Search isn’t what it used to be. People aren’t just Googling things anymore – they’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, and whatever shiny new AI tool shows up next at their digital doorsteps. This means trouble for you and your content. Specially if there isn’t any Search Engine Optimization on your website. If you’re still stuck optimizing only for rankings and keywords, your competitors have already left you behind. LLMs (Large Language Models) have changed how content gets discovered, summarized and shared with AI overviews.
The traditional technical SEO best practices are quickly becoming a thing of the past. It’s now time to optimize for how AI actually understands your content. That includes Google’s new AI mode and those fast-expanding AI Overviews.
So, how can you make sure your content doesn’t just survive – but actually thrives in an LLM-dominated world?
First, Understand How LLMs Think
LLMs don’t actually read through your pages like humans or even search engines do. Instead, they consume vast amounts of text to build context and connect the dots to summarize meaning. They care a lot less about keywords and focus more on the clarity, structure, and usefulness of the content. In short, if an LLM thinks that your content rambles, hides the value, or uses too much fluff or jargon – LLMs will skip it completely.
Search Engine Optimizing for AI Overview
1. Nail The Basics
As any SEO writer knows, the basics of good content is making it helpful, well-structured, and readable. Now, take this SEO content and add a layer of technical SEO best practices to it – not just for human and Google, but for AI systems parsing your webpages for context.
- Use clear headers (H1, H2, H3) that tell a story at a glance.
- Write short, punchy sentences and paragraphs.
- Don’t bury the lead. Open strong.
- Add FAQ-style questions that LLMs can pull from directly.
Content is fuel. The more structured and digestible it is, the more likely LLMs will surface it in responses. That includes AI Overviews and AI-powered chat responses.
2. Focus More on Context
Keywords still matter. But LLMs don’t match words – they match ideas.
Your content has to cover a topic thoroughly and logically. Instead of writing 800 words on “how to make cold brew coffee,” you need to write a complete guide that works users through every relevant step – from bean selection to grind size to brew time. Remember, fluff does not work.
LLMs also reward topical authority. If you cover all the basics of your niche and link your pages together according to your marketing funnel, you will always remain visible to these AI models.
3. Use Natural Language
LLMs are trained on how “real” people speak and write. It can actually quite easily detect AI written pieces and corporate fluff from a mile away.
Write like you’re explaining something to a smart friend. Be direct. Be human. If you’re using buzzwords that nobody Googles, LLMs won’t know what to do with your content – which means it will not show up.
Here’s another trick: Optimize for questions, not topics. Instead of “optimizing content performance through AI,” say “How do I get my content seen by AI?”
4. Build Trust Signals
LLMs love credible sources. That means they favor content from brands that show authority, expertise, and trustworthiness—also known as E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).
How do you do that?
- Publish under a real author with credentials.
- Cite reputable sources.
- Keep your content updated regularly.
- Get backlinks from trusted sites.
Additionally, you should perfect your “About” page. Yes, really. LLMs and search crawlers not only read it but also use it to validate your site’s trust signals. They constantly weigh it when deciding whether to feature your content or not.
5. Answer the Entire Question
If someone asks, “How do I build a content strategy for AI?” don’t give them five vague tips full of buzzwords. You need to walk them through the full journey. Use examples. Offer templates. Anticipate follow-up questions.
LLMs like ChatGPT don’t just spit out search snippets. They have the tendency to answer comprehensively and backed with research. If your content does that already, it becomes a goldmine for AI Overviews.
That’s also where your marketing funnelcomes in. You shouldn’t just inform but guide. You can move the readers from awareness to action in a single, flowing experience.
6. Use Schema Markup
Sometimes even AI needs a little push. You need to make sure LLMs understand your content better, and that can be done with the help of structured data.
Structured data—aka schema markup—tells machines exactly what your content includes. It highlights things like product names, reviews, FAQs, business hours, recipes, videos, and so on. LLMs thrive on these content types.
Even better: schema helps you show up in search features like Google’s AI Overviews and rich results. Use FAQPage, Article, and HowTo schema wherever they make sense.
7. Create Content Worth Quoting
This might be the most important piece of the puzzle.
LLMs quote content. They feed on it. If your content includes original ideas, frameworks, definitions, or sharp takes—you win. If your page is just a rephrasing of what’s already out there, you lose.
So, be bold. Say something different. Offer a unique angle. Add data or examples no one else is using. LLMs look for content they can highlight. Give them something worth stealing (ethically).
8. Optimize for AI-Powered Discovery
More and more users are bypassing traditional search. They ask ChatGPT, Bard, or Gemini for answers directly. If you do fall back in the world of LLMs, you fall behind your competitors in real life.
Here’s how:
- Write summaries that are short, snappy, and scannable.
- Use bullets, lists, and clear formatting to improve digestibility.
- Include conversational phrases users might type or speak.
- Create clusters of content that link together logically.
That last point matters. LLMs understand and surface content better when it sits in a structured ecosystem—not as a one-off blog floating in space. Internal linking is the key that unlocks your path to being features on AI overviews.
9. Embrace AI Tools—But Don’t Rely
Yes, AI can help you write content faster. Use it to brainstorm, structure outlines, or even draft pieces. But don’t hand the wheel over completely. It could end tragically bad.
You still need a human voice. You still need accuracy. You still need point of view and some personality behind every written letter.
LLMs will sniff out bland, generic AI-written content and simply choose to ignore it. So will your readers. Treat AI as a tool, not a crutch.
10. Measure What AI Actually Uses
Most marketers track clicks and rankings. Few track what AI surfaces.
Start paying attention to how LLMs reference your site. Run prompts in ChatGPT or Gemini using questions your audience might ask. See what gets pulled in. Check Google’s AI Overviews for your keywords. Use tools like AlsoAsked, Answer the Public, and SEMrush’s keyword intent tools to reverse-engineer LLM preferences.
Final Words
Search isn’t dead—but it’s evolving. And fast.
The brands winning today aren’t just ranking. They’re getting featured—in AI overview, voice assistants, AI mode, and more. They’re creating content that’s useful, trustworthy, and complete. And they’re speaking the language of both humans and machines.
You don’t need to game the system. You just need to understand how it works now.
And it starts by optimizing not just for search engines, but for the machines behind the scenes—the ChatGPTs, Geminis, and AI Overviews changing how the internet works.
Get ahead. Write smart. And let the robots do the rest.
Want more visibility in the age of AI? Start with content experts from Remote Resource who understand how to optimize your content beyond SEO.
