

What Companies Should Be Doing Right Now

Vincent believes the next 4–5 years will mark a permanent shift in how consumers find information and interact with brands.

“Generative engine answers will surpass Google,” he says. “The question is whether your brand is ready to be found.”

His core AIO framework is based on three pillars:

  1. High-end media placements and communications
  2. Owned content across web, social, and brand properties
  3. Technical optimization for discoverability by LLMs

The formula works because it’s rooted in core competencies, not trend-chasing. As Vincent points out, many brands—like HubSpot—were penalized by AI for producing generic content (e.g., “how to use emojis”) that didn’t align with their value proposition.

“Write about what you do. Make it clear why you matter. That’s what AI will reward.”

Vincent’s Mission at Avenue Z

At Avenue Z, Vincent is focused on embedding AIO within a broader, transformational approach to search. His preferred term: Search Experience Optimization—a future-forward practice that spans:

  • Traditional SEO
  • AI and generative engine optimization
  • eCommerce search
  • Social platform search
  • And everything in between

As Vincent explains: “Paid media is a push. Search is a pull. We want to be there when someone’s looking, wherever they’re looking.”

He’s also helping Avenue Z differentiate from other digital agencies through its high-end media and PR muscle—something most competitors can’t replicate.

AIO Is a Movement—Not a Moment

What excites Vincent most is that AIO isn’t a temporary shift. It’s a new foundation for how people find, trust, and engage with brands.

As AI reshapes the search experience, the most adaptable companies—the ones that lean into high-quality content, strategic media, and ethical data use—will be the ones who win.

And Vincent’s here to help them get there.

Ready to Future-Proof Your Brand’s Search Strategy?

Learn more about Avenue Z’s approach to Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) and how our team is helping brands stay discoverable in a generative-first world. Want to explore what AIO could mean for your business? Connect with our experts—including Vincent—to start the conversation.

How to Increase Brand Visibility on ChatGPT

AI-driven search is transforming digital visibility. Learn how to position your brand at the top of ChatGPT and other AI search engines.

,

More from Avenue Z

  • A bold, stylized digital illustration of a lion’s profile in magenta and purple tones. The lion looks over a surreal landscape featuring vibrant orange desert dunes and a turquoise body of water, all under a smooth gradient sky transitioning from teal to pale green.

    AI at Cannes Lions 2025: From Hype to Hands-On

    At Cannes Lions 2025, AI proved its value as a tool for faster execution, smarter targeting, and restoring trust…

    Link

    2 min read

    , ,
  • AppLovin’s New Self‑Serve Ads Manager: A Complete Review

    AppLovin’s new dashboard is a leap forward—but making it work for your brand takes the right media strategy.

    Link

    4 min read

    , ,
  • How AI Is Influencing Advertising: What Meta’s Move Means for Marketers

    Meta's full ad automation push is not the end of strategy. It's a wake-up call for marketers to lead…

    Link

    2 min read

    , , ,
  • Introducing the 2025 AI Visibility Index: Blockchain

    AI is changing how users find blockchain brands. Protocols, wallets, and exchanges are now competing to show up first.

    Link

    5 min read

    ,
  • What Are Shopify MCP Servers and Why They Matter for AI Commerce

    A closer look at the Summer ’25 Editions update—and what brands need to do now.

    Link

    3 min read

    , ,
  • Top of Stack: AI Energy, Bank Downgrades, and a Spotlight on Embedded Finance

    Your latest briefing on the trends shaping AI, finance, healthcare, and brand visibility in the headlines.

    Link

    2 min read

    ,
  • The Gap is making a comeback. Let’s talk about it.

    From Timothée in satin to a Lilo and Stitch collab, Gap is doing what few legacy brands can. It’s…

    Link

    5 min read

    , ,
  • International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) CEO, Arvind Krishna.

    Top of Stack: Smarter AI, Fintech Politics, and a Big Tech Power Shift

    Your weekly briefing on the trends driving fintech, innovation, and AI (plus the events worth showing up for).

    Link

    4 min read

    ,
  • The AI Visibility Index: Why Digital Banks Must Compete for Share of Voice in AI Search

    Generative AI is changing how consumers discover brands, and digital banks are now competing in a new arena: AI…

    Link

    5 min read

    ,
  • Composite trend artwork sketch image collage of businesswoman young lady work internet webpage ai bot generate data simulation technology.

    From SEO to AIO: What Still Works, What Doesn’t, and What You Need to Win in AI Search

    Let’s start with the good news: not everything you’ve built in SEO land needs to be torched.

    Link

    12 min read

    ,
  • ChatGPT Shopping: How to Get Your Ecommerce Store Listed and Ranked

    ChatGPT Shopping: How to Get Your eCommerce Store Ranked

    ChatGPT Shopping is changing how people find products online. This guide shows how to get your store listed, improve…

    Link

    7 min read

    , ,
  • Who Won Marketing at the F1 Miami Grand Prix?

    Which F1 teams won the marketing race at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix? We break down the boldest brand…

    Link

    4 min read

    , , ,
  • Artistic representation of people in Times Square for NFT NYC 2025.

    Top NFT NYC 2025 Must-Attend Events

    Get ready for NFT NYC 2025 with our guide to the top events where culture, tech, and community collide.

    Link

    4 min read

    , ,
  • Introducing the AI Visibility Index: Fintech Payments

    A data-driven look at which payment brands are leading in AI search and what it takes to become the…

    Link

    7 min read

    ,
  • Why AI Agents Are Already Rewriting Your eCommerce Brand Strategy with Jonathan Snow

    AI is already making purchase decisions. My latest Fast Company feature unpacks what that means for brand visibility, discovery,…

    Link

    2 min read

    ,
  • Manhattan Bridge in New York City, view from the street between brick buildings, New York City, Architectural photography.

    Top NY Tech Week 2025 Events We’re Eyeing (and You Should Too)

    These are the rooftop hangs, power walks, and pitch rooms you need to be in—bookmark this list, grab your…

    Link

    5 min read

    ,
  • Top of Stack: Markets, Media, and the March Toward Mayhem

    Get the press hits, trend intel, and event picks you need to stay ahead in fintech, innovation, and digital…

    Link

    3 min read

    ,
  • The Mirage of Simplicity in AI: Why Strategy Still Comes First

    AI can move fast and look smart—but without a clear strategy, it often just scales misalignment. Here’s why the…

    Link

    3 min read

    ,
  • Google’s AI Mode: A CMO’s Field Guide

    Google’s AI Mode is transforming search into a conversational, AI-driven experience—challenging traditional SEO and redefining how brands achieve visibility,…

    Link

    8 min read

    ,
  • Retro background futuristic landscape 1980s style. Vector perspective grid. 80s sci-fi or game style. Retro neon background

    Top Picks for Miami Tech Week 2025

    The Best Events for Founders, Investors, and Operators to Attend This April in Miami

    Link

    4 min read

    , ,
  • perplexity-llm-integration-feature

    Perplexity’s “Frenemies” Strategy is Boldly Centralizing the LLM Ecosystem

    In a world where every AI company is racing to outbuild the competition, Perplexity made a bold move. Instead…

    Link

    7 min read

    , ,
  • Top of Stack: Fintech, Media, and the Rise of Borderless Everything

    From borderless banking breakthroughs to AI risks in federal policy, here’s issue #002 of what’s shaping headlines across fintech,…

    Link

    4 min read

    , , ,
  • Floating island adventure magical sky travel with pink cloud reflection in water landscape beauty view

    The Third Great Digital Land Grab: Why AI Search is the Biggest First-Mover Advantage Since SEO

    AI search is rewriting the rules of digital visibility; brands that move now to build AI authority will dominate…

    Link

    7 min read

    , , ,
  • Transparent Glass Cubes in Abstract Floating Arrangement

    AI Search Loves Answers: How to Write FAQ-Driven Content for LLMs

    AI search engines prioritize answers, not just keywords. Brands that structure content in a FAQ-driven format are more likely…

    Link

    4 min read

    , ,
  • Top of Stack: Superintelligence, Embedded Capital, and the Future of Care

    Your briefing on what’s driving AI breakthroughs, financial transformation, a reshaped healthcare landscape, and the client stories gaining ground…

    Link

    3 min read

    ,

Recommended reads

  • A bold, stylized digital illustration of a lion’s profile in magenta and purple tones. The lion looks over a surreal landscape featuring vibrant orange desert dunes and a turquoise body of water, all under a smooth gradient sky transitioning from teal to pale green.

    AI at Cannes Lions 2025: From Hype to Hands-On

    At Cannes Lions 2025, AI proved its value as a tool for faster execution, smarter targeting, and restoring trust…

    Link

  • AppLovin’s New Self‑Serve Ads Manager: A Complete Review

    AppLovin’s new dashboard is a leap forward—but making it work for your brand takes the right media strategy.

    Link

  • How AI Is Influencing Advertising: What Meta’s Move Means for Marketers

    Meta's full ad automation push is not the end of strategy. It's a wake-up call for marketers to lead…

    Link

  • Introducing the 2025 AI Visibility Index: Blockchain

    AI is changing how users find blockchain brands. Protocols, wallets, and exchanges are now competing to show up first.

    Link

  • What Are Shopify MCP Servers and Why They Matter for AI Commerce

    A closer look at the Summer ’25 Editions update—and what brands need to do now.

    Link

  • Top of Stack: AI Energy, Bank Downgrades, and a Spotlight on Embedded Finance

    Your latest briefing on the trends shaping AI, finance, healthcare, and brand visibility in the headlines.

    Link

  • The Gap is making a comeback. Let’s talk about it.

    From Timothée in satin to a Lilo and Stitch collab, Gap is doing what few legacy brands can. It’s…

    Link

  • International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) CEO, Arvind Krishna.

    Top of Stack: Smarter AI, Fintech Politics, and a Big Tech Power Shift

    Your weekly briefing on the trends driving fintech, innovation, and AI (plus the events worth showing up for).

    Link

  • The AI Visibility Index: Why Digital Banks Must Compete for Share of Voice in AI Search

    Generative AI is changing how consumers discover brands, and digital banks are now competing in a new arena: AI…

    Link

  • Composite trend artwork sketch image collage of businesswoman young lady work internet webpage ai bot generate data simulation technology.

    From SEO to AIO: What Still Works, What Doesn’t, and What You Need to Win in AI Search

    Let’s start with the good news: not everything you’ve built in SEO land needs to be torched.

    Link

  • ChatGPT Shopping: How to Get Your Ecommerce Store Listed and Ranked

    ChatGPT Shopping: How to Get Your eCommerce Store Ranked

    ChatGPT Shopping is changing how people find products online. This guide shows how to get your store listed, improve…

    Link

  • Who Won Marketing at the F1 Miami Grand Prix?

    Which F1 teams won the marketing race at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix? We break down the boldest brand…

    Link

  • Artistic representation of people in Times Square for NFT NYC 2025.

    Top NFT NYC 2025 Must-Attend Events

    Get ready for NFT NYC 2025 with our guide to the top events where culture, tech, and community collide.

    Link

  • Introducing the AI Visibility Index: Fintech Payments

    A data-driven look at which payment brands are leading in AI search and what it takes to become the…

    Link

  • Why AI Agents Are Already Rewriting Your eCommerce Brand Strategy with Jonathan Snow

    AI is already making purchase decisions. My latest Fast Company feature unpacks what that means for brand visibility, discovery,…

    Link

  • Manhattan Bridge in New York City, view from the street between brick buildings, New York City, Architectural photography.

    Top NY Tech Week 2025 Events We’re Eyeing (and You Should Too)

    These are the rooftop hangs, power walks, and pitch rooms you need to be in—bookmark this list, grab your…

    Link

  • Top of Stack: Markets, Media, and the March Toward Mayhem

    Get the press hits, trend intel, and event picks you need to stay ahead in fintech, innovation, and digital…

    Link

  • The Mirage of Simplicity in AI: Why Strategy Still Comes First

    AI can move fast and look smart—but without a clear strategy, it often just scales misalignment. Here’s why the…

    Link

  • Google’s AI Mode: A CMO’s Field Guide

    Google’s AI Mode is transforming search into a conversational, AI-driven experience—challenging traditional SEO and redefining how brands achieve visibility,…

    Link

  • Retro background futuristic landscape 1980s style. Vector perspective grid. 80s sci-fi or game style. Retro neon background

    Top Picks for Miami Tech Week 2025

    The Best Events for Founders, Investors, and Operators to Attend This April in Miami

    Link

  • perplexity-llm-integration-feature

    Perplexity’s “Frenemies” Strategy is Boldly Centralizing the LLM Ecosystem

    In a world where every AI company is racing to outbuild the competition, Perplexity made a bold move. Instead…

    Link

  • Top of Stack: Fintech, Media, and the Rise of Borderless Everything

    From borderless banking breakthroughs to AI risks in federal policy, here’s issue #002 of what’s shaping headlines across fintech,…

    Link

  • Floating island adventure magical sky travel with pink cloud reflection in water landscape beauty view

    The Third Great Digital Land Grab: Why AI Search is the Biggest First-Mover Advantage Since SEO

    AI search is rewriting the rules of digital visibility; brands that move now to build AI authority will dominate…

    Link

  • Transparent Glass Cubes in Abstract Floating Arrangement

    AI Search Loves Answers: How to Write FAQ-Driven Content for LLMs

    AI search engines prioritize answers, not just keywords. Brands that structure content in a FAQ-driven format are more likely…

    Link

  • Top of Stack: Superintelligence, Embedded Capital, and the Future of Care

    Your briefing on what’s driving AI breakthroughs, financial transformation, a reshaped healthcare landscape, and the client stories gaining ground…

    Link

  • Mexico City, MEXICO - Jan 28 2025 : DeepSeek, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude, Grok, Gemini, Runway ML and Bing icons are displayed on an iPhone. DeepSeek AI and Major AI services concept image.

    A CSO’s Guide to Using Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Grok for What They Do Best

    Many professionals treat AI tools as interchangeable. Strategic leaders know better. This guide breaks down how to use Claude,…

    Link

  • Exploring the future of document management ai algorithms analyzing stacks of digital files for enhanced efficiency and insight

    How to Choose the Right AI Optimization Provider

    Choosing the right AI Optimization provider can determine whether your brand gets cited, ranked, and recommended (or overlooked entirely).

    Link

Connect With Us

Stay in touch. Discuss your needs with us and see how we can help.