How to optimize your website for AI search

2 min read · Updated

The short answer

To optimize your website for AI search, put your key facts in plain text on the page rather than in images or PDFs, give each main service its own page, answer common customer questions directly, keep details identical to your Google profile, and make sure robots.txt isn't blocking the crawlers AI search tools use.

Put the facts where they can be read

  • Hours, phone, address and service areas as text, not in a picture of your van.
  • Menus and price lists as page text, not only PDFs.
  • One page per main service, with a heading that names it.
  • A short answer near the top of any page that answers a question.

Don't block the crawlers by accident

  • OAI-SearchBot is what ChatGPT search uses. OpenAI says sites that block it won't appear in ChatGPT search answers.
  • GPTBot collects data for training. Blocking it is a separate choice and doesn't affect ChatGPT search.
  • PerplexityBot is Perplexity's crawler.
  • Google-Extended controls use for Gemini. It doesn't affect Google Search.

Then look at what they say

Changes only count if the answers change. Ask the assistants your customers' questions before and after, and keep both answers.

Questions

Is optimizing for AI search different from SEO?

Mostly not. The same clear, accurate pages serve both.

Should I block AI crawlers?

Blocking the search crawlers keeps you out of those assistants' answers. Most local businesses want to be in them.

Do I need llms.txt?

It's optional and cheap. A clear site matters more.

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