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This guide explains AI SEO and LLM optimization: how to get your brand cited in AI-generated answers and how to measure and improve your AI visibility.
The shift: from search results to AI answers
More people ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and other AI tools for recommendations. If your brand isn’t in those answers, you’re invisible when it matters. AI SEO and LLM optimization are about being findable, citable, and recommended in AI-generated responses, not only in traditional search results.
That requires different signals: entity clarity, trust and proof, topical coverage, and citation-worthy content. Understanding this concept shift is the first step to improving your AI visibility.
What is AI SEO (LLM SEO)?
AI SEO, also called LLM SEO, answer-engine optimization (AEO), or generative engine optimization (GEO), is the practice of optimizing your brand and content so that large language models (LLMs) and AI assistants cite and recommend you when users ask relevant questions.
It goes beyond keywords: it’s about how AI interprets your entity, whether you’re mentioned in answers, and whether you show up for the right topics. Success is measured with an AI visibility score, mention count, and topic coverage, not only rankings and traffic.
Traditional SEO vs AI SEO
Both matter; the levers and metrics differ.
| Aspect | Traditional SEO | AI SEO / LLM SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank in search results pages (SERPs) | Be cited and recommended in AI-generated answers |
| Audience | People typing queries into Google | People asking ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and other AI |
| Signals | Keywords, links, technical SEO | Entity clarity, trust signals, topical coverage, citations |
| Measurement | Rankings, traffic, clicks | AI visibility score, mention count, topic gaps |
AI SEO optimization framework
A simple sequence to improve your AI and LLM visibility.
- 1
Understand how AI sees you
Audit your current AI visibility: where you’re cited, where you’re missing, and how you’re described.
- 2
Fix entity and trust signals
Ensure your brand, offerings, and proof points are clear and crawlable so AI can cite you accurately.
- 3
Cover key topics and queries
Address the questions your audience asks AI. Close topic gaps so you’re in the answer.
- 4
Track and iterate
Monitor AI visibility over time and adjust content and signals based on mention count and citation data.
How Sophyx surfaces AI SEO data
Sophyx gives you an AI visibility dashboard so you can see your score, mention count, topic coverage, AI mentions, competitor citations, and topic gaps in one place.
AI Visibility Dashboard card
Your AI visibility score over time, mention count, and topic coverage at a glance.
Good foundation, opportunities to improve
Score over time
Mention count: 6/7 prompts
Topic coverage
AI Mentions panel
Queries and whether your brand is cited (name and URL) with mentioned / not mentioned badges.
AI Mentions
Queries and whether your brand is cited
What digital marketing services are available for small businesses?
How can businesses improve their SEO rankings?
Digital marketing providers with CDAP offers in Ontario
Topic Gap panel
Questions where you’re missing coverage so you know what to create or fix.
Topic Gaps
Questions missing coverage
- Digital marketing service providers in Kingston Ontario with CDAP offers
- Best grant writing support for Canadian small businesses
- AI adoption consultants for retail in Saskatchewan
Competitor Citation Map
Brand vs competitor citation counts per query so you see where you stand.
Competitor Citation Map
Brand vs competitors: citation count per query
| Prompt | Your brand | Competitor A | Competitor B | Competitor C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best digital marketing for SMBs | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| SEO improvement strategies | 2 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| CDAP grant consultants | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
AI SEO, LLM optimization, and AI visibility.
- AI SEO (also called LLM SEO or answer-engine optimization) is the practice of optimizing your brand and content so that AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity cite and recommend you when users ask relevant questions. It focuses on entity clarity, trust signals, and topic coverage rather than only traditional search rankings.
- Traditional SEO optimizes for search engine result pages (SERPs). AI SEO optimizes for AI-generated answers: you want to be mentioned, cited, and recommended in those answers. The signals differ: AI systems use knowledge graphs, citations, and topical relevance, so measurement and tactics differ too.
- An AI visibility score is a metric that reflects how often and how well your brand appears in AI-generated answers. It can combine factors like mention count, citation rate, topic coverage, and trust signals. Sophyx provides an AI visibility score so you can track progress over time.
- If you’re not mentioned when people ask AI for recommendations, you’re invisible at the moment of intent. Tracking AI mentions shows where you’re cited and where you’re missing, so you can close gaps and improve your AI visibility.
- Sophyx gives you an AI visibility dashboard: AI visibility score, mention count, topic coverage, AI mentions (queries where you’re cited or not), competitor citation map, and topic gaps. You get a clear picture and prioritized actions to improve your AI and LLM visibility.
See your AI visibility in minutes
Now that you understand AI SEO and LLM optimization, get your baseline: run a free audit and see your AI visibility score, mention count, and topic gaps.
Generative engine optimization · Answer engine optimization · AI brand visibility · AI monitoring tools · How it works