The world seems obsessed with AI, and while it’s exciting, it’s also hard to keep up. If you’re a marketing manager or a business owner, the fact that people are increasingly finding information through AI search engines and AI overviews means that how you approach your SEO likely needs a rethink. It’s no longer enough to appear in the list of blue links on a results page. Sure, it’s still a win, but now we have Al overviews and conversational bots giving direct answers before a user even clicks. So, if it’s visibility you want, it’s worth investing some time in understanding how to play the game and get your content appearing in answer engines as well as traditional organic search results.
“What business owner has time to research AI search best practices?” we hear you ask. Don’t worry, we’ve put together a quick-read article that covers the basics, all without the jargon, to get you up-to-speed.
What is AI search optimisation?
AI search optimisation is the process of making your content easily digestible for large language models (LLMs). While traditional SEO focuses on ranking high in Google, this newer approach focuses on being the cited source that an Al uses to build its answer. Think of it as making sure your business is the one the Al recommends when someone asks for the best [insert product or service here] in the UK.
What’s the difference between optimising for AI search and traditional search results?
Traditional SEO is all about ranking and getting clicks from Google’s traditional search results pages. Optimising for AI search (AEO) is a different kettle of fish and requires appeasing AI bots.
- While SEO obsesses over specific keywords, AI search cares about entities and how well you cover a whole topic.
- You’re moving from a Rank → Click → Convert model to an online search model where 60% of searches end with no click at all.
As both an SEO and AEO agency, we strongly recommend that you don’t jump the gun and choose one type of optimisation over the other. In 2026, you need a dual visibility strategy that helps you stay on top of the traditional results while also getting cited by the bots for those that have made the switch to AI search. This will also help you get noticed in the no-click search trend that we’re seeing.
How to optimise content for AI search?
If you’re after specific ideas on what to add or how to optimise content for AI search, we’d start with the following (especially for your informational, blog content):
- Prioritise factual accuracy as Al models prefer data that is verified and consistent across multiple reputable sources.
- Use clear formatting, including subheadings and bullet point lists, as this helps machines read your site better without getting confused.
- Focus on user intent that answers questions your users are asking rather than just targeting broad, vague keywords.
- Regularly update content to ensure it’s more likely to be pulled into a real-time Al response.
- Apply schema to communicate the type of content and information you’re presenting. This gets picked up by AI agents and helps them decide if your content is worth showing. Schema types to prioritise include FAQ, product and article/blog post schema.
- Use question-based headings where appropriate and answer the question within the first 40-60 words. Get straight to the point.
- Add checklists, bullet point lists and comparison tables (the easier your content is to scan, the better). Oh, and avoid big walls of text. General best writing practices include keeping sentences under 20 words and paragraphs below 150 words.
- Add case study examples to back up your points and provide real-life experience.
- Add key takeaways either at the beginning or the end of your article. This should be presented in a bullet point list and provide a summary of the answers that users are looking for.
- Communicate your expertise as LLMs favour content that shows real-world experience and expertise. Be the expert that Al wants to quote (and that humans want to read).
This is by no means an exhaustive list. However, it’s a great starting point that applies to most LLMs. If you know your audience and customer base lean more towards a particular platform, such as Claude or Gemini, it’s worth looking into the specific optimisation best practices for that LLM. They all look for slightly different elements to decide what’s worthy to present to users.
How do LLMs understand the content they process?
LLMs don’t read content like we do, they don’t enjoy a coffee while browsing your blog. They use patterns to predict what information is most helpful to a prompt. They look for entities, such as your specific services, and how they relate to the user’s problem. If your content is vague, the Al will simply skip it and find a competitor who gets to the point.
How can you appear in AI overviews and featured snippets?
To get into those coveted boxes at the top of the search page, you must provide concise answers to common questions. Use clear headings and keep your definitions sharp. If someone asks “how to improve gym member retention,” your article should provide a clear list that an Al can easily scrape and credit back to you. The points listed above should help you out here.
Get your website noticed in LLMs without becoming an expert
Let’s be honest, you have a business to run and enough on your plate without worrying about the latest LLM algorithm update. This is where Echo comes in. We’re an expert AEO agency that acts as a partner for your online success.
Our team lives by a Be Better mentality. We stay ahead of industry trends so you don’t have to spend your weekends reading tech journals. With over 150 5-star Google reviews, we have a proven track record of helping SMEs continue to thrive during technical shifts. Whether it’s an AEO or traditional SEO strategy, our multi-channel experts ensure your brand remains the primary choice in your sector.
Contact us to see how we can help your website get noticed in LLMs and Al overviews.
Contact Us Give Us A Call
