AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews are experiencing explosive growth, driving a new wave of traffic opportunities. Are you ready to capture your share?

In this 30-minute webinar we break down:

  • How to position your content to be visible in AI search engines 
  • Strategies to boost visibility and authority in AI search results
  • The tools you need to track and optimize your performance

Learn practical strategies from seoClarity and WillowTree to adapt and thrive in the age of AI search.

Leave this webinar with a blueprint strategy to use within your organization!

Discover the only end-to-end AI search optimization solution that empowers you to track, optimize, and elevate your brand’s visibility in AI-driven search engines.

Request a Demo from seoClarity and WillowTree.

The Growing Impact of AI Search​

When it comes to understanding AI search engines and how to optimize for them, there is some important background information to know.

#1: Interest in AI Search Engines is Growing Fast​

People looking for ChatGPT have doubled. 

In addition, interest in Perplexity has shot up 10x​.

#2: AI Search Engine Traffic to Websites Is Also Growing 

Based on traffic from seoClarity research of hundreds of enterprise sites spanning multiple industries​.

#3: AI Search Queries are Longer & More Complex​

AI search engines can provide better answers to longer, more complex search queries than traditional search engines.

For example, AI search engines are able to sufficiently address:

Personalized Questions​

  • "Plan a 5-day trip to Spain, including must-see historical sites."​

Research and Learning​

  • "Explain the theory of relativity for beginners."​

Decision Making​

  • "Is the iPhone 15 Pro worth buying over the Galaxy S24?"​

Advanced Analysis​

  • "Analyze the trend of renewable energy investments over the last decade."​

Conversational Queries​

  • “Can you explain quantum computing in simple terms?"​

Creative Tasks​

  • "Write a poem about autumn in a romantic tone."​

Problem-Solving​

  • "How do I debug a Python script that keeps crashing?"​

Factual Inquiries​

  • “What is the current population of Tokyo?"​

#4: AI Search Engines Operate Differently than Traditional Search​

When using traditional search engines like Google, users will typically input high level queries such as “hiking backpack.”

 

However, what they really want to know might be more specific. For example, they may be looking for a hiking backpack for a trip to Philmont that fits a medium frame, is at least 65-litres, and is suitable for a novice hiker.

When inputting all that into Google, what we get is a very diverse set of responses from a lot of different sources – none of which may satisfy all the specifications of that query.

But, when inputting the query into ChatGPT, the result is very different.

      

It's able to assemble all the information and provide a selection, in this case, of products that match up with everything asked in the query. Here’s how it works…

How AI Search Works

The user poses a question:

AI breaks it down into sub-questions to feed to a traditional search engine​:

And then, using all of those sources from the search results to those queries, brings all of the information together:

AI Search is Different!​

Google results are relatively static,​ usually only shifting slightly from day-to-day. AI search engines, on the other hand, produce different results for the same queries by the minute.

For example, here’s a query for “things to do in Chicago” in ChatGPT with SearchGPT enabled. 

 

And here’s the response to that same query 10 minutes later:

  

But…not all AI search engines access the web.​ ChatGPT won’t retrieve web results if a prompt doesn’t require the most recent information.​

 

And, when they do, they often cite third-party sources rather than the brands’ websites.​ In the example below, even products link to other parties like REI instead of Osprey​.

 

SEO Strategy for AI Search​

So how do you adapt your SEO strategy for AI search engines?

Success in AI search optimization boils down to four essential steps:

  1. Track Indexation: Ensure your site is being crawled and indexed by AI search bots. If they can’t find your content, you won’t appear in their results.
  2. Research Questions: Identify the key questions your audience is asking to position your content as the go-to answer across various formats.
  3. Optimize Content: Create and refine content that thoroughly addresses user intent, increasing your chances of ranking in AI-driven search results.
  4. Measure Brand Visibility: Monitor how and where your brand appears in search results to understand and improve your overall visibility.

Recommended Reading: AI Search Engine Framework

At seoClarity, we’ve built the only end-to-end solution for AI search engine optimization, helping businesses succeed at every stage of this process.

Ready to dominate AI search?
Schedule a demo with seoClarity today and harness the power of AI-driven traffic to propel your business forward!

Stepping Outside the SEO Wheelhouse 

Aside from these high-level SEO tactics, optimizing for AI search engines requires looking at a site’s overall online presence and breaking down silos between marketing teams.

SEOs must now think beyond optimizing websites alone; it’s about improving both the accuracy and the reputation of a brand in AI-generated responses.

That’s why WillowTree built Fuel IX, an enterprise AI platform that allows you to input a single prompt and view responses across multiple AI search engines, such as Gemini and ChatGPT, in one unified panel. 

This approach provides invaluable insights into how clients' brands are represented across AI search engines, answering key questions such as:

  • Are these models mentioning our brand in their responses?
  • Are they representing our brand accurately?
  • How is our brand perceived compared to competitors in direct comparisons?

With this insight, SEOs can get a holistic view of their online presence, allowing them to identify opportunities to improve brand reputation, enhance content, and engage in strategic outreach to be included in third-party sources.

Learn more about how WillowTree can help elevate your brand in AI search.