AI SEO Basics: Get Your Site Ready for AI Search

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

1. Set up your website with the SEO fundamentals that AI search engines require
2. Structure your content to match how people ask AI questions
3. Build the credibility signals that make AI systems trust your content
4. Keep your content fresh and relevant for AI-powered search results

Introduction

AI-powered search is changing how people find information online. When someone asks Google's AI or ChatGPT a question, these systems scan the web for trustworthy, well-structured content to reference in their answers.

Getting your site featured in AI search results can drive significant traffic and establish your authority. The good news is that AI SEO builds on traditional SEO principles, with some key adjustments for how AI systems read and evaluate content.

This chapter covers the practical steps to make your website AI-ready, from technical setup to content strategy.

Lessons

Lesson 1: Get Your Technical Foundation Right

AI systems need to crawl and understand your site before they can reference it. Start with these technical basics:

Step 1: Check your site's crawlability

• Open Google Search Console and review your coverage report
• Fix any crawl errors or blocked pages
• Ensure your sitemap is submitted and up to date

Step 2: Optimise for speed and security

• Test your page loading speed using PageSpeed Insights
• Ensure all pages use HTTPS (look for the padlock in your browser)
• Compress images and minimise plugins that slow loading times

Step 3: Structure your content clearly

• Use descriptive page titles (50-60 characters)
• Write meta descriptions that summarise your content (150-160 characters)
• Use heading tags (H1, H2, H3) to create a logical content hierarchy

Lesson 2: Write for How People Ask Questions

AI search often responds to natural, conversational queries. Your content needs to match this style:

Step 1: Include question-based headings

• Use headings like "How do I optimise images for SEO?" instead of just "Image Optimisation"
• Answer the question directly in the first paragraph under each heading

Step 2: Target long-tail, conversational keywords

• Focus on phrases people actually say: "best SEO plugin for small business" rather than just "SEO plugin"
• Include location-specific terms if relevant to your audience

Step 3: Create FAQ sections

• Add FAQ sections to your main pages
• Answer common questions your audience asks
• Keep answers concise but complete

Lesson 3: Build Trust and Authority

AI systems prioritise content from sources they consider reliable. Here's how to build that trust:

Step 1: Showcase your expertise

• Add an author bio with relevant credentials
• Include an "About" page that explains your background
• Display any certifications, awards, or professional experience

Step 2: Link to authoritative sources

• Reference reputable websites and studies
• Link to government sites, academic papers, or industry leaders
• Cite your sources like you would in academic writing

Step 3: Get quality backlinks

• Guest post on respected sites in your field
• Collaborate with other experts on content
• Create original research or data that others want to reference

Lesson 4: Keep Content Fresh and Relevant

AI systems favour up-to-date information. Here's how to maintain content freshness:

Step 1: Regular content audits

• Review your top 10 pages every quarter
• Update statistics, examples, and outdated information
• Add new sections based on current trends

Step 2: Publish timely content

• Share industry news and your take on developments
• Update posts when regulations or best practices change
• Create content around seasonal trends in your field

Step 3: Monitor performance

• Track which pages get the most traffic
• Use Google Analytics to see how long people stay on each page
• Update underperforming content before creating new posts

Practice

Choose your website's most visited page and complete this exercise:

1. Read through the page and identify three questions your audience might ask about the topic
2. Rewrite three headings as questions (e.g., change "SEO Benefits" to "What are the main benefits of SEO?")
3. Add one new FAQ section with at least three questions and answers
4. Check that you've linked to at least one authoritative external source
5. Review the page in one month to see if engagement has improved

FAQs

What makes AI SEO different from traditional SEO?
AI SEO focuses more on natural language, question-answering, and demonstrating expertise. While traditional SEO basics still matter, you need to write for conversational queries and build stronger trust signals.

How long does it take to see results from AI SEO?
Like traditional SEO, it typically takes 3-6 months to see significant changes. However, updating existing high-performing pages can show results more quickly than creating entirely new content.

Do I need to change my entire website for AI SEO?
No. Start with your most important pages and gradually apply these principles across your site. Focus on quality improvements rather than changing everything at once.

Can AI SEO help local businesses?
Yes. Local businesses can benefit by answering location-specific questions and including conversational phrases people use when searching for local services.

Jargon Buster

Crawlability: How easily search engines can access and read your website's pages

Long-tail keywords: Specific, longer phrases that closely match how people naturally speak or type questions

Schema markup: Code that helps search engines understand what your content is about

Backlinks: Links from other websites to yours, which search engines use as trust signals

Meta description: The short summary that appears under your page title in search results

Wrap-up

AI-powered search is becoming the norm, but the fundamentals remain the same: create helpful, trustworthy content that answers people's questions. Focus on technical basics, write naturally, build authority, and keep your content current.

Start with one page and apply these principles. Once you see the impact, you can gradually optimise your entire site for AI search.

Your next step is to audit your top-performing page using the practice exercise above. Small improvements to existing content often deliver faster results than starting from scratch.

Ready to take your SEO further? Join our community at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership