AI systems synthesize answers from content.
Structure yours so it can be easily extracted and cited.
AI-FRIENDLY CHARACTERISTICS: • Direct answers: Lead with the answer, then explain • Clear structure: Headings, lists, short paragraphs • Factual information: Specific details, not vague claims • Question-based headings: Match how people ask AI EXAMPLE TRANSFORMATION: BEFORE: 'At Joe's Plumbing, we pride ourselves on years of experience and customer satisfaction.' AFTER: 'Joe's Plumbing provides emergency plumbing services in Detroit, MI including drain cleaning, water heater repair, and leak detection.
We serve residential and commercial customers 24/7.' The second version gives AI specific, citable facts.
Be the best answer to questions about your services.
FINDING QUESTIONS TO ANSWER: • What do customers ask when they call?
• What does your front desk answer repeatedly?
• 'People Also Ask' boxes in Google search • Industry forums and Q&A sites ANSWER STRUCTURE: 1.
Question as heading (H2 or H3) 2.
Direct answer in first 1-2 sentences 3.
Supporting details as needed 4.
Call to action (optional) EXAMPLE: H2: How much does a dental cleaning cost?
'A dental cleaning typically costs $75-200 for a standard cleaning without insurance.
At Livonia Family Dental, our standard cleaning is $125.
Deep cleanings for gum disease range from $150-350 per quadrant.' Voice searches are longer and more conversational than typed searches.
VOICE CHARACTERISTICS: • Full questions: 'What time does the pharmacy open?' • Local intent: 'near me,' 'closest,' 'in Livonia' • Immediate needs: hours, directions, phone • Conversational tone OPTIMIZATION TIPS: • Use natural language in your content • Include long-tail question phrases • Provide concise answers—voice reads short responses • Ensure key info is easily extractable Write content that sounds natural when read aloud.
Keep answers under 30 words for voice responses.
You now know how to create content AI can cite.
In our final module, we'll cover measuring your success.