AI Search Optimisation: How to Rank in AI Answers
The search landscape is rapidly evolving. Traditional SEO tactics — technical fixes, on-page signals, backlink building — remain important but no longer cover the full picture. AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Claude don’t just crawl websites; they understand, synthesise, summarise and cite content from diverse sources in new, nuanced ways.
By 2026, Gartner projects traditional search traffic will drop by 25% as AI alternatives rise, with over 79% of consumers expected to use AI search regularly (Gartner, 2024). To thrive, businesses must embrace AI Search Optimisation — a discipline centered on making your brand visible, credible and citable by AI systems.
Where Does AI Pull Answers Mostly From?
AI overviews cite content primarily from a core group of trusted sources. Understanding these is essential to strategically position your content:
Google’s top 10 organic results remain crucial, supplying 33–35% of AI citations. This highlights the continued importance of traditional SEO for visibility.
Wikipedia is dominant for neutral, structured knowledge.
Reddit and Quora provide real user pain points and in-depth answers.
LinkedIn offers professional authority signals, especially through expert articles.
YouTube is a rapidly growing source, with a 21% month-over-month increase in AI citations due to its rich visual, instructional content.
Beyond these, AI also pulls from major PR outlets, blogs, review platforms, listing services, certifications and branded content — the “why” behind citations.
Top Channels to Rank in AI Answers
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia is heavily cited in AI-generated content for its fact-based neutrality.
Pro Tip: Contribute unbiased, well-sourced content with reputable citations. Avoid promotional language.
2. Reddit
Reddit’s unfiltered discussions are gold for AI learning real language and problems.
Pro Tip: Use inurl:reddit.com [keyword] to find relevant threads. Start replies front-loading keywords from the original question. Keep answers concise and directly on point. Authenticity is key; avoid promotion.
3. Quora
Quora’s structured Q&A format suits AI extraction well.
Pro Tip: Search with inurl:quora.com [keyword] for questions. Provide thorough, clear answers with visuals and breakpoints. Depth and clarity enhance citations.
Example: After contributing to targeted Reddit and Quora threads and fine-tuning on-page elements like image optimisation, my photo gear review blog started getting surfaced in AI-generated search answers.
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a rising B2B citation source through authoritative articles, not frequent posts.
Pro Tip: Focus on publishing well-structured, expert Q&A articles that address niche queries. Incorporate examples and subheadings for clarity.
5. YouTube
YouTube videos are cited more than ever, with a 21% monthly citation growth. Visual demos, comparisons and tutorials deeply resonate with AI.
Pro Tip: Create videos answering specific buyer questions. Use captions, transcripts and timestamps to maximise AI understanding.
6. Round-Up Lists
Round-up articles dominate AI citations in many niches. Therefore, it is crucial to:
Get included in top 10 “best of” or comparison lists in your industry.
Create your own authoritative round-ups or comparison guides.
Build niche microsites to deeply cover vertical topics.
Example: I developed microsite Energy Managers’ Guide to promote ClearVUE.Zero energy management system. Both are cited in AI sources (#2 and #4, respectively).
7. Long-Tail Keywords + Schema
AI favours content that matches exact user phrasing, especially for buyer-intent queries.
Pro Tip: Use tools like AnswerThePublic to find long-tail queries. Develop Q&A blog posts optimised with FAQ, Product or List schema, visuals and proprietary data (original research) to add unique value.
8. Digital PR
Brand mentions through media coverage, industry awards, certifications and expert contributors build trust AI recognises — often as text mentions rather than backlinks.
Pro Tip: Pitch regularly via HARO, Qwoted and Featured. Highlight certifications and thought leadership prominently on your website.
Example: I’ve had great success with Featured.com, placing dozens of expert replies that got my brand noticed for free. As a bonus point, many came with backlinks that also boosted my website’s domain authority! Both Featured and Qwoted offer limited free monthly credits, letting you pitch your expertise without any upfront cost.
9. Listing & Review Platforms
Reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, G2, Capterra, Product Hunt and Google My Business send strong trust signals to AI, boosting chances of citation.
Pro Tip: Proactively reach out to customers for genuine reviews — higher volume and detail elevate your listing rankings and visibility in AI’s “top 10” trusted sources.
10. Influencers
AI increasingly incorporates influencer mentions from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and niche creators as real-world social proof.
Pro Tip: Partner with niche influencers for authentic endorsements. Integrate their quotes and content into your ecosystem to multiply trust signals.
AI Search Optimisation Is a Multi-Platform Trust Ecosystem
Optimising for AI search isn’t just about keywords — it’s about cultivating authority, clarity and visibility across a network of trusted channels. As AI transforms how users find answers, brands that integrate structured content, rich visuals, real user signals, and strategic partnerships will emerge as the go-to trusted sources.
The future belongs to brands that train AI to trust them — across Wikipedia, social forums, professional networks, video platforms and beyond.
How to Get Started with AI SEO: Reverse Engineer & Strategise
Search your brand and key products on AI platforms. Identify where and how AI cites content.
Analyse top-ranked sources for your niche. What formats, channels and trust signals do they use?
Prioritise building content and presence on the top six must-use channels for AI search optimisation: Wikipedia, Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google SERP. Enhance it with trust-building signals like PR, reviews, and influencer mentions.
Develop rich, structured and concise answers to long-tail queries, backed by visuals and proprietary data.
Regularly update evergreen content (time relevance can make a big difference!) and monitor your AI citation footprint using tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Ziptie AIO Tracker, Profound or Advanced Web Ranking’s AIO monitor.
