Crafting Content for AI: Your Practical Guide to Being Discovered

The New Frontier of Search

Remember when ranking on Google's first page was the ultimate content goal? Those days aren't gone, but they're certainly getting company. With tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, and Perplexity answering questions directly, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how people discover information online.

Here's the exciting truth: If AI isn't sourcing your content in its responses, it's definitely sourcing your competitors'.

At Mulberry Marketing, we're passionate about helping your content shine in this new landscape. Let's explore how you can structure your content to be more AI-friendly while simultaneously making it more engaging for human readers too.

Why AI-Friendly Content Matters

When Rand Fishkin appeared on the Business of Marketing podcast, he made a point that resonates deeply with us: "You don't need a click to have influence."

In a world where AI tools might answer a user's question without them ever visiting your website, being the source of that answer becomes your new conversion goal.

According to SparkToro's 2023 research, nearly 65% of searches now end without a click. This isn't just a trend—it's the new reality of digital discovery.

8 Practical Ways to Make Your Content AI-Friendly

1. Think Like AI Consumes

AI tools scan content differently than humans. They're looking for clear, structured information that directly answers questions. When writing:

• Keep paragraphs short and punchy (1-3 sentences max)
• Prioritise informational style over promotional language
• Present facts before brand messaging

The Content Marketing Institute found that content with shorter paragraphs sees up to 58% more engagement, benefiting both AI parsing and human reading.

2. Embrace Question-Answer Formats

AI loves content that directly answers questions. Instead of writing:

"Our innovative solution streamlines workflow processes for maximum efficiency."

Try:

What makes our solution different? Our platform reduces workflow completion time by 37% while improving accuracy through automated error detection.

HubSpot's research shows FAQ-structured content typically ranks for 1.4x more featured snippets, which mirrors how AI models select information.

3. Create Clear Content Architecture

AI systems navigate content like humans read maps—they need clear signposts and hierarchy. Structure your content with:

• One primary H1 heading per page
• Logical H2 subheadings for main sections
• H3-H4 tags for subsections
• Bullet points and numbered lists for key information

Remember, if AI can't easily parse your content structure, it's less likely to reference it in responses.

4. Front-Load Your Key Information

Want to be quoted by AI? Put your most important points first. The Nielsen Norman Group has championed the inverted pyramid method for years, and it's become even more relevant for AI content:

• Start with your conclusion or main point
• Follow with supporting details
• End with background information

This structure helps AI models quickly identify your core message when generating responses.

5. Provide Clear Summaries and Takeaways

AI systems look for content that's already distilled the key information. Take a tip from ABC News, which now includes "In short" sections at the top of complex articles:

• Add TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read) sections
• Include key takeaways as bullet points
• Bold essential sentences that summarise main points

When AI scans for concise answers, these elements become prime candidates for inclusion in responses.

6. Structure Data for Easy Processing

Beyond paragraphs and headings, consider how you present comparative information:

• Use tables to compare products, features, or data points
• Create bulleted lists for steps, benefits, or features
• Develop numbered lists for processes or rankings

A study by Backlinko found that content with at least one list had a 70% higher chance of gaining a featured snippet, and the same principle applies to AI content selection.

7. Build a Web of Contextual Internal Links

AI systems understand topics partly by how they connect to related content. Strong internal linking helps demonstrate your topical authority:

• Link naturally within body content (not just in "related posts" sections)
• Use descriptive anchor text that explains what the linked page contains
• Create content clusters around main topics

Search Engine Journal reports that pages with more contextual internal links typically rank better and are more likely to be referenced by AI systems.

8. Cite Credible Sources and Stay Current

AI aims to provide reliable, up-to-date information. Enhance your credibility by:

• Referencing authoritative industry sources
• Linking to recent studies and reports
• Updating content regularly (every 3-6 months)
• Dating your content and noting updates

Edelman's Trust Barometer consistently shows that citing credible sources significantly increases content trustworthiness for both human readers and AI evaluation.

The Win-Win of AI-Friendly Content

The brilliant thing about optimising for AI? It improves your content for everyone:

• For AI: Better parsing and reference potential
• For humans: More scannable, digestible information
• For accessibility: Clearer structure for screen readers
• For SEO: Enhanced relevance signals for traditional search

Ready to Make Your Content AI-Friendly?

The shift toward AI-driven discovery isn't slowing down. By implementing these strategies, you're not just optimising for today's AI tools—you're future-proofing your content for whatever comes next.

At Mulberry Marketing, we're passionate about helping brands thrive in this evolving landscape. Whether you're looking to refresh existing content or develop new AI-friendly assets, we're here to help your brand be the answer everyone's looking for—even when they're asking AI instead of Google.

Ready to make your content AI's favourite source? Let's chat about how we can help.

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