Ranking today isn’t just about showing up in search results anymore. It’s about becoming the source AI uses to answer the question. And yes, there’s a big difference between the two.
Nowadays, search is totally different. Users don’t even click a website and get answers directly from LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude — and from AI Overviews on Google.
So, how do you make your content the one AI picks? How do you write pages that get trusted, used, and shown as the answer?
In this blog, we’ll show you exactly how to do that. You’ll learn how to rank on LLMs and AI Overviews by creating content that’s simple, easy to read, and genuinely helpful.
Let’s get started!
#1 Build Topical Authority
If you want LLMs and AI Overviews to pick your content, you can’t just write random blogs and hope for the best. AI doesn’t trust that. It looks for websites that go deep, that really know their topic, and that explain it consistently across multiple pages.
If you’re trying to explain one subject, you don’t jump around to ten different things at once. You stick to the topic and make sure they understand it fully. That’s exactly how AI reads your content. If your site has several pages all covering the same topic from different angles, and they link to each other naturally, AI starts seeing your site as an authority.
So instead of writing more and more random posts, focus on creating content that actually answers real questions people are asking. Research shows about 76% of pages shown in AI Overviews are already in Google’s top 10 — so if your content is clear and focused, AI is much more likely to pick it.
Source: Ahrefs
#2 Get Mentioned on Trusted Websites
AI pays attention to who trusts your content. If other reputable sites mention or link to your page, LLMs and AI Overviews see it as reliable. These mentions help AI pick your content when giving answers.
You don’t need thousands of backlinks or fancy collaborations. Even small, genuine mentions count. Like being quoted in a blog, mentioned in an article, or referenced in a forum that’s well-known in your niche can make a difference.
It’s about building a reputation. When other experts or trusted sites acknowledge your content, it shows to AI that your page is accurate, useful, and worth showing. This works seriously well for AI Overviews, because Google and other AI systems prefer content that’s backed by credible references.
So, focus on creating content worth mentioning. Reach out to niche blogs, contribute as a guest writer, or answer questions on platforms where your topic matters. Even a few authentic mentions can rank you higher in LLMs and AI Overviews.
#3 Optimize for AI Overviews Specifically
If you want your content to appear in AI Overviews or be picked by LLMs, you need to think differently than traditional SEO. These systems aren’t looking for long, keyword-stuffed articles. They’re looking for content that answers a question clearly, quickly, and completely.
Always try to structure your content for easy reading. Use clear headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points where it makes sense. If AI can quickly scan your page and find the main answer, it’s more likely to use your content. It’s like highlighting the “best parts” for AI to pull.
Be direct. State your key points at the top of each section instead of burying them under long introductions. LLMs and AI Overviews love content that’s easy and scannable. Use simple, natural language — don’t overcomplicate explanations.
Also, focus on one topic per page. If your content tries to answer too many things at once, AI may ignore it. When you create content that’s clear, focused, and structured for LLMs and AI Overviews, you make it easy for AI to pick your page as the trusted answer.
#4 Update Old Content for LLM Visibility
Here’s something many people overlook: old content can actually work harder for you if it’s updated properly. LLMs and AI Overviews prefer content that feels current, accurate, and easy to understand. If your old posts are outdated or messy, AI is less likely to pick them.
Start by reviewing your older pages. Update statistics, facts, and examples. Make sure your explanations are still correct and relevant. Sometimes just rephrasing a paragraph or adding a clear definition can make your content more AI-friendly. LLMs look for clarity and reliability, not just freshness, so focus on making the content clear, simple, and useful.
Next, check the structure. Add headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points if needed. AI prefers content that’s scannable and well-organized. If your old page answers a question directly and is easy to read, AI is much more likely to use it in AI Overviews.
#5 Write for Humans First, AI Second
If your content isn’t easy for humans to read, it won’t work for LLMs or AI Overviews either. AI is designed to understand human language, so writing in a natural, clear, and helpful way is your best strategy.
If someone visits your page and gets confused halfway through, they’ll leave. AI notices patterns like that — pages that are confusing, overly complex, or stuffed with keywords often get ignored.
Focus on giving actual value. Answer questions fully, explain terms, and provide examples where needed. Don’t overthink trying to “optimize for AI” with fancy tricks — the real optimization is making your content genuinely useful. LLMs and AI Overviews will naturally pick pages that are readable, clear, and complete.
Also, structure your content with headings and bullet points. This makes it easy for readers and easy for AI to scan. The goal is simple: humans should understand your content immediately, and AI will follow. Write for humans first, and AI visibility will follow naturally.
Wrap Up
When we talk about ranking on LLMs and AI Overviews, there are clear benefits you can see. It helps improve visibility, builds trust, and puts your content in front of people who are actively searching for answers. But these benefits only come when the content is created with the right approach.
By following the steps above, you can create content that gets picked, trusted, and shown as the answer. If you don’t have the time or experience to do it yourself, reach out here to get started.
FAQs
1. What exactly are LLMs and AI Overviews?
LLMs (Large Language Models) like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are AI tools that generate answers from large datasets. AI Overviews on Google summarize information from multiple websites. Both aim to give users quick, clear answers without needing to click through pages.
2. Do I need to focus on keywords to rank on LLMs?
Not really. While keywords help, AI cares more about clarity, usefulness, and structure. Focus on answering questions clearly, explaining concepts simply, and organizing content logically. That’s what gets picked for LLMs and AI Overviews.
3. How important is updating old content?
It’s very important to update old content. AI prefers content that’s current, accurate, and easy to read. Updating old posts with new examples, stats, and clearer explanations can make them more likely to appear in AI Overviews.
4. Should I write for AI or humans first?
Humans first, AI second. If humans can read and understand your content easily, AI can too. Clear, simple, and helpful writing naturally improves your chances of ranking on LLMs and AI Overviews.
5. Can getting mentioned on other sites help?
Yes. Mentions on trusted or niche-relevant websites signal credibility. AI treats content with authoritative mentions as more reliable, increasing the chances of your page being selected for summaries and answers.
