Search has changed again in 2025. You can’t be satisfied just by ranking on page one of Google because that’s not sustainable. For visibility, you need to rank in AI Search Results.
What are AI Search Results? Output generated by ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI overviews, and other generative AI Search Engines when you ask a question or pose a query.
AI models don’t typically function by indexing webpages. They summarize, infer, and pull data from trusted sources.
Let’s say you are a digital marketing agency in Los Angeles with an established online presence (according to you). Does your name appear in AI Search Results when someone types, “What are the best digital marketing agencies in Los Angeles?” in ChatGPT or Gemini?
If the answer is No, your content isn't AI-ready, which means you aren’t visible yet.
So, how do you Rank for AI Results?
Guideline to Mastering Ranking in AI Search Results
Step 1: Master Foundational SEO
Don’t fall for clickbait that screams “SEO is dead!” Traditional SEO is still your foundation.
Have you noticed the Google AI Overview section whenever you search for something on Google? There is an AI-generated answer to your questions before websites appear. What’s fascinating is, there is a small section of websites AI refers to while answering user queries.
AI Search Engines pull data from top-ranking or highly credible content on Google and Bing. AI-referenced websites have high CTRs because users are more likely to visit them.
So, ranking organically is a prerequisite for ranking in AI Search Results.
So how to rank organically?
- Write high-quality content that answers real questions and not fluff to increase word count.
- Work on your backlinks to build trust and authenticity.
- Follow the E-E-A-T rule. Your content should show experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
- Use original research and case studies. AI can write for you, but it can’t reason and oftentimes struggles with research.
Step 2: Optimize Content for AI Search Engines
To Rank for AI Results, you need to make your content AI-readable. Because AI doesn’t scan the web like humans. It relies on structure and clarity.
- Target Long-Tail, High-Intent Queries
Forget about broad terms like “Plagiarism in ChatGPT” and start thinking like a user. Use specific queries like, “How to Remove Plagiarism from ChatGPT Content?”
These perform better in AI Search Results. You can use tools like ChatGPT to generate niche, long-tail, actionable keywords.
- Answer the Main Question Immediately
It’s a wrong notion that more words mean more credibility or quality. Don’t take 400 words to describe your page. Start with a direct, simple answer to the core question.
If someone asks, “Is Duplichecker Worth It?”, answer it in the first 2-3 sentences of your content. This increases the odds of AI Search Engines quoting your content.
You can expand your answer and provide in-depth explanations in subsequent sections.
- Use Clear, Question-based Headings
Again, structure matters. Use questions like “What is AI Search?” or “How do I rank for AI results?” as your H2s. Then follow with concise, detailed answers.
Question-based headings help AI parse and feature specific sections.
- Build Semantically Rich Content
AI looks for content with -
- Semantic depth (related terms, entities, variations)
- Bullet points and numbered lists
- FAQs at the end of posts
- Tables for product features, comparisons, or data
AI is ultimately a big chunk of code, an algorithm. The above structures help AI Search Engines to parse, index, and quote your content.
Step 3: Ensure Technical Accessibility for AI
AI Search Engines rely on clean code. Keeping this in mind -
- Ensure that your important content is in raw HTML and not hidden in JavaScript.
- Add alt text for all images and transcripts for videos. People often miss this.
- Use fast-loading pages with clean internal linking.
- Submit your sitemap to both Google and Bing.
Also, don’t block GPTBot or Bingbot in your robots.txt file.
Step 4: Implement Schema Markup
What is Schema? It is a sort of concept or mental framework that helps organize and interpret information. In the context of AI Search Results, a schema tells machines what your content is about.
Why is schema important? Because when AI knows what you are writing or talking about, it will be easy for the search engine to pull your website in case of any relevant query.
To organize a schema, add -
- Organization schema (name, logo, social profiles)
- Article schema (author, date, headline)
- FAQ schema, Review schema, or Product schema if relevant
You can use the official Google tool or Schema Markup Validator to check your markup.
Step 5: Build Your Brand as an Entity
To truly Rank for AI Results, you need to become an entity.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) helps AI Search Engines recognize you as a unique brand or individual.
Here’s what to do -
- Claim your Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, Bing Places, and other major platforms.
- Keep your brand name and descriptions consistent everywhere.
- Get listed in places AI models use, like Wikipedia, Wikidata, BBB, and Yellow Pages.
- Get people to search your brand name naturally.
- Ask AI tools what they “know” about your brand and correct inconsistencies.
Entities have a higher chance of getting quoted in AI Search Results even if they don’t rank #1 in Google.
Step 6: Build Off-Site Trust Signals
Another wrong notion about AI is that it reads only your website. It also reads what the internet says about you.
To ensure internet credibility, you have to -
- Secure quality backlinks. Niche publications are a better option.
- List your brand on Capterra, G2, or Google reviews.
- Publish press releases and push your brand to news aggregators.
- Encourage mentions in Reddit threads, Quora answers, or round-up blogs.
The justification behind these activities is that 3rd-party signals increase your likelihood of ranking in AI Search Results.
Step 7: Use AI Tools to Work Smarter
SEO keeps on changing with the state of the internet and AI. It’s too fast for manual work. Automate as much of your SEO as you can with AI tools.
Different tools serve different purposes -
- ChatGPT - For content outline generation and keyword ideation
- Surfer SEO or Clearscope - For semantic analysis
- Genspark - For SEO tasks like internal linking or pruning
- RankMath - For AI-enhanced WordPress publishing
Step 8: Measure AI Visibility
Clicks are a good thing, but not a good enough metric to judge visibility. What you can also do is -
- Check Google Search Console on a routine basis for new impressions.
- Audit ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to check what’s being quoted.
- You can also use Surfer’s AI tracker to look for brand citations.
- Check the Google AI Overview section for any kind of reference.
Besides the above guideline, if you want to do something extra, I would suggest you start following SEO experts on LinkedIn (not anyone and everyone). I am talking about the ones who are building their SEO and experimenting with it while keeping AI at the top of their mind.
For instance, I liked Mack Grenfell’s post on "How to check the likelihood of ChatGPT mentioning my product?”
The reason I mention LinkedIn and not other platforms like YouTube is that you don’t need quick fixes. What you need is a constant update on the changing scenario and how it impacts brands.
LinkedIn is the place where experts and founders often share their journey, one impact at a time. It’s relatable and actionable.
Final Thoughts
AI search is no longer the future - it’s now. If your content isn’t showing up in tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Google’s AI Overviews, you’re invisible to a huge segment of searchers.
To stay relevant:
- Master traditional SEO: Organic rankings still feed AI engines.
- Structure your content for machines: Use clear headings, answer-first writing, and semantic depth.
- Get technically AI-ready: Clean HTML, alt text, fast loading pages, and no bots blocked.
- Use schema markup: Help AI understand what your content *is*.
- Build your brand as an entity: Be recognizable across platforms AI trusts.
- Earn off-site trust: Backlinks, reviews, and mentions matter.
- Automate smartly: Leverage AI tools to keep up with fast-moving SEO trends.
- Track your AI visibility: Don’t just measure clicks—measure presence.
Ranking in AI isn’t a bonus - it’s the baseline. Start optimizing for AI like it’s your homepage. Because in 2025, it is.
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