LLM-SEO Content Funnel
A practical system to help your content get cited, summarized, and surfaced in AI-led search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity...
Foundational SEO Access
Goal: Make content accessible to LLMs
Tactics:
- Target long-tail queries
- Add schema markup
- Build SERP trust signals
- Ensure crawlable structure
Ask: Can LLMs crawl this?
LLM-Trusted Content
Goal: Deliver expert, high-quality content
Tactics:
- Prioritize high-quality writing
- Showcase expertise and experience
- Use FAQs and comparison tables
- Cite credible sources clearly
Ask: Would AI quote this?
Owned Visibility Optimization
Goal: Match real LLM product queries
Tactics:
- Mirror real prompt formats
- Use FAQs, lists, how-tos
- Match phrasing in headers
- Write for retrieval intent
Ask: Will AI cite this?
Earned Mention Optimization
Goal: Gain recognition via mentions
Tactics:
- List on public data sources
- Publish on trusted platforms
- Earn mentions on trusted sites
- Use structured data sets
Ask: Am I remembered by LLMs?
Retrieval Feedback Loop
Goal: Boost AI citations
Tactics:
- Track citations & prompts
- Monitor AI answers
- Refresh top content
- Benchmark retrieved topics
Ask: What are we cited for?
Your content gets discovered, trusted, cited, and remembered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LLM-SEO Content Funnel?
The LLM-SEO Content Funnel is a 5-step framework for optimizing content to be discovered, trusted, and cited by AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. It moves from foundational accessibility through quality, optimization, earned mentions, and finally continuous improvement via feedback loops.
Why is foundational SEO access still important for AI?
97% of AI citations come from pages ranking in the top 20 organic results. AI systems rely heavily on content that's already validated by traditional search signals. Without foundational SEO—schema markup, crawlable structure, SERP trust signals—your content won't be accessible to AI retrieval systems.
What makes content "LLM-trusted"?
LLM-trusted content demonstrates expertise through high-quality writing, credible source citations, structured formats (FAQs, comparison tables), and clear demonstration of experience. AI systems are trained to recognize and prefer content that exhibits E-E-A-T signals even in unstructured ways.
How do earned mentions affect AI visibility?
Earned mentions on trusted platforms (Reddit, Wikipedia, industry publications) signal authority to AI systems. When your brand is mentioned across multiple credible sources, AI learns to associate you with specific topics and is more likely to cite you in responses.
What is a retrieval feedback loop?
A retrieval feedback loop is the practice of systematically monitoring which content AI cites, for which prompts, and using that data to improve. Track your citations, analyze prompt patterns, refresh high-performing content, and benchmark against competitors. This continuous optimization compounds results over time.
How long does the funnel take to show results?
Foundational SEO improvements can show AI visibility gains within 2-4 weeks. Building LLM-trusted content and earning mentions typically takes 2-4 months. Meaningful share of voice in AI responses usually requires 4-6 months of systematic funnel execution with continuous feedback loop optimization.
Ready to Dominate AI Search Results?
Our SEO agency specializes in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies that get your brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. We combine traditional SEO expertise with cutting-edge AI visibility tactics.