Content optimization for AI
The core principle: AI can only use what the text says.
A person who reads your content brings context with them; they understand product names, they know that "PW" in your industry means password, or they can infer meaning from an unlabeled table.
AI cannot do any of these things. It reads the text, and if a meaning is unclear on the page, the AI does not have that meaning. To minimize misunderstanding or missing information, content authors have to say what they mean, in words, on the page.
Where to start
You do not have to do everything at once. For example, fixing titles across a whole library will improve AI results measurably. Pick a place to start and move through the content in passes.
To clean up existing content, work through these articles in order:
- One article, one outcome: Ensure each article only does one thing. Split any page that attempts to combine tasks or ideas.
- Titles and headings: Titles and headings are the strongest signals AI uses to find your content. Fix these next.
- Write for AI: Adjust the body of each article for plain language, real context, and short paragraphs.
- Acronyms, jargon, and specialized terminology: Spell terms out on the page, and maintain a glossary.
- Tables, images, and diagrams: Ensure the meaning of any visual is also present in the surrounding text.