To become a preferred source for LLMs, the focus shifts to building a library of high-quality, human-centric information that is also machine-readable. Here are the practical pillars of this approach:

Structure and readability

A logical structure is the foundation of comprehension.

• Logical hierarchy: Use one H1 for your title and clear H2/H3 subheadings that reflect the content of each section.
• Chunked paragraphs: Keep paragraphs focused, ideally between 3-6 lines, with each one conveying a single idea.
• Lists and tables: Use bullet points, numbered lists, or tables to present data or steps for clear, scannable formatting.

Context and semantic coverage

Depth is about providing a complete picture.

• Provide complete background: Offer context, clear definitions for key terms, and illustrative examples.
• Embrace semantic keywords: Move beyond a single focus keyword. Naturally incorporate supporting keywords, synonyms, and proper nouns. For example, if "Rome Colosseum tours" is your focus keyword, instead of repeating it throughout your article, your paragraph could be: "Planning your Rome Colosseum tour? Make sure to consider skip-the-line Colosseum tickets to maximize your time at this incredible archaeological site. Many guided visits also include the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, giving you a complete picture of ancient Rome."
• Entity clarity: When you introduce a key concept, define it clearly. This helps the LLM understand the term and connect it to its broader knowledge graph.

Language Style

• Natural, conversational tone: Write as if answering a direct question, concise, avoiding robotic or keyword-stuffed language.
• Clear definitions: Avoid jargon (too specialized language) and metaphors without explanation; define terms on first use. Avoid generic, cliché phrases, filler words, and overly descriptive or hyperbolic language.

Authority and trust signals

Proving your credibility is crucial.

• Original data and research: Incorporate unique statistics, original case studies, or proprietary findings to stand out.
• Cite credible sources: Back up your claims by referencing reputable studies, including expert quotes, and linking to authoritative domains.
• Demonstrate E-E-A-T: Align your content with the principles of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Showcase author credentials and maintain factual accuracy.

Formatting and technical foundation

The right technical signals provide clear context for search engines.

• Use semantic HTML: Use proper headings (<h1>-<h6>), <strong> for emphasis, and descriptive alt tags for images.
• Incorporate FAQs: Add formatted FAQ or Q&A sections to answer common user questions directly.
• Leverage structured data: When possible, include schema markup (e.g., FAQPage, HowTo, Article) to provide explicit context about your content's purpose.

A quick technical note: what not to do

If you want your content to appear in AI Overviews and be used by LLMs, you must not block search engine crawlers (like Googlebot) in your website's robots.txt file (you can find a list here). To get traffic from AI-powered search, you need to allow your site to be crawled. This means search engines may use your content to train their models and feature it in AI results.