Content That AI Recommends
Creating content for AI visibility requires a shift in thinking. Instead of optimising for clicks, you're optimising for comprehension, trust, and recommendation.
In this guide
- What makes content AI-friendly
- How to write for both humans and AI
- Common content mistakes to avoid
- Practical tips for improving existing content
The AI Content Mindset
When an AI system decides whether to recommend your brand, it's essentially asking: "Can I confidently cite this source to answer the user's question?"
This means your content needs to be:
Clear
Unambiguous statements that AI can extract and cite
Accurate
Factually correct information that won't mislead users
Authoritative
From a source the AI can trust based on signals
Content Principles for AIO
1. Lead With the Answer
Don't bury the key information. AI systems often extract the first clear statement that answers a question. Put your most important points at the beginning.
"There are many factors to consider when choosing a CRM. Let's explore the history of customer relationship management and how it has evolved over the years..."
"Acme CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform designed for small to mid-sized B2B companies. It offers contact management, pipeline tracking, and email automation starting at $29/month."
2. Be Specific and Factual
Vague marketing language doesn't help AI understand what you actually do. Replace superlatives with specifics.
"We offer world-class solutions that delight customers and drive transformational results."
"Our inventory management software reduces stockouts by an average of 34% and integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon Seller Central."
3. Define Your Entity Clearly
Help AI understand exactly what your brand is and where it fits in the market.
Include on your About page:
- • What category your company belongs to
- • What specific problem you solve
- • Who your target customers are
- • How you differ from alternatives
- • Key facts (founding date, headquarters, team size)
4. Answer Real Questions
Create content that directly addresses the questions your customers ask. Use FAQ sections, comparison pages, and how-to guides that provide clear answers.
Question formats that work well:
- • "What is [your product category]?"
- • "How does [your product] compare to [competitor]?"
- • "[Your product] pricing and plans"
- • "Is [your product] good for [use case]?"
- • "[Your product] reviews and ratings"
5. Keep Information Current
Outdated information hurts your credibility with both AI and users. Review key pages regularly to ensure pricing, features, and company information are up-to-date. Include clear timestamps where relevant. AI systems note when content was last updated.
Content Types That Work
| Content Type | Why It Works for AI | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FAQ Pages | Direct question-answer format is easy to extract | Product FAQs, pricing FAQs |
| Comparison Pages | Helps AI position your brand relative to alternatives | "Acme vs Competitor" pages |
| Definitive Guides | Establishes authority on a topic | "Complete Guide to [Topic]" |
| Product Documentation | Clear, factual, regularly updated | Feature pages, API docs |
| Case Studies | Provides specific, credible evidence | Customer success stories with metrics |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Keyword Stuffing
AI systems understand natural language. Unnatural repetition makes content harder to parse and less trustworthy.
Thin Content
Pages with little substantive information don't give AI enough to work with. Ensure every page provides genuine value.
Contradictory Information
If different pages on your site say different things, AI systems will struggle to determine what's accurate.
Hiding Key Information
Gating important details behind forms, tabs, or excessive navigation makes it harder for AI to find and use.
Key Takeaway
Write for confident citation.
Ask yourself: "Would an AI feel confident recommending my brand based on this content?" If your information is clear, specific, accurate, and authoritative, the answer should be yes.
Technical Implementation
How you structure your content technically affects how well AI systems understand it. Proper heading hierarchy and semantic elements help AI parse your content correctly.
Semantic HTML for AIWhat's Next
Great content is only part of the equation. How you structure that content matters just as much. In the next section, we'll explore how to organise and structure your content for maximum AI comprehension.