Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity are rapidly changing how users interact with search engines. With AI-generated summaries, conversational searches (such as ‘What’s the weather like today?’ or ‘How do I bake a cake?’), and personalized results becoming the norm, traditional SEO techniques alone are no longer enough.
So, what does this SEO for LLMs shift mean for your website, and how can you stay ahead? Adapting to this AI shift is not just a choice, but a necessity for the survival and success of your online presence.
We’re helping brands adapt to this AI-led evolution with practical, strategic SEO focusing on discoverability, clarity, and trust. This article explores exactly what SEO for LLMs means, how it differs from traditional approaches, and how you can make your content visible in a world where clicks are no longer guaranteed.
“SEO for LLMs isn’t just a trend — it’s a shift in how content gets discovered. We’re no longer just optimising for search engines; we’re shaping the information that AI uses to respond to the world.”
— Tom Edwards, Founder, Bit Quirky Consulting
Why SEO for LLMs Matters Now
In 2024, Google began rolling out AI Overviews in search results, transforming how users consume information. These AI Overviews are concise summaries of information, generated by AI from various sources, and presented to users instead of a list of blue links. LLMs power these summaries and often don’t require a user to click through to your site.
But that doesn’t mean your site becomes irrelevant.
In fact, it becomes more important than ever to structure your content so LLMs can find, understand, and trust it. You’re no longer just optimizing for users and elements of Google’s algorithm — you’re optimizing for the models that inform the AI experience.
Want a full breakdown of Google’s recent AI search changes? Read our in-depth analysis: 👉 Google’s AI Overhaul of Search.
What is LLM Optimization?
LLM optimization refers to the process of making your content and website more accessible, understandable, and valuable to large language models. It’s about:
- Being cited in AI summaries
- Ensuring contextual clarity for LLMs
- Increasing your visibility in conversational search interfaces
- Structuring content for retrieval, summarisation, and trust
Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on rankings and traffic, LLM optimization focuses on influence and inclusion in AI-generated answers.
How to Optimize a Website for LLMs: A Practical Guide
Here’s how we help clients at BQC to futureproof their websites with practical, actionable strategies:
1. Write Clear, Structured Answers
Use H2s and H3s to mirror the way questions are asked. Create scannable content that directly answers specific queries, like this article.
2. Embrace Semantic HTML & Schema Markup
Use FAQ, Article, and HowTo schema wherever relevant. Apply a clear HTML structure so LLMs can extract the most pertinent information.
3. Build Topical Authority with Content Clusters
LLMs prioritize content from authoritative sources. To boost trust and context, build interconnected articles around a theme (e.g., our SEO consultancy series).
4. Prioritise Trust, Accuracy and Citations
The more accurate and trustworthy your content, the more likely LLMs will cite it. Include outbound links to authoritative sources and publish content under a named author with credentials.
5. Update and Expand Content Regularly
LLMs favour recent, relevant content. Keep your articles fresh and ensure they reflect the latest developments — especially as AI search evolves rapidly.
6. Go Beyond Keywords — Focus on Meaning
Use natural language and topic depth over keyword stuffing. LLMs value understanding and context far more than repeated phrases.
“The rise of LLMs is a huge opportunity for brands that prioritise clarity, depth, and genuine value. SEO for LLMs rewards those who create content worth citing — not just content built to rank.”
— Tom Edwards, Founder, Bit Quirky Consulting
LLM SEO vs Traditional SEO: A Quick Visual
| Traditional SEO | LLM SEO |
| Optimise for Google rankings | Optimise for inclusion in AI answers |
| Focus on keywords & backlinks |
Focus on clarity, semantics, and topic coverage
|
| CTR-driven | Visibility-driven, even without clicks |
| SERP presence | Conversational presence |
How to Use LLMs in SEO Workflows
LLMs are not just something to optimize for; they are powerful tools that can revolutionize and enhance your SEO process.
How we use LLMs at BQC:
- Content ideation & outline generation
- Semantic entity discovery
- Schema markup suggestions
- Competitor summarisation & content gap analysis
Always validate LLM outputs—they can hallucinate, fabricate, and often use out-of-date URL sources for citations. Think of them as intelligent assistants, not strategists, and remember they are still learning.
Which LLM is Best for SEO?
Each major LLM model has unique SEO strengths:
| LLM / Tool | Best For | SEO Use Cases |
| ChatGPT-4o | Content ideation, rewriting, tone matching | Blog outlines, FAQs, meta descriptions, structured rewrites |
| Claude 3 | Long-form analysis, deep summarisation, clarity checking | Content QA, summarising competitor pages, knowledge base clarity |
| Gemini (Google) | Real-time data from Google Search |
Keyword research, SERP simulation, identifying featured snippet trends
|
| Perplexity.ai | Citation-first AI search | Identify cited sources, discover what LLMs “trust”, test topic authority |
| You.com | Customisable, multi-modal AI search | Discover how different intents are interpreted and ranked by AI |
| Mistral (open-source) | Lightweight and customisable LLM |
Enterprise SEO workflows, internal tooling, privacy-conscious SEO processing
|
| Meta’s LLaMA 3 | Open-source flexibility, high customisability | Tailored content scoring, scalable content audits in larger orgs |
| Phind | Dev-oriented AI search with technical depth |
Technical SEO audits, structured data reviews, JavaScript-heavy site analysis
|
| Copilot (Microsoft) | SEO spreadsheet management, content review at scale |
Keyword clustering, Excel-based data wrangling, page performance audits
|
Use them together to validate findings and broaden your approach.
LLM SEO in Practice: Real-World Use Case
A client in the IT sector approached us earlier this year asking what they need to do with SEO for LLMs as they were losing visibility for their learning and support hub (largely Q and A based). They saw increased visibility after we restructured their learning and support hub around question-based page structure (H2, H3s), implemented FAQ schema, and published fresh monthly content with internal citations. Within 8 weeks, their content started appearing in Perplexity summaries and was quoted in AI Overviews, including ChatGPT, despite having fewer backlinks than competitors. Traffic grew through direct and organic searches during this phase.
That’s the power of preparing your content for how LLMs ingest and output information.
Tools & Resources to Optimize for LLMs
- Surfer SEO / Clearscope – Content optimization for topic depth
- AIPRM / Harpa AI – LLM prompt tools for SERP simulation and ideation
- Perplexity.ai – Monitor what sources are being cited for your niche
- ChatGPT with Browsing – Test how your site appears and is interpreted
SEO for LLMs: It’s Time to Adapt
The world of SEO is not dead, but how we search is changing — fast. LLMs are now gatekeepers to information; optimizing for them is no longer optional.
SEO for LLMs is more than ranking; it’s about being present where decisions are made and cited where summaries are shown. Whether you’re a B2B brand, SaaS company, e-commerce store, or content publisher — your content must evolve.
“SEO for LLMs is about earning visibility in a future where AI delivers the answers. It’s not about rankings anymore — it’s about relevance, structure, and trust in an AI summarised future.”
— Tom Edwards, Founder, Bit Quirky Consulting
SEO for LLMs FAQs
How do you use LLMs in SEO?
To use large language models (LLMs) in SEO, you can leverage them to generate content briefs, analyze competitors, rewrite copy for clarity, identify semantic entities, and simulate how AI might summarise or interpret your content. Always review and refine the output manually to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Which LLM is best for SEO?
There is no single “best” LLM for SEO — it depends on your specific needs.
- ChatGPT-4o is best for content ideation and rewriting.
- Claude 3 excels at long-form content analysis and summarisation.
- Gemini integrates real-time Google search data.
- Perplexity.ai offers cited, source-based answers for research.
Using multiple models together often yields the best results.
How do you optimize a website for LLMs?
To optimize your site for LLMs and AI Overviews:
- Answer specific questions clearly and early in your content.
- Use semantic HTML and structured data (e.g., FAQ schema).
- Build topical authority through content clusters.
- Demonstrate E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
- Keep content accurate, updated, and easy to understand.
This makes your content more likely to be cited by LLMs or included in Google’s AI-generated summaries.
What is LLM optimization in SEO?
LLM optimization is the practice of making your content more accessible and valuable to large language models. It involves structuring information for easy interpretation, using schema to aid machine comprehension, and aligning with AI-first user intent. The goal is to increase your visibility in conversational search experiences — even when users don’t click through to your site.
Futureproof Your SEO for LLMs
We’re already helping brands rethink their SEO strategies for a world where AI shapes how information is found, summarised, and shared. From auditing existing content for AI-readiness to restructuring websites for semantic clarity, our approach is built for what’s next — not just what used to work.
Whether you’re a founder trying to make sense of these changes, a marketing lead looking to stay ahead of the curve, or a business tired of chasing rankings that don’t convert — we’re here to help.
SEO for LLMs doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s about doing the fundamentals really well, with a clear eye on how search and discovery are evolving.
Want to see if your content is LLM-friendly? Or just need some honest advice on where to start? Drop us a message or check out our SEO consultancy services — no jargon, no pressure.
