AI now decides what gets seen online.

AI systems now influence which content shows up in answers. They scan your writing, pull out key details, and decide whether it fully answers a user’s question.

To earn visibility, you need content that’s structured for AI.
Lead with clear answers, state facts plainly, and show strong authority signals.

SEO doesn’t go far enough.
I watched as the rules changed overnight when platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT started pulling responses, summarizing content, and citing sources completely differently.

To stay visible, focus on organization and clarity.
Use descriptive headings, and on-page FAQs and embed schema markup. Cite trustworthy sources. These steps help generative engines understand—and surface—your content.

Harvard Business Review agrees — it’s time to rethink SEO: Forget What You Know About SEO

Why does this matter?

When AI systems clearly understand your content, they’re more likely to share it accurately—and more often. Which means more visibility for you.

These guidelines show you how to optimize for AI comprehension while keeping human readers engaged. Learn how people actually read online.

The New Rules

SEO helped us reach human readers through Google. But AI platforms need a new approach—enter Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Here’s how they differ.

GEO vs. AEO: Strategy vs. Execution

AEO—Answer Engine Optimization—is the strategy. It starts with a core principle: AI can’t surface what it doesn’t understand. It helps generative engines interpret, summarize, and include your content in their responses.

GEO—Generative Engine Optimization—is the execution. It turns that strategy into action. By stressing semantic clarity, contextual depth, and AI‑friendly language, GEO makes content discoverable and usable in AI answers.

In short: AEO sets the strategy; GEO executes it.

I’m going to use both names interchangeably so we don’t get tangled up in acronyms. 😎

Your Action Plan for GEO Success

PLAN IT

Make Your Content AI-Ready from the Start

1. Write in modular, answer-focused sections
   Break your content into short, focused sections—each answering a single question in 75–300 words. AI engines pull answers in chunks, so make sure each section delivers value on its own.
2. Group related topics to show AI your expertise
   Organize your content into topic clusters. Link related pages to reinforce your expertise and help AI engines understand how your content pieces fit together. (see graphic below)
3. Plan for follow-up questions
   AI search often happens in stages, with users digging deeper in the same session. Structure your content to answer the initial query, then address likely next questions or related topics. This increases your chances of appearing across multiple steps in the user’s search journey.
4. Use specific names, not generic terms
   Mention your brand, products, people, and partners by name. This helps AI systems connect your content with recognized entities.

STRUCTURE IT

1. Put your answer first, details second.
   State key stats, outcomes, and claims in straightforward language. Example: “Company X cut fraud by 35% in 12 months.” Avoid burying facts in marketing language—AI struggles to extract facts hidden inside promotional copy.
2. Write headers that sound like real questions
   Format your subheadings as questions people actually ask. This helps generative engines recognize and reuse your content when answering similar user queries.
3. Add descriptive alt text—but only for images with data or key insights
   Focus on images that show facts, processes, or results. For example, instead of saying “dashboard screenshot,” describe what the dashboard shows: “Graph showing 35% fraud reduction over 12 months.”
4. Use schema markup – it’s your direct line to AI systems
   This is one of the highest-impact changes you can make for AI visibility.
   Add FAQ, HowTo, or Product schema where it makes sense. Structured data helps AI engines understand your content’s format and key sections—making it easier for them to extract and surface your information in answers. See structured data and schema markup.

TEST IT

See If Your Content Shows Up in AI Answers

1. Check your visibility in AI engines
   Test both category searches (“Top [product type] platforms”) and branded questions (“What does [your company] do?” or “How does [product] compare to [competitor]?”). Search monthly using tools like ChatHub. If you don’t appear or the information is wrong, update your About page, product descriptions, or comparison content.

Step-by-Step Content Optimization for AI Search

Here’s what works—the steps that get your content noticed, understood, and quoted by AI engines.

Content That AI Systems Love

1. Write Page Titles People Actually Search For

Your page title is what shows up in search results and browser tabs.

Why it matters: It’s how both people and AI figure out what your page covers.

Best Practice: Make every page title unique and focused. Summarize your content’s value clearly—without repeating exact phrases from the body text. Use our free tool to visualize your meta data.

2. Create In-Depth, Comprehensive Content

Your content needs to answer real questions with clear facts, insights, and explanations. Think comprehensive coverage—typically 1,500 words or more.

Skip the surface-level stuff. AI search rewards unique data, expert insights, and actionable comparisons. Pages that actually help users understand, decide, or solve problems win.

What to include:

• Multiple perspectives on the topic
• Real examples and case studies
• Cite data that backs up what you’re saying
• Plain-English definitions instead of jargon
• Your own frameworks, tips, or templates

Example: Instead of a thin overview on “What is cloud computing?” dive deep with sections on service types, implementation strategies, costs, and security. Reference specific examples from AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud—not generic advice.

3. Make Your Text Easy for LLMs to Read — and Quote

AI models don’t browse—they extract. If your content isn’t structured for machines to understand, it won’t get quoted.

Use formatting that machines understand:

• Use H2s and H3s to separate ideas clearly
• Create FAQs and question-based headings to boost snippet potential
• Add bullets, bold terms, and clear formatting
• Include clear captions—these help AI summarize your visuals and make content more accessible to all readers.

How do you write a “citation-ready” paragraph?

4. Focus on Topic Relevance—Not Keywords

AI systems work differently than traditional search engines. They focus on natural language patterns and topic relevance, not exact keyword matches.

Write like you talk. Use different ways to describe the same concept—the way people naturally do in conversations. Spread these variations across your page, but don’t force awkward repetition.

Keep your language varied and authentic. Clear communication beats keyword stuffing every time.

Example: When writing about “digital marketing strategies,” you might naturally mention phrases like “online marketing tactics” or “ways to reach your audience online.”

5. Cover the Full Buyer Journey—So AI Can Too

Your content should guide people through their entire decision process:

• Awareness: Explain the basics.
• Consideration: Help users compare solutions.
• Decision: Show what happens next.

Match your content to where people actually are. Keep early-stage content light and educational. Make decision-stage content detailed and action-focused.

Content Formats and Organization

6. Mix your Content Formats—But Make Each One Count

Combine text, video, images, and interactive elements—but only when they actually add something new.

Help AI understand what you’re showing. Add descriptive captions for key images, text summaries for videos, or quick explanations for charts and interactive elements.

Example: Support a written explanation with an infographic, a short how-to video, or an interactive chart—just make sure every element is properly labeled and described.

Authority and Trust Building

E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) determines whether AI systems trust your content enough to quote it. Here’s how to build those signals:

7. Build Authority and Earn Trust

• Showcase author expertise & accountability
  • Show credentials and relevant professional experience
  • Link to author profiles or bios when it adds credibility
  • Add organizational or author contact details
  • Include editorial review or fact-checking statements where appropriate
• Build third-party trust signals
  • Get quoted or linked from trusted domains (e.g., Wikipedia, industry publications, forums). AI Trains on Wikipedia – you should too.
  • Earn citations via expert comments, guest articles, or original research (charts, data, short studies)
  • Mention trusted sources to help LLMs connect your content with credible information
• Use original and data-backed content
  • Publish proprietary research (surveys, short studies, unique charts or data)
  • Clearly label original findings to help LLMs recognize them
  • Support every claim with stats, studies, or measurable outcomes
  • Content with specific data points is 30-40% more likely to appear in LLM responses. 1
  • Answer fact-based questions with precise, sourced data
• Keep content fresh and transparent
  • Include clear publish and revision dates
  • Update regularly to maintain accuracy and relevance—review high-value pages every 90 days
• Cite authoritative voices
  • Use direct quotes from subject matter experts—especially on complex or technical topics
  • Reference reputable sources and institutions to strengthen credibility
  • Mention and link to trusted publications, research organizations, or government data.  Example: According to the Harvard Business Review (2023), AI adoption in marketing has doubled in the past two years.
• Write with authority and confidence
  • Make clear, specific, evidence-backed claims
  • Avoid hedging language (“might,” “could,” “some people say”)
  • An authoritative tone makes your content up to 30% more likely to appear in AI-generated answers and build reader trust.

AI-Ready Content Structure & Rendering

8. Build Topic Clusters to Reinforce Authority

Internal linking does more than help people navigate. When you group related content around a core topic and connect those pages consistently, you show AI what your site is actually about.

Think of it as creating a topic cluster:

• Create a pillar page that covers the main topic
• Linked sub-pages dive into related, specific ideas
• Every link reinforces the relationship between them

Example: Link your “Introduction to Machine Learning” page to focused posts on algorithms, applications, and real-world use cases.

This approach works for both AI and humans—it shows you actually know your stuff.

Want to show up in Google AI summaries?

Focus on longer, question-based queries—these are the ones Google selects for AI Overviews.

Pew’s research makes it clear: if your content doesn’t appear in the summary, users probably won’t see it. They’re skipping the blue links—even the top ones.

Research: % of Google searches in March 2025 that produced an AI Overview

Here’s what to do:

• Rewrite the opening to answer the main question in 1–2 clear sentences. Keep it tight—30 to 50 words max.
• Break up dense text. Add FAQs, definitions, and bullets. Maximum sentence length: 20 words.
• Monitor in Google Analytics your web pages that receive LLM traffic.

9. FAQ & Schema Markup Optimization

Think of schema as Google’s cheat sheet—it tells search engines exactly what your content means, not just what it says.

The strategy is simple: Add FAQs two ways—visible ones for readers, schema markup for search engines. The visible content gets quoted; schema makes it discoverable.

Add FAQs two ways: visible ones for your readers, and schema markup for search engines. The visible content is what gets quoted—schema just makes it easier to find and understand.

Start by identifying the questions your sales team hears most often—or use tools like ChatGPT to uncover common customer queries.

Keep answers short and focused—about 2 to 4 sentences per question. Use a simple, structured Q&A format (see the FAQ section at the bottom of this page for an example).

For complex topics, create dedicated FAQ pages and update regularly based on emerging customer questions.

When creating FAQ schema, optimize specifically for AI models:

• Keep answers concise and directly relevant to the question.
• Avoid fluff, over-promotion, or vague language.
• Use “Definition:” headers for AI models that prioritize term extraction.
• Add a “Summary:” section at the end of longer topics to help AI models generate accurate overviews.
• Apply schema to blogs, product pages, and service sections

Use our FAQ Schema tool to quickly create structured markup for your FAQs—no coding needed.

10. Optimize for Voice Search

Think like your customer asking a friend for advice. When someone asks Siri or Alexa a question, they don’t say “enterprise cloud solutions”—they ask “What’s the best way to move my business to the cloud?” Write your content using these natural, question-based phrases that people actually speak out loud.

Mobile-first isn’t optional anymore— it’s where 80% of voice searches happen.

If location matters, tie it to real business problems. Not “Chicago companies”—try “Midwest expansion” or “California compliance issues.

Real talk:Ditch corporate speak. Instead of “enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure solutions,” say “Stop server crashes during busy season with reliable cloud platforms.”

11. Make Sure AI Can Actually Read Your Website

Many websites load content using fancy code that AI search tools can’t read. If your site does this, AI might see blank pages instead of your actual content.

Quick check: Does your page content appear instantly when you visit, or does it “load in” after a second? If it loads in, AI probably can’t see it.

The fix: Work with your developer to make sure your main content loads immediately in plain HTML. This includes:

• Page headlines and text
• Product descriptions
• Key information AI should know about

Why this matters: AI tools are training on websites and powering search results. If they can’t read your content, you’re invisible to the next generation of search.

Learn more about AI crawlers.

12. Measure the Payoff: Track AI-Driven Traffic

Your AI optimization work means nothing if you can’t prove it’s working.

Monitor referral traffic from AI platforms using Google Analytics. Look for visitors from chat.openai.com, perplexity.ai, and similar domains that pass referrer data.

Focus on patterns, not single spikes. Watch for:

• • Increases in branded searches (people discovering you through AI)
  • Longer time on page from AI referrals
  • Higher engagement on AI-optimized content

Google doesn’t separate AI Overview clicks from regular organic traffic—they’re completely blended together. No workaround exists.

If showing up in AI Overviews matters to you, the best way to check is to run manual searches for your target terms/questions and see if your content appears.

The Proof

After applying GEO best practices, this FBO Accounts article quickly reached Google’s top 3 organic results for ‘FBO accounts.’ It also appears in Google’s AI Overviews—proof that AI-optimized content drives both search ranking and AI answer visibility.

Are You Ready for a World Where Prospects May Never Visit Your Website?

AI agents are changing how buyers make decisions.

Instead of clicking search results, buyers now ask AI assistants for advice—and those assistants do the research for them.

Content must “speak to the machines”

Your content needs to speak to these autonomous decision-makers.Structure it as clear, factual answers that AI agents can easily find, understand, and quote in their recommendations.

In this future, your visibility depends on being quotable, trustworthy, and everywhere agents look.

GEO Implementation Strategy

Start by applying these optimization techniques to your highest-priority content:

• • 1. 1. • Core service or product pages
          • Key educational resources
          • High-traffic blog posts
          • Landing pages

Free Tools You’ll Need for Implementation

🔧 Run a quick content audit for a URL. Spot issues with structure, headings, summaries, and readability—before you rewrite.

🔧 Test your content with our content optimizer. Paste any URL to get a rewritten, AI-friendly draft—structured for search engines and LLMs.

🔧 Create FAQ Schema Markup: Turn Q&As into structured data. Paste your content and get ready-to-use schema—no coding required!

Results We’ve Seen

Once we began optimizing content for Galileo-FT.com for AI discovery, referrals from ChatGPT jumped to the client’s #7 traffic source—a clear sign that AI-focused content strategies drive measurable results.

Speak AI

Your New Marketing Dictionary →

• Content Architecture
  How you organize and structure information across your site to help both humans and AI find and understand it.
• Content Summarization 
  How AI condenses your page into a brief answer or snippet. If your content isn’t clearly structured, AI may misrepresent—or skip—it entirely.
• Generative AI
  AI tools that create new content—like text, images, code, or audio—based on patterns from their training data.
• LLM (Large Language Model)
  AI systems like ChatGPT and Claude that process and understand human language.
• Semantic Search
  A context-aware search approach where AI focuses on understanding user intent—not just keywords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: 2025-08-25 — We keep this page current with the latest research on how LLMs read, rank, and summarize content.