Case Study: Bitly Becomes a Top-Cited Brand in AI Search with Foundation Marketing

Bitly grows link shortener citation share to 11.7% with Foundation Marketing

Bitly, a provider of link management and QR code software, faced the challenge of buyers increasingly turning to community forums and AI tools for product recommendations. These sources, which Bitly did not control, were influencing purchase decisions. Foundation Marketing was engaged to help Bitly build a more intentional and consistent presence on these platforms, particularly Reddit, to influence AI search results and buyer research.

Foundation Marketing implemented a Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) program focused on establishing a credible, non-promotional presence on Reddit. The solution included creating native content engineered to rank in search and be cited by AI, growing a branded subreddit, and continuously tracking citations across large language models. As a result, Bitly achieved an 11.7% citation share for link shorteners, nearly double its next competitor, and saw Reddit referral sessions increase by 422%. Foundation Marketing's strategy successfully positioned Bitly as a top-cited brand in AI search answers.

Bitly