The short answer is Yes. AI Search Optimization is really a thing. I’ve read what some others have written and they suggest an overall approach to ranking well in AI search queries. But not all AI search tools are built the same, trained with the same data nor use the same methods. Ai Search Optimization is real, but there isn’t one umbrella approach to ranking well in ALL AI search platforms. They all do have one thing in common though. They are trying to provide the best answer for the questions people are asking them.
How Do Different AI Search Tools Rank Websites?
I purposely asked the wrong question in the header above. How Do Different AI Search Tools Rank Websites? I did that because that is how people think because they are used to traditional SEO. So their questions get formed based on what they already know. How do I rank my website well in AI Search? How do I get to the top of results in AI Search?
AI Search Tools don’t rank websites in the way traditional search engines do. Many do provide a list of answers and link to the source of those answers though, so in a sense, they are similar. But the AI tool is ranking the snswer, not your webpage or website.
So How Do I Get My Website Link Posted When It gives Those Answers?
Now that is the right question. How Do I Get My Website Link Posted When It gives Those Answers? Because that is exactly how it works. A user types in a question and the AI looks for the best response to their question, then links to where it found the answer.
That’s where AI SEO or AI Search Optimization comes into play. I call it AI SEO because you still have to do the traditional or local SEO as you should already be doing. Optimizing for AI Search doesn’t replace SEO. It simply adds an element that isn’t usually considered when talking about traditional SEO.
The First Question for AI SEO: Are You Providing The Answers To Their Questions?
Remember, the user is typing in a question. The AI search tool is trying to find the best answers to their question. If you are not answering that question on your website, why would the AI provide your content to the user?
Have you at least built an FAQ page for your website? That’s the bare minimum to start doing for AI Search Optimization. And, it may be even better if you are building a small FAQ section at the bottom of each page relative to what is on that page.
Adding schema markup for the FAQ section or page is also a great idea. The clearer it is for both traditional and AI search tools, the more likely it will present your answers as the solution to the user’s question.
Keep in mind, a good FAQ schema markup has all of the questions and answers exactly as they appear in your FAQ section or page. It takes a little work to do it right, but well worth it.
There is a lot more to AI Search Optimization Than Just Building Some FAQs
You aren’t going to magically start coming up in AI search just because you built some FAQs, but it’s a good start. At lead Generation And Sales, we focus on doing whatever it takes to get you more leads and sales and part of that is making sure potential buyers find you no matter where they are searching. We combine traditional and Local SEO, AI Search Optimization and Conversion Rate Optimization. We can help.
