Best Strategies to Get Featured in AI-Powered Search Results

Do you know why 80% of people rely on AI-written results for 40% of their searches? The only reason is to get more specific results against their query in a very short time. Now, the way people search online is changing. That’s why Google added AI Overview results in search results. As everything is shifted towards AI, different AI-powered answers like Google’s AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot in Bing, or even tools like ChatGPT, replace old blue links.

After AI search results, websites lose their organic traffic up to 15% and become a major reason for website owners, bloggers, and businesses to think about how to actually show up their content in these AI-driven results.

The answer is not hard. It is easy to get visible in AI-powered search results if we do not consider these search results just a gaming system and avoid keyword stuffing or outdated tricks. Google still prefers structured data, E-E-A-T signals, and natural language formatting.

And AI is just like a librarian. If your content is clear, structured, and trustworthy, it’s much more likely to be recommended when someone asks a question.

So let’s understand the whole scenario and the best strategies to get featured in AI-powered search results, with practical tips you can apply right now.

Strategies to Get Featured in AI-Powered Search

Understand how AI search works.
Target conversational queries.
Write in a clear, direct way.
Use structured data/schema.
Build trust and authority (E-E-A-T).
Optimize for featured snippets.
Create comprehensive, all-in-one content.
Leverage local SEO
Build backlinks.
Embrace multimedia.
Stay updated with AI changes.
Prioritize user experience.

Let’s discuss each in detail.

Understand How AI Search Works Without Getting Too Technical

To optimize your content for AI-powered results, it is important to first know what’s going on behind the scenes. Back to traditional search engines that worked by crawling websites, matching keywords, and ranking pages based on links and authority. AI-powered search results also work the same, but instead of showing a list of top results, they summarize information to provide users with a quick and conversational answer. It means that:

AI pulls from multiple sources to create its response.
It favors clear, structured, and authoritative content.
It often links back to the source it pulled from—so if your content makes the cut, you could be the one it cites.

So instead of writing just for search engines, think about writing for an AI assistant. You can do this by asking yourself if an AI were trying to answer this question quickly and clearly, would it pick my content?

Target Conversational Queries (Not Just Keywords)

Now people’s focus has changed. They are not typing in robotic queries like best pizza NYC. Instead, they’re asking AI-driven engines questions the way they’d talk to a friend:

What’s the best pizza place near Times Square?
Which pizza spot in New York does late-night delivery?
Is Joe’s Pizza better than Prince Street Pizza?

This is where natural language keywords become useful.

To optimize:

Use long-tail, conversational phrases in your content.
Anticipate follow-up questions. If your page is about the best pizza in NYC, then also include sections that answer Who delivers late? Or which one is affordable?

Consider how voice search plays into this—because people often ask AI questions out loud.

By making your content conversational, you’re aligning with how AI understands and processes queries.

Write in a Clear, Direct Way (AI Loves It)

AI doesn’t love indirect communication. If your content is full of filler, vague statements, or buried answers, it won’t get picked up. To make your content clear and direct, you need to:

Answer the main question quickly. Don’t make readers scroll through ten paragraphs of buildup before you get to the point.
Use simple, clear language. Write like you’re explaining to a smart friend, not writing a PhD dissertation.
Break down complex topics into small chunks. Think short paragraphs, headers, and lists.

The easier your content is to parse, the more likely it’ll be featured in AI-generated summaries.

Use Structured Data and Schema

A schema is basically a way of tagging your content so search engines and AI know exactly what it’s about. For example:

A recipe page with schema tells AI: This is a recipe, here are the ingredients, here’s the cooking time.
A FAQ section with schema signals: This is a question, and here’s the answer.

This structured approach makes it easier for AI to confidently cite your content.

If you haven’t set up schema markup on your site yet, it’s worth doing. There are different plugins available, like Yoast or Rank Math, that make it a lot less intimidating than coding it yourself.

Create Content That Builds Trust and Authority

AI-powered search results don’t just pull random opinions. They’re trained to prioritize trustworthy sources.

That means your content should show expertise, reliability, and authority, which is Google’s first principle E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness.

How to do this:

Back up claims with data, studies, or credible sources.
Use author bios that showcase expertise.
Keep your content updated—AI engines prefer fresh and accurate info.
If you’re writing reviews or best-of guides, then you need to explain why you recommend something instead of just listing it.

Here you need to think: would an AI feel confident quoting your content to millions of users? If yes, you’re doing the right things.

Optimize for Featured Snippets

You know those little boxes at the top of Google with a quick answer? That’s a featured snippet, and AI loves pulling from them.

To increase your chances:

Use question-based headers like What is AI-powered search?.
Provide concise and direct answers under those headers. Try to complete it within 40–60 words as these work best.
Format answers in ways AI can easily lift, like numbered lists, tables, or bullet points.

For example, if someone asks, What are the best strategies to show up in AI-powered search? And your page already lists those strategies in a clear way, you’re far more likely to be cited.

Build Comprehensive, All-in-One Content

AI likes sources that feel complete. If your blog post only scratches the surface, it may skip over you for someone else who provides a full breakdown.

This doesn’t mean you need to write long for the sake of long. Instead, make your content:

Comprehensive. Cover multiple angles of the topic.
Well-structured. Use headings so readers and AI can quickly find sections.
Helpful. Anticipate related questions and answer them in the same article.

Basically, you need to cover each query in a single topic, as AI doesn’t want to go through 10 sources if it can get everything from you.

Don’t Forget About Local and Niche Searches

AI-powered results aren’t just about general knowledge, but they’re also being used for local searches.

For example:

The best dentist near me that accepts Delta Dental.
24/7 urgent care in Brooklyn.

If you’re a business, optimize your site for local SEO with:

Google Business Profile optimization.
Local schema markup.
Content that includes location-specific FAQs.

AI is more likely to recommend you if it sees your business as the direct and relevant answer to a user’s local query.

Build Backlinks, They Still Matter

Even though AI is changing search, backlinks are still a big deal. Why? Because they’re one of the strongest signals of authority. We all know the importance of backlinks.

When other reputable sites link to you, it’s like a stamp of approval. And since AI wants to show trustworthy content, backlinks can give you a boost.

Focus on:

Guest posting on relevant sites.
Getting mentioned in industry roundups.
Creating content that’s so good, people want to link to it.

It’s the same principle as before, just more critical now that AI is picking the best answers.

Embrace Multimedia (AI Reads More Than Text)

AI doesn’t just read text—it can process images, videos, and even podcasts. That means your content strategy is not just restricted to content but also contains visuals.

For example:

Embed explainer videos in your blog posts.
Use infographics to summarize complex data.
Provide transcripts for podcasts so the text is crawlable.

The more formats you offer, the more opportunities AI has to surface your content.

Keep Up With AI Search Changes

AI search is still evolving. What works today might shift in six months. So don’t treat this as a set it and forget it strategy. Keep an eye on:

Google’s updates on AI Overviews.
Microsoft’s Copilot changes.
Industry SEO blogs that track AI search developments.

Focus on User Experience First

At the end, remember that AI isn’t the end user, but people are.

If your site is slow, cluttered with ads, or impossible to navigate, users will bounce. And when users bounce, AI notices.

So:

Make sure your site loads fast.
Keep the design clean and mobile-friendly.
Write with a human audience in mind.

The better your user experience, the more likely AI will view you as a reliable recommendation.

Final Thoughts

Getting featured in AI-powered search results is no doubt a difficult task, but it is genuinely helpful. If your content answers questions clearly, builds trust, and makes life easier for readers, AI is far more likely to feature it. Schema, snippets, and backlinks all play a role, but they’re just supporting pieces. Focus on creating the kind of content people (and AI) actually want. And if you want content that gets featured in AI-powered search results, then you can choose TargetSteps SEO Company. We not only provide content that ranks, but also provide a complete SEO Setup for your website. From keyword research and optimized content creation to technical SEO and on-page improvements, we make sure your site is fully prepared to stand out in search.