Streaming, Smarter Ads, and AEO: What’s Powering Digital Marketing Right Now

Digital marketing is moving fast, and three trends are leading the charge. Streaming has transformed from a source of entertainment into a powerhouse for ad dollars, giving brands more flexibility and reach than ever. At the same time, Google is rolling out advanced AI tools that cut down on invalid traffic, saving advertisers money and improving campaign performance. And on the horizon, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is reshaping how businesses connect with customers as more searches shift to AI-driven platforms. Together, these changes are rewriting the playbook for how dealerships and brands win online. 

Streaming Continues to Gain Steam 

Prime-time linear TV ad revenue dropped to $17.8 billion, down 3.2 percent from the previous year. Streaming, on the other hand, surged to $13.2 billion, an 18 percent increase over the last year. Netflix and other platforms are doubling down on advertising spend, using exclusive content and sports to attract ad buyers. For dealerships and brands, this shift makes placing ads on streaming platforms a necessity – it’s where consumers are actively engaging. And at cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) rates of $27.25 on average for streaming, marketers are finding value gains over traditional broadcasting. 

Google Expands Use of AI to Detect Invalid Ad Traffic 

Ad fraud has long been the bane of digital advertising, but Google is augmenting its defenses. With Google Research and DeepMind’s cutting-edge large language models, the company has introduced industry-leading guardrails that have already delivered a 40 percent reduction in invalid traffic (IVT) from abusive ad behavior. That means fewer wasted clicks, less money spent on paid advertising, and a more efficient route to reaching real customers. Google advertisers will notice this change as more targeted results and improved return on every campaign. 

The Rise of AEO 

AEO is quickly becoming the new frontier. With more searches being managed by AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, consumers are searching for straightforward answers instead of merely links. Dealership specialists explain that AEO allows your content to be optimized for these answer engines – meaning when customers search a question, your business is offering the answer. It’s the future of search engine optimization, and AEO-accepting dealerships get out in front of the competition as buyer behavior moves toward AI-based search. 

How Strong Automotive Keeps You Ahead 

From streaming ad strategies to smarter paid campaigns and the future of AEO, the digital marketing landscape is changing rapidly. As others keep pace, Strong Automotive drives your dealership ahead of the curve. By combining data-driven information with effective marketing practices, we help you reach real people, avoid wasted ad dollars, and put your dealership’s solutions in front of today’s AI-powered buyers. Strong Automotive makes sure your dealership is heard where the customers are viewing/listening the most.