Optimise Content For AI Search
From being found to being chosen
The New Era Of Visibility
Key Points:
- Traditional SEO still matters, but now, AI parses content into smaller chunks.
- Each chunk is ranked for authority, clarity, and relevance.
- AI assistants like Copilot or Siri assemble final answers from multiple sources.
How To Structure Content For AI Search
Title, Description, and H1
Align your title, H1, and description to the same topic.
Title: Best Quiet Dishwashers for Open Kitchens
H1: Quietest Dishwashers for Modern Homes
Description: Explore dishwashers under 42dB for modern, open homes.
Headings (H2s, H3s)
Use descriptive section headers: "Why this dishwasher is quieter" beats "Learn more."
Schema Markup (Your Secret Weapon)
Schema = structured data in code (usually JSON-LD). It helps AI understand what your page represents, not just what it says.
Add schema for:
List & Tables
Use bullets for comparisons and step-by-steps.
Q&A Format
Perfect for AI selection.
Q: How loud is the dishwasher?
A: It operates at 42 dB — quieter than most models.
Make It Snippable
- Short, direct answers (1–2 sentences).
- Lists and tables for clarity.
- Strong, descriptive headings.
- Self-contained sentences that stand alone.
Mistakes That Kill AI Visibility
- Long walls of text → AI can't separate ideas.
- Hidden or tabbed answers → Often ignored by crawlers.
- PDFs for key info → Lack structured tags.
- Text-only images → Use alt text or HTML.
Make It Snippable
- Short, direct answers (1–2 sentences).
- Lists and tables for clarity.
- Strong, descriptive headings.
- Self-contained sentences that stand alone.
AI Search Visibility Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "being chosen" mean in AI search?
Traditional SEO focuses on being found (ranking in results). AI search focuses on being chosen—having your content selected and cited as the answer. seoClarity found 97% of AI Overviews cite pages from top-20 organic results, but they choose specific excerpts. Your content competes not just for visibility, but for selection as the definitive answer among all ranked content.
Why does AI parse content into chunks?
AI systems don't read pages like humans. They break content into smaller "chunks" (paragraphs, lists, Q&As), evaluate each for relevance and authority, then assemble answers from best chunks across multiple sources. Perplexity uses 3-8 sub-queries per search, seeking specific answers. Structuring content into clear, self-contained chunks (40-60 words) makes extraction easier.
What's the most important structural change I can make?
Align your title, H1, and meta description to the same topic—this signals clear intent. Then structure content with descriptive H2/H3 headings that could stand alone as questions. AI extracts headings as queries. Listicles outperform other formats (32.5% trigger AI Overviews). "Why this dishwasher is quieter" is extractable; "Learn more" is not.
Why do PDFs hurt AI visibility?
PDFs lack structured HTML tags AI uses to understand hierarchy. AI can read PDF text, but can't easily parse headings, lists, or Q&A structures. Important information in PDFs is often invisible to AI selection. Convert key PDF content to HTML pages with proper structure, schema markup, and question-based headers if you want AI citations.
How do I make content "snippable"?
Write self-contained sentences that answer questions without requiring context. Lead with direct answers (40-60 words), use lists and tables for comparisons, ensure each paragraph stands alone. Pages with semantic URLs (5-7 words describing content) get 11.4% more citations. Test by asking: "Could AI extract this paragraph as a complete answer?"
Which schema types help most for AI selection?
FAQ schema has highest impact—87% average CTR for FAQ rich results. HowTo schema increases organic clicks by 60%. Product and Review schema help e-commerce. Only 44% of sites use schema globally—implementing it gives competitive advantage. Pages with schema see 2.5x more AI citations because AI extracts structured data more reliably than parsing unstructured text.
How do I test if my content is AI-optimised?
Run queries in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini that your content should answer. Check if you're cited and how your content appears. Test extraction by asking: "Could AI pull this paragraph as a complete answer?" Use tools to validate schema markup. Monitor referral traffic from AI sources. The best test is direct: ask AI the questions your content addresses.
The CITE Framework™ for AI Content
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.