AI systems lift passages, not whole pages. The easier a passage is to lift, the more likely it is to be used.
Lead with the answer
Put a direct answer to the page's main question in the first two or three sentences. Then explain, qualify and add detail. Readers benefit too.
Make each section stand alone
- Use headings that state the question or the point.
- Open each section with a sentence that makes sense out of context.
- Name the subject rather than relying on "it" or "this".
Use the right format
- Steps as numbered lists.
- Comparisons as tables.
- Definitions as one clear sentence.
- Numbers with units, dates and sources.
Be specific
"Prices start at £49 a month for up to ten users" is citable. "Flexible pricing to suit every business" is not. Specific claims, with conditions stated, are what answers are built from.
Common mistakes
- Long scene-setting introductions before any answer.
- FAQ sections stuffed with questions nobody asks.
- Writing for a machine and forgetting the reader. Pages that read badly rarely earn the links and mentions that also matter.