Summary
Contrary to popular belief, the demands of AI-centric SEO are not too far from traditional SEO techniques; they just require a slight shift in focus. This checklist of 10 DIY digital marketing tips helps you take control of your online presence and get “AI-search ready”.
Contrary to popular belief, the demands of AI-centric SEO are not too far from traditional SEO techniques; it’s still all about being relevant and useful for your audience. You just need to slightly shift your focus when optimising for AI-search.
Take control of your online presence and get seen by implementing these 10 DIY digital marketing tips:
1. Focus on Conversational Content and User Intent
AI search thrives on understanding user intent and natural language queries, especially with the rise of voice search. Instead of just targeting short, generic keywords like "plumber UK," create content that answers conversational, long-tail questions like "What are the best emergency plumbers in Chichester near me?" or "How do I fix a leaky tap before a plumber arrives?" And avoid keyword stuffing!
2. Optimise for Featured Snippets and AI Overviews
AI search results often pull concise, direct answers from websites to create "featured snippets" or "AI overviews". To get your content featured, structure your pages to provide clear, well-organised answers to common questions. Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, numbered lists and summaries to make information easily digestible for both humans and AI models.
3. Strengthen Your Google Business Profile and Local SEO
Many AI searches are for local businesses. A well-maintained and optimised Google Business Profile is more important than ever. Ensure your business information is accurate and consistent across all platforms. Actively manage and respond to reviews, as AI models consider sentiment and context. Post updates about offers and events, and sync FAQs to your profile.
4. Emphasise E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness)
AI algorithms prioritise content from credible and authoritative sources. Demonstrate your expertise by showcasing credentials, using clear author bios, and providing first-hand experience. Build brand authority by securing quality backlinks from reputable sites and publishing original research or case studies.
5. Create Comprehensive, Topic-Cluster Content
Instead of creating isolated articles that target single keywords, develop a content strategy around "topic clusters." This involves creating a central, comprehensive article on a broad topic and then linking out to several more detailed sub-topics. This structured approach helps AI understand the breadth of your knowledge and positions your business as a go-to authority on a subject. Don’t chase trends!
6. Implement Structured Data (Schema Markup)
Structured data provides a way to label and organise your content for search engines and AI. By using schema markup for things like FAQs, how-to guides, and local business information, you make it easier for AI to understand the context and relevance of your content, increasing your chances of being featured in rich results.
7. Prioritise Technical SEO and Website Performance
A strong technical foundation is crucial for discoverability by both traditional search engines and AI systems. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, has a fast loading speed, and is easily crawlable. Optimise image sizes, fix broken links, and maintain a clean robots.txt file and sitemap.
8. Update and Refresh Existing Content
AI values fresh, accurate, and up-to-date information. Regularly audit your content to ensure it is current and relevant. Remove outdated or irrelevant material, and update existing articles with new data, insights, or examples.
9. Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
While AI can be a powerful tool for tasks like keyword research, content outlines, and data analysis, it is not a substitute for human creativity and oversight. Use AI to streamline your processes, but always review and fact-check the output. Content with a human touch, personal anecdotes, and original research will stand out to AI models and human readers alike.
10. Monitor Your Brand's AI Presence
AI search is moving from a "click economy" to a "visibility economy." It's essential to track how your brand is being mentioned in AI-generated responses, in what context, and alongside which competitors. This helps you identify gaps in your content strategy and adjust your positioning to stand out against AI answers.
Get AI-Search Ready with Website Success - SEO Services in Chichester
Does this all just sound like a whole load of mumbo jumbo? We live, eat and breathe this stuff, and we do all the above and more for our marketing and SEO clients to make sure your website and content is optimised for the search, AI and beyond! Read more about what we deliver for our SEO clients.
We offer various digital marketing support packages depending on what expertise or how many extra hands you need. We’ll make sure your online presence is optimised and maximised and all the other “ised” words!
Call our Chichester digital marketing agency on 01243 888555 or book a chat to take the first step toward boosting your visibility in the age of AI search.
