After years of figuring out Google’s algorithm, SEO pros now face a new puzzle: how to get cited by AI search engines. The good news? AI engines give clues about what content they like. You just need to know where to look.
Learn which content AI systems prefer and get a clear plan for optimizing your website to earn more AI citations and visibility.
Start with a Clear Plan
Building an AI search strategy starts with understanding AI crawlers. By watching how these bots interact with your site, you can see what content AI systems prefer.
While Google is still king, AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude are becoming popular for quick answers. These platforms crawl web content to train their models and find real-time information.
This creates both a chance and a challenge. You can position your content to be found by AI systems, but you need to understand how these new algorithms work.
Your action plan:
- Find what content AI engines value by tracking their crawlers
- Use log file analysis or monitoring tools
- Study AI prompts and content patterns
- Build your optimization blueprint
What Are AI Crawlers?
AI crawlers are bots that browse and collect web content. Unlike regular search crawlers focused on rankings, AI crawlers gather content to train language models and build knowledge bases.
Main AI crawlers:
- GPTBot (ChatGPT)
- PerplexityBot (Perplexity AI)
- ClaudeBot (Claude)
- Googlebot crawlers (Google AI)
Why they matter:
AI crawlers impact your strategy in two ways. First, they collect training data. Pages crawled frequently may appear more often in AI responses. Second, some AI systems crawl websites in real-time to provide current information.
When ChatGPT answers a question, it uses information gathered by its crawlers. Perplexity AI crawls and processes web content to provide cited answers. Understanding which pages these crawlers visit shows you what content AI systems value.
How to Track AI Crawler Activity
The easiest way is using SEO Bulk Admin to analyze server logs automatically. But you can also do it manually.
Tools for log analysis:
- Screaming Frog Log File Analyser
- Botify (enterprise solution)
- Semrush
Manual approach:
Your web server records every request to your site, including crawler visits. Here’s how to check:
- Access your server logs through your hosting panel or via SSH/FTP
- Find AI user-agents like ChatGPT-User, PerplexityBot, or GoogleBot variations
- Parse and analyze using log analyzer tools or Python scripts
The problem with manual analysis:
Log file analysis gives detailed data but has challenges:
- Needs technical skills and server access
- Large sites create huge log files
- Takes time to set up
- Requires knowledge of user-agents
Free Guide, “How to Optimize Landing Pages for Lead Generation”
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Write irresistible headlines and calls-to-action that drive clicks and conversions.
- Leverage visuals, persuasive copy, and social proof to build trust and influence decision-making.
- Master A/B testing to fine-tune your pages and boost performance.
- Track essential metrics to measure success and reduce your cost per lead.
Easy Alternative: SEO Bulk Admin
SEO Bulk Admin (a WordPress plugin) tracks AI crawler activity without needing server access or complex setup.
What it offers:
- Automatically detects GPTBot, PerplexityBot, and ClaudeBot
- Simple dashboard for all skill levels
- Real-time monitoring of bot visits
- Shows which pages get the most AI crawler attention
Use Crawler Data to Improve Content
Once you track AI crawlers, use that data to guide your content strategy.
Find AI-favored content:
- Look for pages AI crawlers visit most often
- Check if guides, definitions, or FAQ sections get more attention
Spot content patterns:
- Do popular pages use structured data (Schema markup)?
- Is the content clear and concise with short paragraphs?
- Are authoritative pages with citations getting more visits?
Build your blueprint:
Study your top AI-crawled content and note its features:
- Structure (headings, bullet points, lists)
- Format (text, mixed media)
- Topic depth
- Keywords used
- Structured data
- Internal linking
Then apply these features to underperforming content:
- Break up long paragraphs
- Add Schema markup (Q&A, HowTo, Article)
- Rewrite for clarity
- Add authoritative sources
- Improve internal linking
Example prompt for analysis:
“Analyze why [URL 1] was crawled 5 times in 30 days while [URL 2] was only crawled twice. Compare technical SEO factors, content signals, and citation potential. Provide actionable insights to increase crawl rate for the less-visited URL.”
This data-driven approach turns guesswork into strategy. Keep tracking, analyzing, and optimizing to stay visible in AI search.
Tracking AI crawler behavior is now essential for SEO success. Use log file tools or SEO Bulk Admin to build a strategy that AI engines favor.
Take action by finding AI crawler trends, optimizing top content, and improving weak pages. With AI reshaping search, adapt now to capture traffic from conversational search engines.
Ready to Boost Your AI Visibility?
Don’t let your content get lost in the AI search revolution. Start tracking which pages AI engines value most and turn that data into citations and traffic.
Contact our team for a custom AI optimization audit and discover untapped opportunities in your content.
Free Guide, “How to Optimize Landing Pages for Lead Generation”
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Write irresistible headlines and calls-to-action that drive clicks and conversions.
- Leverage visuals, persuasive copy, and social proof to build trust and influence decision-making.
- Master A/B testing to fine-tune your pages and boost performance.
- Track essential metrics to measure success and reduce your cost per lead.
