Your customers still search Google. But more of them now ask an AI assistant first: "Who's a good plumber for water softeners near Delano?" or "Which ranch brokers know Western Kansas?" The assistant gives one answer, with a few names. If you're not one of them, you may never get the click.
How AI search differs from regular search
Regular search shows a list of links and lets people choose. AI search reads many sources, pulls out facts it trusts and writes a single answer. Your goal shifts from ranking on page one to being one of the sources the answer is built from.
Four things to fix first
1. Put the answer first
Start key pages with a short, direct answer to the question the page is about, then add detail. AI tools quote clear, self-contained passages. Long, vague introductions get skipped.
2. Add structured data
Structured data, or schema markup, is a small block of code that labels your business name, location, services and FAQs in a standard format. It removes guesswork for search engines and AI tools.
3. Make sure AI crawlers can read your site
Some security settings block AI crawlers by accident, and some sites load their content with JavaScript that crawlers don't run. Either way, the assistant sees an empty page. A quick technical check will tell you.
4. Keep headings short
Headings should name the topic in 4 to 8 words. Long headings stuffed with keywords read badly and can look like spam. Put the detail in the paragraph below.
Common questions
Is SEO dead now that people use AI assistants?
No. AI assistants lean on the same signals good SEO builds: clear pages, trusted sources and accurate business information. AI search optimization adds to SEO rather than replacing it.
How do I check if AI assistants know my business?
Ask ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity the questions your customers would ask, such as "Who builds barndominiums near Waconia?" Note whether you're mentioned and what they say. Or ask us for a free check.
If you would rather have it done for you, our AI search optimization services cover the audit, the structured data and the content plan.