TL;DR — KEY TAKEAWAYS
- AI assistants recommend entities they can describe with confidence.
- Consistency across the web matters more than keywords.
- Put a 40–60 word direct answer at the top of key pages.
- Schema + llms.txt make you machine-readable.
- Track 20 real questions across 5 AI engines monthly.
1. Why AI answers are the new page one
When someone asks ChatGPT for “the best clinic in Gulshan,” there is no page two. The model names two or three brands, cites a source or two, and the conversation moves on. If you’re not in that answer, you don’t exist for that customer.
The good news: the signals models rely on are learnable. They overlap heavily with good SEO — but they reward clarity, consistency and corroboration far more than keyword density ever did.
“Models don’t rank pages. They recommend entities they can describe with confidence.”
2. Become an entity, not a website
Start by making sure every place that describes you says the same thing: your name, what you do, where you are, who you serve. Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, directories, Wikidata where relevant — consistency is what lets a model “know” you.
3. Write answers, not articles
Models lift clean, self-contained answers. Put a 40–60 word direct answer at the top of every key page, then expand. Use the exact question as a heading. Avoid burying the answer under three paragraphs of preamble.
4. Speak machine: schema & llms.txt
Structured data removes guesswork. Add Organization, LocalBusiness and FAQPage schema, and publish an llms.txt file that points models to your most important pages:
# Meridian Health
> 40-clinic healthcare network in Dhaka with same-day online booking.
## Key pages
- [Find a clinic](https://meridian.example/clinics)
- [Book an appointment](https://meridian.example/book)
- [Our doctors](https://meridian.example/doctors)5. Earn citations models trust
Models corroborate. One mention on your own site is a claim; five mentions across reputable publications, directories and review sites is a fact. Pitch data-led stories, contribute expert quotes, and keep reviews flowing.
Our benchmark: clients who hit 5+ independent citations saw their first AI mentions within 6–10 weeks.
6. Measure it monthly
Pick 20 questions your customers actually ask. Run them through ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot and Google AI Overviews every month. Track whether you’re mentioned, cited, or recommended first. That’s your new ranking report.