Overview
AI search is reshaping how UK businesses appear in search results. As ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews become primary discovery channels for a growing segment of your potential customers, the question is no longer whether AI search matters — it is whether your business is visible when it does.
What Is AI SEO?
AI SEO (sometimes called LLMO — Large Model Optimisation) is the practice of optimising your content and online presence so that AI search tools reference and recommend your business when users ask questions or research topics related to what you offer. Unlike traditional SEO, which optimises for Google's ranking algorithm, AI SEO focuses on being selected as a cited source by AI tools that generate direct answers.
The mechanics are different. Google shows you a list of links; AI tools show you a synthesised answer with citations. If your content is among those citations, you receive a direct recommendation. If it is not, you do not appear at all — even if you rank on page one of Google for the same query.
How AI Search Differs From Traditional SEO
Traditional SEO targets ranking algorithms. AI SEO targets the citation selection criteria of AI tools. The criteria AI tools use to select and cite sources include: authority signals (links from other authoritative sources, mentions across the web), factual accuracy and specificity (AI tools prefer sources that make specific, verifiable claims over vague generalisations), content structure (clear headings, direct Q&A formats, well-organised information), topical depth (comprehensive coverage of a topic rather than surface-level summaries), and recency (for time-sensitive topics, newer content is preferred).
BoldCrafter's AI SEO Approach
Our AI SEO service combines traditional search engine optimisation with dedicated LLMO strategy. We assess your current visibility in AI search tools, identify the queries where AI citations would most benefit your business, develop content strategies designed for AI citation, and build the authority signals that AI tools look for when selecting sources.
The overlap between traditional SEO and AI SEO is significant — both reward authoritative, comprehensive, well-structured content and strong backlink profiles. The difference is in emphasis and the addition of specific AI-oriented tactics that do not necessarily help traditional rankings but do improve AI citation rates.
Who Needs AI SEO?
AI SEO is most commercially valuable for businesses in the research and consideration phase of the buying journey — businesses whose potential customers use search to research solutions before purchasing. Professional services, B2B technology, financial services, healthcare, and education are sectors where AI search has had the most significant early impact on discovery behaviour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does AI search affect my Google rankings?
AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews draw from sources that rank well in traditional search. The same principles that improve your Google rankings also improve your visibility in AI search results. Strong E-E-A-T signals, comprehensive content, and authoritative backlinks all help in both environments.
What's the difference between SEO and AI SEO?
Traditional SEO optimises for Google's ranking algorithm. AI SEO optimises for being selected as a cited source by AI tools that generate direct answers. The overlap is significant — authoritative, comprehensive content ranks well in both — but AI SEO adds considerations around content structure, factual precision, and the types of authority signals that AI tools specifically value.
How do I know if my business appears in AI search results?
You can test this by asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews questions relevant to your industry and location, and checking whether your business is cited. We also provide AI search visibility audits as part of our AI SEO service, covering the queries most relevant to your business.