How to Rank #1 on AI Search Engines (with these few simple strategies)
Mastering AI Search Rankings
Table of Contents
We’re not for everyone—just those who are serious about growth. If that sounds like you, we’d love to connect and help your business achieve the kind of growth you never thought possible.
If you’re still optimising your website the same way you did two years ago, you’re already falling behind.
AI search engines are changing everything we know about SEO. Google’s AI Overviews now show up in nearly 47% of search results.
Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok and You.com are fast becoming the go-to for AI-powered queries. In short—search is no longer about just keywords and backlinks. It’s about being the answer AI wants to deliver.
As someone who works closely with businesses to help them increase traffic, leads, and conversions, I’ve seen how quickly things are shifting.
So in this guide, I’m walking you through what AI search engines want in 2025—and how to make sure your content shows up front and centre in these AI-driven results.
Why AI Search Visibility Matters in 2025
Search isn’t what it used to be. In 2025, AI Overviews now appear in nearly 47% of all Google search results, according to Search Engine Land and third-party SERP tracking tools.
These overviews give users instant, AI-generated summaries—often without a single click.
If your content isn’t being featured in those overviews, you’re invisible to nearly half the searchers.
And it’s not just Google. AI-native search engines like Bing Copilot, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, and You.com are becoming go-to platforms for users looking for fast, accurate, conversational results.
Take ChatGPT, for example—it now receives over 5.2 billion visits per month as of early 2025, and most of those sessions start with a question.
Here’s a quick table showcasing the monthly visits for ChatGPT, Google, and Bing:
| Month | ChatGPT Visits | Google Visits | Bing Visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | 264.7 million | 74 billion | 843 million |
| Jan 2023 | 683.2 million | 76 billion | 1.1 billion |
| Feb 2023 | 1.3 billion | 78 billion | 1.3 billion |
| Mar 2023 | 1.9 billion | 80 billion | 1.3 billion |
| Apr 2023 | 2.3 billion | 82 billion | 1.3 billion |
| Apr 2024 | 2.8 billion | 84.2 billion | 1.4 billion |
| Nov 2024 | 4.8 billion | 85.5 billion | 1.4 billion |
| Dec 2024 | 4.8 billion | 86.6 billion | 1.4 billion |
| Jan 2025 | 4.7 billion | 84 billion | 1.5 billion |
| Feb 2025 | 5.2 billion | 84 billion | 1.5 billion |
Sources: Semrush, Statista, Similarweb
These platforms don’t just display blue links. They digest, interpret, and present content as natural language answers.
If your content isn’t structured to be AI-friendly, it simply won’t be seen.
We’re also deep into the zero-click era.
A study by Search Engine Land showed that over 65% of Google searches ended without a click, and that trend is only intensifying. Unless your content is the answer, it won’t matter how well it ranks—it’ll be skipped.
To stay visible, we need to move beyond traditional SEO tactics. This is a new frontier—visual and conversational optimisation are now essential.
How AI Overviews Work
To show up in AI Overviews, you first need to understand how they actually work.
These aren’t simple algorithmic snippets anymore—they’re powered by advanced large language models (LLMs) like Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo, and Anthropic’s Claude 3, which dominate the generative search landscape in 2025.
Unlike traditional featured snippets, AI Overviews don’t pull from a single source.
Instead, they synthesise insights from multiple high-authority pages, presenting AI-generated summaries directly on the search results page.
According to the Botify x DemandSphere 2024 report, these AI Overviews:
- Appear in "position zero", above all organic results.
- Show multi-paragraph summaries that require a “click to expand” to view fully.
- Occupy up to 42% of the screen on desktop and 48% on mobile, often pushing traditional listings far below the fold.
If your content isn’t optimised for AI discovery, you’re not just losing rankings—you may be completely invisible.
The same report also found that 75% of cited and linked websites in AI Overviews come from the top 12 organic results—and those pages typically mirror the structure, clarity, and semantic focus of the AI-generated summary.
And pages with clear structure and strong semantic relevance are 42% more likely to be featured in AI-generated responses.
In other words, keyword-stuffed content doesn’t cut it anymore. These models are trained to identify clarity, completeness, and contextual relevance—not just repetitive keyword usage.
So if you’re still writing with the old-school “keyword density” mindset, you’re likely being filtered out—before your page even enters the consideration set.
Proven Strategies to Rank #1 in AI Search Results
Now that we know how AI Overviews work, let’s talk about how to actually rank in them. This isn’t about gaming the system—it’s about helping AI understand and trust your content enough to use it in the answers it serves up.
Here are the strategies I use to help clients consistently show up in AI search engines, including Google, Bing, and beyond.
1. Answer Real User Questions (aka Answer Engine Optimisation)
The fastest way to get noticed by an AI-based search engine is to answer what people are actually asking. Think “what is…”, “how to…”, “best tools for…”. These are the kind of questions AI overviews are designed to answer.
Use concise intros, clear definitions, and include a short FAQ section.
You’ll want to write in a natural tone—almost like you’re explaining something to a friend. That’s exactly how to optimise search engines for modern AI behaviour.
2. Use Semantic and NLP-Friendly Language
Forget keyword stuffing—today’s AI is all about natural language processing (NLP). You need to think in full phrases, not disjointed keywords. Write like a human, and the machines will understand.
This is key for optimising a website for search engines like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, which prioritise contextual relevance. Expand on related subtopics to help build depth. The better your content connects ideas, the more likely AI will use it in a response.
3. Showcase E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust)
AI doesn’t just want facts—it wants trustworthy facts. So if you want to rank in Google AI overviews or appear in ChatGPT Bing results, you need to show who’s behind your content.
Source: SEMrush
Add:
- Author bios
- Expert quotes
- Stats from credible sources
- Case studies or examples
This boosts your artificial intelligence SEO and helps you build digital authority in the eyes of AI.
4. Optimise for Featured Snippets & AI Overviews
AI often pulls content from Featured Snippets or content formatted to answer questions directly. Use question-based headings like H2s and H3s, followed by short, punchy summaries—ideally under 50 words.
Break down your content into lists, tables, or step-by-step formats. These are easy for AI to scan, summarise, and reuse—which makes them perfect for AI search engine optimisation.
5. Use Structured Data & Schema Markup
AI needs help understanding the structure of your content. That’s where schema comes in. Add relevant markup like:
- FAQ
- HowTo
- Article
- WebPage
- Author
This helps with web search optimisation for Google, and makes your content more likely to be used in both traditional and AI search results. It’s a core tactic to optimise search engine visibility in 2025 and beyond.
6. Improve Page Structure & Readability
If your content is hard to scan, AI will skip it. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear H2/H3 headers to guide the flow. Add tables, definitions, and visual aids wherever possible.
Visual search is growing fast—tools like Google AI image search and Bing by Microsoft are already scanning graphics, not just text. Make your content easy on the eyes and easy to process.
The bottom line? To rank #1 in AI-driven search, you’ve got to go beyond basic SEO. This is about optimising search not just for visibility, but for AI understanding.
When done right, your content becomes the go-to answer—whether someone’s searching on Google, asking Bing AI, or chatting with Perplexity.
7. Technical Foundations for AI Search Visibility
If your website’s tech isn’t up to par, AI won’t be able to effectively read or rank your content. You need a strong technical foundation to get noticed.
Focus on these key areas:
If your website’s tech isn’t up to par, AI won’t be able to effectively read or rank your content. You need a strong technical foundation to get noticed.
Focus on these key areas:
- Mobile-First Design: Since 53% of AI searches happen on mobile, it’s essential that your pages load fast (under 2 seconds) and are responsive on all devices.
- Crawlable Layouts: Use clean HTML and minimise render-blocking JavaScript. A cluttered or slow website is a red flag for AI, and it could mean your content won’t be properly indexed.
- Schema Markup: Adding FAQ and HowTo schema helps AI clearly understand your content’s intent, making it easier to feature in AI-driven search results.
By nailing these technical elements, you make sure that AI can crawl, understand, and summarise your content effectively. It’s all about getting that AI visibility!
Why Intent Matters for AI Search Rankings
As AI-powered search continues to evolve, understanding search intent is just as crucial as optimising your website’s technical structure.
Recent data from Botify shows that 58.7% of informational keywords trigger AI Overviews (AIO), while only 19.4% of commercial keywords do the same.
Source: Botify
This trend reveals a key insight:
- AI search engines are prioritising helpful, top-of-funnel content that educates users over content that purely drives sales.
When a user is looking to understand a topic—think “how does SEO work” or “what is a CRM system”—AI tools like Google’s AI Overviews summarise high-quality web content right in the SERP.
That’s why writing educational, well-structured content can massively boost visibility.
However, technical SEO is the gatekeeper. If your website isn’t mobile-first, fast, or structured with internal links and schema, even the most informative page won’t be considered for AIO placement.
AI needs clean HTML, contextual clues, and crawlable layouts to digest your site’s content effectively.
Here’s how the right combination works:
- Informational intent + solid technical SEO = high chance of AI Overview visibility
- Commercial intent + weak structure = likely buried beneath ads or skipped altogether
So, if you’re targeting top rankings in AI-powered search, combine content that answers real questions with a technically sound site. That’s the winning formula in 2025.
Format Content for AI Readability
If your content isn’t structured for AI readability, even the most valuable insights can be ignored. Remember, AI search engines don’t “read” like humans—they scan, segment, summarise, and pull patterns.
So if you want to rank in AI Overviews or show up in tools like ChatGPT, Grok or Google Search AI, formatting matters just as much as the message.
Use AI-Ready Structures
Start strong. A TL;DR-style summary at the top of your page gives both AI and users a quick overview of what’s coming. This is especially useful for optimising a website for search engines that prioritise fast, accurate answers.
From there, use:
- Numbered steps for how-tos
- Pros and cons lists to compare options
- Feature tables to break down products or services
- Bulleted lists for fast scanning (AI loves these)
This kind of layout is ideal for search optimisation for Google and AI-based search engines like Perplexity or You.com. You’re not just optimising for the algorithm—you’re formatting your value for instant recognition.
Highlight Takeaways Visually
Make it ridiculously easy for both users and AI to spot key points. Use callout boxes, bold snippets, or shaded summaries to highlight value.
Consider adding a brief summary section at the top and bottom of your content—this increases your chances of being featured in zero-click answers and AI overviews.
It’s all about signalling: “Here’s the answer you’re looking for.” That’s how you win visibility in AI search engines.
Optimise for Multi-Modal AI Search
Search isn’t just text-based anymore. In 2025, we’re firmly in the multi-modal search era—where text, images, and video all play a role in how AI interprets relevance.
To stay ahead:
- Use images with descriptive alt text (critical for Google AI image search)
- Add video summaries with captions
- Include transcripts for podcasts, webinars, or explainers
Not only does this improve accessibility, it’s a big signal for artificial intelligence search engine optimisation. You’re making it easier for AI to understand every format of your content.
Build Off-Page AI Credibility
AI doesn’t just look at your site—it looks at your reputation across the web. That’s where off-page AI search engine optimisation comes in.
To boost your chances of being featured in a Google AI overview or showing up in Bing AI chat results, start by earning backlinks from high-authority, niche-relevant websites.
AI models like GPT-4 and Gemini weigh credibility signals from across the web when deciding what content to pull into their summaries.
And it’s not just about traditional backlinks anymore. Brand mentions on platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Stack Exchange are becoming increasingly valuable.
These are common crawl targets for AI models, especially when they’re answering niche or technical queries.
The more your brand is mentioned in authentic, high-quality conversations, the more trustworthy you appear in the eyes of AI. This is how to optimise search engine visibility in a world where machines are deciding who gets attention.
So while content and structure matter, don’t ignore how the outside world talks about you. Because to AI, your digital reputation speaks volumes.
Platform-Specific Optimisation Tips
Each AI search engine has its own personality. If you want to really dominate across platforms like Google Search AI, Microsoft Bing AI, ChatGPT with Bing, Perplexity, or You.com, you need to tailor your approach to what each one values most.
Let’s break it down:
| Platform | AI Optimisation Focus |
|---|---|
| Google Search AI | Structured data is everything. Use schema markup, FAQ blocks, and summary-first content. Make it easy for Google to extract concise answers for AI overviews. |
| Microsoft Bing AI | Clean, credible, and well-cited content wins. Prioritise logical structure and link to authoritative sources. Bing values trust and clarity. |
| ChatGPT with Bing | This one thrives on real-time facts and practical value. Include stats, studies, and helpful outbound links—think SEO meets research writing. |
| Perplexity AI | Loves transparency and skimmability. Cite your sources clearly and avoid fluff. Structure your content for quick, summary-level insights. |
| You.com | Go utility-first. Use bullet points, checklists, comparisons, and task-oriented answers. Quick, actionable, tool-style content performs best. |
When you’re optimising for search engines, knowing the specific quirks of each platform gives you a serious edge. This is how we future-proof our content across the evolving AI search landscape.
Monitor & Adapt Your AI SEO Strategy
Ranking once isn’t enough—you’ve got to stay there. AI algorithms shift fast, so your AI search engine optimisation strategy needs to be flexible and data-backed.
Here’s how we keep tabs:
- Track your AI Overview visibility in Google Search Console. Look for increased impressions on queries with informational intent. If you're not appearing, tweak your summary blocks or schema setup.
- Use SEO tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, or SERP tracking platforms to monitor featured snippets, zero-click rankings, and answer box placements. These are all indicators of how visible you are to AI systems.
- Don’t forget to test your content in AI tools directly. Ask questions in Bing Chat, ChatGPT with browsing, or Perplexity and see what they’re pulling. Is it your content or someone else’s?
This is where most businesses drop the ball—they hit publish and walk away. But in 2025, optimising search is an ongoing loop. Test, tweak, track. That’s how you stay ahead in a world where AI decides who gets seen.
Key Takeaways
- AI-first SEO is essential: 47% of Google searches feature AI Overviews—unoptimised content misses out.
- Be an Answer Engine: Address user questions conversationally with clear structure.
- E-E-A-T builds trust: Showcase expertise, credentials, and credible sources.
- Format for AI: Use summaries, lists, tables, and headers for LLM parsing.
- Schema is critical: FAQ, HowTo, and Article schema enhance AI discoverability.
- Platform-specific optimisation: Tailor for Google, Bing, Perplexity, ChatGPT, and You.com.
- Test visibility: Ask questions in AI tools to check if your content appears.
- Keep refining: AI search evolves—stay visible with ongoing tweaks.
Want to Rank #1 in Google AI, ChatGPT & Beyond?
At Credofy, a top-rated digital agency on PPH, we’ve not only helped thousands of businesses over the last 12 years—we’ve proven that we know exactly how to get results.
We’ll show you step-by-step how to get your content featured in:
- Google AI Overviews
- ChatGPT with Bing
- Bing AI, Perplexity, You.com, & more
