Pioneering AI and AEO-powered commerce

  • ClientJBL
  • IndustryConsumer Product
  • ServicesAI-Enabled Business Transformation · Marketing · Customer Experience
  • CapabilitiesData, Analytics, AI/ML Services · CRM & Loyalty Strategy · AI · Analysis and Strategy · AI Search and Chat · Content strategy · Audience insights · Search · Opportunity Analysis

How JBL stayed discoverable as AI changed shopping

Shopping discovery is shifting fast as people move from traditional search to social feeds and LLM-powered assistants for recommendations. For brands, that change raises the stakes: visibility now depends on showing up across the places and formats where AI-driven answers are formed. JBL moved early to adapt its strategy for this new discovery landscape.

We helped JBL get first-mover advantage in the AI search era by pivoting early to “surround search” (social + LLM + web), before most brands even started. That meant building a presence where shoppers actually discover products now, not just where they used to.

The result was a stronger foundation for AI-era visibility and a clearer path to capture demand as discovery continues to fragment across platforms. It positioned JBL to compete as LLMs increasingly shape what people see, trust, and buy.

Key Takeaways

01

Captured first-mover advantage by pivoting early to “surround search” (social + LLM + web).

02

Rewired the editorial engine to match real search intent to the right platforms.

03

Made content readable for humans and AI gatekeepers to boost discoverability.

04

Stayed visible as AI reshapes product discovery through early surround-search investment.

0:00/0:00

Impact

By pivoting early to a surround-search approach across social, LLMs, and the web, JBL turned early signals into a clear, long-term strategy built for how people discover products now. The work helped JBL show up more consistently where shoppers are searching and engaging, translating that shift into measurable momentum.

From speakers to headphones to earbuds, JBL’s brand is all about joyful expression and amazing sound. But to connect with customers, you need to be heard in search.

With 77% of TikTok users using the platform for search, we expanded JBL’s strategy beyond Google to meet audiences where discovery now happens—across social and LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

By zeroing in on LLM-driven experiences, we re-engineered JBL’s content to surface faster, scan better, and align with how consumers navigate AI-powered shopping.

From strategy to scalable results

Building on the shift toward AI- and social-first discovery, YouTube Shorts delivered:

  • Top placement on JBL’s channel
  • Some of the brand’s highest engagement
  • More discoverable, highly browsable content

By blending real-time seasonal trends with long-tail opportunities, the team built a consistent, optimized presence—showing how LLM-driven strategy and platform-native creativity can work together to create impact.

Winning surround search in the AI era

We helped JBL get first-mover advantage in the AI search era by pivoting early to “surround search” (social + LLM + web), before most brands even started.

The work improved the consistency of JBL’s visibility across social platforms, LLMs, and the broader web. We aligned strategy, content, and technical foundations so each channel reinforced the same signals and priorities. That alignment created a repeatable framework JBL can scale and adapt as discovery behaviors continue to evolve.

In the Press

01

‘Search is everywhere’

How JBL is retooling its search efforts for AI

Let’s get to work. Start a conversation.

newbiz@codeandtheory.com

Code and Theory is a proud member of Stagwell Group. Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

Decode

Keep up with the culture, one newsletter at a time. Subscribe to DECODE:

Find Us

One World Trade Center,


69th Floor


New York, NY 10007



© 2026 Code and Theory, LLC. All rights reserved.