Adapting SEO Strategies for LLMs and AI Search

Search is undergoing a significant transformation.

With the rise of AI-first interfaces like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews, users are increasingly getting direct answers to their questions without needing to click on a link.

This means large language models (LLMs) have introduced a new layer to content discovery, fundamentally altering when, where, and how your content is seen.

This shift has impacted how content achieves visibility and what is delivered to users in the top search results.

While it's still early days, and the landscape is continuously evolving, a clear pattern is emerging: LLMs tend to prioritise content that is clear, in-depth, and well-structured.

While LLM SEO won’t replace traditional search engine optimisation, it's a necessary evolution that needs to find the right balance.

This shift presents both significant challenges and new opportunities for clients in the way they approach their marketing.

The main question we now ask is: how can you make sure your content stands out when AI is reshaping the initial user experience, all while still hitting your established ranking goals? 

Finding the Right Balance Between Traditional SEO and LLM SEO

In this new era, the old SEO approach of only backlinks and keyword usage isn’t enough anymore.

There is an increase in focus on concept clarity with how you approach content.

Traditional SEO and LLM SEO are two sides of the same coin; while both serve different systems, you need to support both to allow yourself to be found by both people and machines.

The goal is to focus on foundational concepts and add depth and breadth to your content, without abandoning your traditional SEO approach. 

Clarity and Depth of High Quality Content

Forget keyword stuffing and endless repetition.

LLMs don't just match keywords; they interpret meaning.

Simply swapping synonyms or repeating phrases won't cut it if your content lacks substance.

What truly matters is depth and clarity.

LLMs are designed to surface the most semantically rich and clear explanations, not just the content that says the same thing in a hundred different ways.

Outdated SEO tactics like keyword stuffing or hidden text offer no real benefit in the current search landscape.

The brands that will thrive in this new era are those that prioritise creating structured, original, and genuinely relevant content.

This means building content that serves both human searchers and the AI models guiding them.

The Strategic Imperative of LLM SEO

There's no quick fix for LLM SEO.

Becoming the authoritative source for a topic is a strategic advantage with your SEO strategy.

This shift from simply ranking in search results to actively shaping the answers users receive helps broaden your SEO strategy.

Your optimisation efforts now extend beyond human readers to include the AI models that determine what humans see.

This means your content needs to be deeper, clearer, and designed for these models to learn from and effectively surface.

It's crucial to remember that traditional and technical SEO still matters.

Fundamentals like website speed, content structure, and indexability remain foundational for both conventional search and AI-driven discovery.

Don't Get Left Behind in the New Era of Search!

At BFJ Digital, we’re not just observing the changes in search; we’re actively embracing them.

We understand that success in the evolving SEO climate means adapting our strategies to a world where AI and Large Language Models are reshaping content discovery. 

By balancing traditional SEO fundamentals with cutting-edge LLM SEO techniques, we ensure our clients’ content is optimised for both human users and the intelligent models that determine visibility.

We continuously monitor and integrate the latest advancements across all major search platforms to keep your brand at the forefront of this dynamic landscape. 

Ready to talk to someone about your SEO strategy and how you can maximise your content for LLMs and AI Search?

Contact us today to speak to our SEO team and find out how we can help you.