C2S kicked off 2026 with its latest Brand & Marketing Focus event, bringing together marketing leaders and professionals responsible for driving growth through strategy, lead generation, employer branding, profile raising and marketing performance.
This session formed part of a new series of practical marketing workshops, designed to help businesses understand and respond to the rapid changes taking place in digital marketing – particularly the growing influence of AI and tools such as ChatGPT on how people search, discover and trust brands.
Led by Daniel Jenkins and Prudence Bond from Wagada Digital, the workshop explored how AI-powered search and generative tools are fundamentally changing the rules. Search is no longer just about keywords and rankings; it’s about how AI interprets content, who it trusts, and which businesses it chooses to surface as credible answers.
Attendees gained insight into how platforms like ChatGPT and AI-driven search engines source information, assess authority and prioritise relevance. The session focused on what businesses need to be looking for now – including content quality, clarity of expertise, consistency, local relevance and trust signals – and why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough.
Daniel and Prudence introduced the emerging disciplines of AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation), AIO (AI Optimisation) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), explaining how these form the foundation of an effective AI search strategy. Businesses were encouraged to think differently about content – not just to rank, but to answer, educate and position themselves as the trusted source AI platforms rely on.
Part 1 of the workshop explored how AI is already influencing search behaviour and creating new opportunities for lead generation, visibility and brand authority. Attendees also looked at the challenges this presents, what risks businesses face if they fail to adapt, and the practical steps marketers should be taking now to build AI-readiness into their strategy.
Part 2, taking place on 25 February, will go deeper into implementation, tools and tactics, helping businesses turn insight into action and confidently navigate this new era of AI-driven search.
The session was delivered by Daniel Jenkins and Prudence Bond of C2S Growth Consultancy’s official partners, Wagada Digital – a HubSpot Partner, and received outstanding feedback, with 100% of attendees saying the event was a great use of their time and highly insightful.
👉 Book your place for Part 2: https://www.c2sgrowth.com/all-events/
C2S continues to support the business community through insightful, practical events that help organisations stay visible, relevant and ahead in an ever-changing digital landscape.
