I’ve been discussing this topic repeatedly over the past year, and it’s becoming clearer than ever—AI-driven search is transforming the way websites gain visibility. With tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews changing how information is delivered, the fight for digital attention is only getting tougher.
Instead of users browsing through multiple search results, AI tools now curate answers directly. This shift has massive implications for businesses. If your content isn’t structured and optimised for machine understanding, it could be completely overlooked, even if it’s high quality.
The Challenge: Fewer Spots for Visibility
In traditional search results, you had 10 blue links on Google’s first page. Now, with AI overviews and summaries, only 2-3 sites might get referenced, leaving others out. This trend means businesses need to start to adapt their SEO strategies or risk losing visibility in the future.
The Solution: Make Your Content AI-Friendly
To win these top spots, your website needs to become AI-optimised, meaning:
- Highly structured and scannable – Content that’s easy for algorithms to interpret and extract key points from.
- Rich with context and examples – Providing depth and relevance for user questions.
- Regularly updated – AI tools prioritise fresh content for accurate recommendations.
The good news? We’re right at the beginning of this paradigm shift in Google search. My recommendation would be to start to let this idea of change percolate. When you’re ready, you can easily start chipping away at some of these strategies below and prepare yourself for this AI-driven search evolution.
Ready? Let’s Go!
1. Enhance Headlines and Subheadings
Write clear, informative, and keyword-rich headings. Use H2 and H3 tags to break content into digestible sections, making it easier for AI tools to extract relevant information for user queries.
2. Provide Direct Answers Early
Start each article or section with a concise, direct answer to the topic at hand. A short, definitional statement improves the chances of being picked up by AI tools for quick summaries.
3. Format for Easy Reading
Use bullet points, numbered lists, tables, and bold text to break up content. This improves both human and machine readability, enhancing your content’s accessibility.
4. Use Long-Tail Keywords Naturally
Incorporate natural language keywords and related phrases. People interact with AI tools in conversational ways, so align your content with how users ask questions. Use Google’s “People Also Ask” for keyword inspiration.
5. Optimise Page Load Speed
Fast websites rank higher. Improve your load speed using caching tools like WP Rocket and test performance with Google PageSpeed Insights and Core Web Vitals.
6. Implement Structured Data Markup
Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to add schema markup to your content. Structured data helps AI better understand and classify your page’s information.
7. Include Real-World Examples and Use Cases
Rich content often includes case studies, actionable insights, and real-world scenarios. This depth makes your content more valuable and likely to be referenced in AI-generated summaries.
8. Keep Content Updated
Ensure your content is fresh and relevant. Ideally, no article should be over a year old. Set reminders to update key posts every 6-12 months.
9. Add FAQ Sections
Include FAQ blocks at the end of articles with short, direct answers. This format is perfect for AI tools, which often pull content for Q&A summaries.
10. Use Clear, Simple Language
Avoid jargon and complex phrasing. Write as if you’re explaining the topic to a beginner, increasing clarity for both human readers and AI tools.
11. Embed Rich Media
Use optimised images, charts, videos, and social media embeds to enrich your content. AI tools are starting to pull multimedia for enhanced responses, so make your content visually engaging.
12. Earn High-Authority Backlinks
Secure backlinks from authoritative sites like news outlets or industry blogs. The more respected sites link to you, the better your chances of being recommended in AI-driven search results.
13. Encourage Audience Interaction
Prompt readers to leave comments and share your content. Engagement signals authority and can improve both AI recommendations and organic rankings.
14. Monitor Traffic Sources
Use Google Analytics to track whether traffic is coming from AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity. Identify your most successful pages and apply those strategies site-wide.
15. Leverage AI Tools for SEO
Use AI tools like Claude to optimise your SEO efforts. AI can help you streamline many of these tasks, making your content even more competitive.
Wrapping Up
AI-driven search isn’t just a trend—it’s reshaping the way people find information online. If you want your content to stand out and get recommended by tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews, then now is probably a good time to start.
Following these 15 actionable strategies will improve your site’s visibility and build long-term authority in your industry.