How to Do SEO for AI Search Engines
AI search engines like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Copilot don’t just look at single pages — they analyse entities, relationships, and authority across the web. Traditional SEO still matters, but you now also need to think in terms of Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).
The goal is simple: make it easy for AI systems to understand who you are, what you do, and why you’re a trusted source for specific topics or locations.
Key Principles of SEO for AI Search
-
Build clear topical authority:
Create clusters of content around your core services or products. Each cluster should include a main page and supporting articles that answer related questions in depth. -
Optimise for entities, not just keywords:
Make your brand, services, locations, and key people unambiguous. Use consistent naming, schema markup, and clear “About” content so AI can confidently connect you to your niche. -
Use structured data and schema:
Mark up services, FAQs, reviews, organisation details, and local business information. This helps AI models parse and trust your data more easily. -
Answer questions directly:
Include concise, well-structured answers to common questions (who, what, where, how much, how long, why). These are exactly the types of responses AI engines like to surface. -
Strengthen off-site signals:
Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details, strong profiles on key platforms, and relevant mentions/links all help AI systems see you as a credible source. -
Prioritise clarity and trust:
Real reviews, case studies, team pages, and transparent service descriptions all contribute to trust signals that AI engines increasingly factor into their answers.
Practical Steps to Optimise for AI Search
- Create FAQ and “explainer” content around your services and industry questions.
- Use schema markup for LocalBusiness, Service, FAQPage, Product, and Article where relevant.
- Ensure brand consistency across your website, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, and directories.
- Write in natural language that matches how people actually ask questions.
- Keep technical SEO solid so your content is easily crawlable, fast, and indexable.
Think of AI search optimisation as “SEO plus context”: you’re not just ranking pages, you’re training multiple AI systems to recognise your brand as the right answer for specific problems.
Get Strategic SEO for the AI Era
If you want to align your SEO with how AI search engines actually work, Thinkin’ IT can help you design a strategy that focuses on entities, topical authority, and real-world business outcomes.
From technical foundations to content architecture and AI-aware optimisation, Thinkin’ IT can help position your brand to be surfaced more often in AI-generated answers and modern search experiences.
Talk to Thinkin’ IT About AI-Era SEO
If you’re serious about staying visible as search shifts toward AI-driven results, now is the time to adapt your SEO strategy — not wait until your competitors are already there.
