AIO beginner’s guide
What is AIO?
AIO, or Artificial Intelligence Optimization, is the improvement of your findability in AI search engines such as ChatGPT or Gemini. AI-driven assistants understand and interpret your content better and use it to provide their users with answers to their questions.
Feel free to compare AIO with traditional SEO, but with a different focus. AI search engines analyze not only the keywords on your page, but also context, relevance, and user intent.
AIO is in its infancy
“For years, Google was by far the most popular search engine. But we see that the new generation is searching more in AI. For entrepreneurs and companies, it will become more and more important in the coming years to appear here as well.”
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The rise of LLMs and AIO as a result
Today you can no longer ignore Artificial Intelligence. AI has evolved search engines into answer engines.
For the first time in decades, Google’s market share fell below 90%.
The big G is still by far the most important source of information. Still, you don’t want to ignore the new AI models.
Remember
Good news for those who are already fully up to speed with SEO. AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) or GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) builds further on the foundation of SEO.
Technology, content, and authority remain important for being found, whether it’s in Google or ChatGPT. Still, it’s important to understand how AI works.
This way you can make the necessary corrections to also appear in chatbots with your company name. Discover everything about AIO below, download our white paper, or ask us your question.
How AI search engines work
AI-driven search engines analyze, interpret, and present information in a smarter way. As a user, you still ask a question, but instead of a list of websites, you immediately get a processed answer.
AI systems use machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and deep learning to understand both the search intent of the questioner and the context of your content.
Classic search engines
- Based on keywords
- Offer lists and enumerations
- Complex theories and explanations
- Provide a standard list with certain websites, without taking your previous click behavior into account
- Authority is less important
- Mainly processing of text
AI search engines
- Understand context better
- Summarize texts, show only the essence
- Short, direct, and natural language
- Take your personal preferences, previous searches, and location into account
- Also process images and videos
Receive a concrete AIO strategy
AIO stems from the rise of AI models. So it has only existed quite recently.
In recent months, we have delved into how AI works and how it arrives at its results.
AI optimization is therefore still young.
That’s why you can use this to get ahead of your competitors.
AIO versus SEO
When we compare AIO with traditional SEO, we see a number of essential differences between the two techniques. Discover the difference between AIO and SEO below.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- Focused on search engines like Google or Bing
- Focus on all short and long searches
- Extracts information from headers and metadata
- Emphasis on technical optimization, rankings, and backlinks of websites
AIO (AI Optimization)
- Focused on AI search engines like ChatGPT, Google Bard, Alexa, or Siri
- Focus on long-term keywords in spoken language
- Uses information from content in conversational style
- Attaches importance to featured snippets that give a direct answer to the question asked
AIO, the answer to a new way of searching
The goal of AIO is to ensure that AI search engines better understand and process the content on your website. The arrival of AI is changing the way users search for information.
AEO or Answer Engine Optimization already offered an answer to the challenges surrounding voice searches. But with an AI model, a user really interacts. When the first answer is not sufficient, they ask a follow-up question. That’s why AI-driven tools have more need for content that is adapted to this specific way of asking questions.
With AIO, you focus on the full improvement of your website, in terms of technology, content, and authority. You make your website more visible to AI-driven search engines by giving short answers to FAQs and by increasing the user experience of your website. As a result, AI search engines value your content more and use your information to pass on to users.
Analyze the AI traffic on your website
Being found in AI-driven search engines is becoming increasingly important. We built a handy tool to check how much traffic you attract from Search Engines and LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, …).
About Digital Climax
Digital Climax is an SEO agency, located in Lille, in the Antwerp Kempen. Since 2018, we have been optimizing websites, creating content, and increasing the online authority of companies and organizations.
By going all out for the highest positions in our search results, you get more traffic, more leads, and more customers.
The result? Higher turnover. Read more about Digital Climax and discover which profiles work with us and for which services you can contact us.
The most important ranking factors in AIO
AIO or GEO is based on a number of essential ranking factors such as context, relevance, and user intent. AI search engines look in other systems for the answer to the question they receive from their users. They prefer websites that:
- Contain clear and structured content
- Give a clear answer to the questions users actually ask
- Don’t just focus on keywords, but also write in the interest of the users
- Focus on the user experience of their visitors
The higher your pages score on these conditions, the greater the chance that AI search engines will consider your website as a relevant source of information.
AIO in practice
Compared to classic SEO, where the focus is on technology, keywords, and backlinks, other elements also play a crucial role in AIO. Everything revolves around relevance, quality and AI-friendliness. Those who take the factors below into account automatically score better in AI-driven search engines.
1) Relevance and context of searches
Never before has the importance of the search intent of your users been so great. AI-driven search engines prefer pages that use natural spoken language and long-tail keywords with associated relevant synonyms. As a company, it is essential to write SEO texts that give a concrete answer.
2) Quality of your content
AI systems attach great importance to E-E-A-T, a quality score from Google. Take the following 4 elements into account when you get started with new copy:
- Experience: share enough cases on your website, regularly mention your years of experience. Give visitors relevant answers to their questions, without using too much complicated jargon.
- Expertise: write valuable texts that show you have perfect command of your profession. Show that you are a true expert. Indicate who the author of your texts is. Add quotes to your content.
- Authoritativeness: build an extensive network of quality backlinks that increase the authority of your website.
- Trustworthiness: Mention positive reviews from your customers to convince other users. Add an up-to-date contact page to your website.
3) User experience and interaction on your website
More than 60% of AI searches happen on mobile. That is exactly why it is of great importance to provide your website with a fast loading time, a clear internal structure, and scannable content. When users have to search too long for their relevant answer, engagement on your website drops. AI search engines therefore consider your information less interesting.
4) Voice search optimization
AI assistants like Siri and Google Assistant answer voice-activated searches. Usually, users perform those tasks when they have their hands full or when they are on the road in their car. They expect a short and concise answer to quickly get back to their activity. AI search engines prefer websites that focus on texts in spoken language. Therefore, use question-and-answer structures and to-the-point sentences to score better.
5) Technical SEO and AI-friendly structure
It probably doesn’t surprise you, for AIO as well, a structured website that is fully optimized is essential. Just like with technical SEO, there are a number of parts that are very important when it comes to an AI-friendly structure. Think of using a correct website architecture, a clear title structure, or submitting a sitemap. Rely on the right SEO tools for this.
The goal of AI optimization
With AIO, you want to be found in AI models or LLMs in an organic way. You set up your website so that ChatGPT, Perplexity, or DeepSeek automatically push it forward in their answers.
The benefits of focusing on AIO
Choose a thorough AI optimization and enjoy the benefits below.
1) Better visibility in AI-driven search engines
AI search engines need to understand your texts to use them as a relevant source of information. When you align your content with the AI ranking factors, AI assistants consider your website valuable. This increases the chance that your pages also score better in classic search engines like Google or Bing. Or you get a featured snippet faster. The result? More traffic to your website.
2) Your website is suitable for voice search and AI assistants
More and more surfers use voice search like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa to get answers to their questions. The focus here is mainly on long-term keywords in spoken language, instead of short keywords. AI search engines only give one answer, you naturally want this to come from your website. Adapt your content to the conversational language of your users. Focus on long-term keywords and give short and clear answers to FAQs. These pieces of copy are ideal for AI assistants to use as a voice search result.
3) You improve the user experience of your target group
AI search engines not only attach great importance to the content of your pages, but also to the way users interact with your website. They take interaction times on your pages into account. Focus on fast loading times, mobile-friendly pages, and scannable content with a clear structure and bullet points. This makes visitors browse longer on your user-friendly page, which ensures satisfied visitors and higher conversions.
4) You enjoy more conversions and generate more interactions
AI search engines reward websites that are better aligned with the search intent of their users. More interaction means greater relevance. Incorporate smart Call-to-Actions (CTAs) into your texts and inspire your target group to get started or proceed to purchases. This results in more leads and higher turnover.
5) Ahead of the competition
Most companies prefer to stay far away from AIO for now. Invest in AI optimization now and get ahead of other organizations that only focus on classic SEO. Adapt your content now to meet the ranking factors of AI search engines. This way your pages stay up-to-date and AI systems prefer to recommend your website instead of that of a colleague.
An AIO-friendly website, how do you start?
AIO or GEO is the future of online visibility. If you want to continue scoring in AI-driven search engines, then classic SEO is no longer enough. But the investments you have made in recent months or years are certainly not lost.
All these efforts ensured that your website is technically fully optimized, that your content is adapted to the search intent of your user, and that you have focused on authority. So your foundation for AIO has been laid.
Start with AIO today and ensure that your website continues to perform in the future. Outsource your AIO and count on the expertise of an AIO agency like Digital Climax. Or take the following parts in hand already.
1) Understand how AI models work
Only when you understand how AI-driven search engines work is it possible to optimize your website. Take the right ranking factors into account and adapt your content.
Tip:
Test existing AI search engines and analyze how they answer a question you ask.
2) Technology
Ensure that your website is technically fully optimized.
- Have your website indexed by Google and by Bing.
- Optimize the loading speed of your pages. Discover everything about the importance of website speed and SEO.
- Ensure a clear website architecture, with the right internal links and content clusters.
3) Context and search intent of searches
Write like people talk, give clear and concrete answers, incorporate questions, and take long searches into account.
Tip:
NOT: A cappuccino is a popular coffee variant consisting of espresso and milk.
YES: How do you make a cappuccino? You make a cappuccino with 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam.
Tip:
Don’t focus on informative keywords; the LLMs answer those themselves. When someone needs to get in touch or needs a product, a click-through option is still necessary for now.
Types of AI-driven search engines
The arrival of AI is changing the way users search for and find information. There are several different types of AI-driven search engines, each with a specific focus.
Classic search engines with AI support
These search engines largely work on traditional SEO principles but use AI technology to better understand the search intent and context of the search. The principles of classic SEO remain important here.
AI-first search engines with AI as core technology
These search engines use AI to present information and directly generate summaries. They offer interactive and personalized search results. AI-first search engines are less dependent on backlinks.
Voice search
These AI search engines are specially designed to provide an answer to voice-activated searches. They prefer websites that offer texts in conversational style. And give users a single answer instead of a full list of items.
Visual AI search engines
Thanks to innovative AI technology, you immediately get the right details based on a photo or video. These visual AI search engines recognize objects, locations, or products. This way your target audience easily clicks through to your webshop with the product in question.
Specialized AI search engines
These AI-driven search engines are specifically developed for niches such as science, health, or programming. They give direct answers with calculations or insights and are ideal for researchers, students, or other professionals.
Popular AI search engines and their innovative technology
Some AI search engines work in the same way as classic variants, but based on AI algorithms. While others give fully AI-generated answers. Discover a number of popular AI-driven search engines below.
Classic search engine with AI integration
- Search Generative Experience (SGE) from Google: most used search engine in the world, understands context, intent, and semantic connections
- Microsoft CoPilot: with chat function for direct answers, offers strong conversation-oriented searches
- ChatGPT: offers the possibility to adjust writing style to your preferences, generates texts based on prompts
AI-first search engines
- Perplexity AI: directly generates a full answer with mention of sources
- You.com: gives search results based on your preferences without ads
Working together on more findability in AI models?
AIO offers an opportunity for innovative companies. These new optimization methods help you tap into new traffic channels.
About the Author:
Axl Van Steenacker
Axl is an SEO expert through and through. Since 2018 he has been building and optimizing websites, and from 2025 AIO is added to that. Search engine optimization holds few secrets for him. Thanks to his background as a developer, he knows perfectly how to start with SEO.
Together with the Digital Climax team, he focuses on growth in the search engines.
