How to Transform From Traditional SEO to AI SEO (AI Optimisation - AIO)

For years, businesses have relied on search engine optimisation (SEO) to drive visibility and growth. The focus was on ranking in the top positions of Google, building backlinks, and carefully placing keywords into content. While these fundamentals remain important, the way people search is undergoing a dramatic shift.AI-powered tools such as Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and other generative platforms are no longer simply search engines. They are becoming answer engines designed to provide users with direct, conversational responses. This change means the old model of fighting for blue links on the search results page is no longer enough. Brands must adapt to a new discipline: AI SEO.At Leaders in Digital (LiD), we see AI SEO as the natural evolution of search strategy. It requires businesses to prepare content not only to rank, but also to be quoted, referenced, and surfaced by artificial intelligence systems.

What Makes AI SEO Different?

Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)
AI tools prefer content that provides direct, structured answers. AEO involves creating material that mirrors natural language queries and is easy to interpret. This means using question-led headings, concise explanations, and schema markup to signal context. When content is written in this way, AI systems are far more likely to use it as a source.
Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)
GEO is about ensuring content can be cited within AI-generated responses. While backlinks matter in SEO, GEO focuses on topical authority, depth, and credibility. Pages that demonstrate expertise and provide clear, reliable information stand a stronger chance of being chosen by generative models as a reference.
A Human + AI Approach
Although AI is excellent for research, automation, and drafting, human oversight remains critical. Businesses must retain editorial judgement to ensure accuracy, quality, and brand alignment. This balance between speed and trust is at the heart of AI SEO.

LiD Findings: How to Adapt

Drawing from industry insights and our own work with clients, LiD highlights five essential steps for transforming SEO into AI SEO.

Strategy First
Begin with clarity. Who is your audience, what questions are they asking, and how can your brand provide the most valuable answers? Without a strong strategy, AI-generated content risks being generic and unhelpful.
Invest in Trusted AI Platforms
Free AI tools may offer convenience, but they come with risks around data privacy and output quality. Businesses that take AI SEO seriously are now using secure, paid platforms, often with custom models tuned to their brand voice.
Retain the Human Touch
AI should never be left to run unsupervised. Editing, fact-checking, and tone adjustments are vital to ensure content reflects your brand and meets the expectations of both customers and search engines. Human oversight also supports Google’s EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals.
Write for AI as well as Humans
To succeed in AI SEO, content must be structured for clarity. Use short paragraphs, strong headings, and Q&A sections that can be easily lifted into an AI response. This makes your work more “AI-citable” and increases the chance of visibility across answer engines.
Expand Beyond Google
As organic search continues to shift, brands should not rely solely on traditional rankings. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn are becoming search engines in their own right. By diversifying presence across channels, businesses can meet audiences wherever they look for answers.

Why AI SEO Matters Now

The move towards AI-driven discovery is already reshaping traffic patterns. Some websites have reported large drops in organic visits as AI Overviews begin providing answers directly within Google. For brands, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

The challenge: less visibility for pages that fail to adapt.
The opportunity: increased authority for content that is optimised for both humans and AI.

By investing in AI SEO now, businesses can secure their role as trusted sources of knowledge in this new environment.

Practical Next Steps

Review your existing content. Which pages already answer common questions clearly, and which need restructuring?
Add Q&A formats, bullet points, and schema markup to help AI systems interpret your content.
Experiment with AI tools to understand how your brand currently appears in generated results.
Develop editorial processes where AI drafts are enhanced, not replaced, by human expertise.

Conclusion

SEO has always been about visibility. In the age of AI, visibility means something new: being recognised as a reliable source within conversational responses. By moving from traditional SEO to AI SEO, brands can continue to attract attention, build trust, and convert audiences even as search itself transforms.

At Leaders in Digital, we believe this shift is not something to fear but a chance to lead. With the right mix of strategy, AI tools, and human creativity, businesses can thrive in the era of AI-powered discovery.

If you want to join any of our practical workshops or work with us – drop us a message and we can have a intro call or meeting.