Your First Guide to LLM SEO: 5 Actionable Steps to Get Started Today

TL;DR: Getting started with LLM SEO doesn't require a massive overhaul. Follow these five steps: 1) Audit your AI visibility by asking AI tools the same questions your customers do. 2) Identify one high-value "Answer Asset" to focus on. 3) Structure that content for machine readability with summaries and schema. 4) Build a "Trust Layer" with off-site mentions on platforms AIs already trust. 5) Measure what matters—like brand mentions and share of voice—to track your progress.

The world of search is changing faster than ever. You've heard the buzz about AI, ChatGPT, and a whole new set of rules for getting noticed online. It can feel overwhelming, leaving many marketers wondering: "Where do I even begin?"

James here, CEO of Mercury Technology Solutions.

Forget the complex theory and the dire warnings about the "death of SEO." The truth is, you can start adapting to this new reality today with a few practical, high-impact steps. This isn't about throwing away everything you know; it's about adding a new, powerful layer to your existing strategy.

This is your starter kit. A simple, five-step guide to plant the initial seeds of a powerful LLM SEO strategy and move from theory to execution.

Step 1: The AI Mirror – Conduct a Visibility Audit

Before you can improve your visibility, you need to establish a baseline. You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you are. This first step is about using AI tools as an intelligence-gathering platform.

Your Action Plan:

1. Choose Your Tools: Pick 2-3 primary AI models your audience is likely using (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews).
2. Ask the Right Questions: Open a private browsing session and begin querying these tools with the prompts your ideal customers would use. Start broad and get more specific.
   • Informational: "What is the best way to [solve the problem your product solves]?"
   • Commercial: "What are the best [your product category] for [your target audience]?"
   • Comparison: "[Your Brand] vs. [Competitor Brand]"
3. Document Everything: Create a simple spreadsheet to track the results. For each query, note the following:
   • Are you mentioned? (Yes/No)
   • Who is mentioned? (List your competitors)
   • What is the sentiment? (Positive, Neutral, Negative)
   • Is the information accurate? (Note any errors or "hallucinations")
   • What sources are cited? (This is crucial for Step 4)

This audit will give you an immediate, unfiltered look at your brand's current "Trust Layer" and reveal your biggest gaps and opportunities.

Step 2: Find Your 'Golden Topic' – Identify Your First 'Answer Asset' (GAIO in Action)

AI models are constantly looking for the most definitive, well-structured answers to user questions. An "Answer Asset" is a piece of content on your website that is purpose-built to be that definitive source. This is the heart of Generative AI Optimization (GAIO). You can't optimize everything at once, so the key is to focus your efforts.

Your Action Plan:

1. Analyze Your Audit: Look at the questions from your Step 1 audit where you weren't mentioned but should have been.
2. Find the Gaps: Identify the high-value questions that you don't have a dedicated piece of content for. These become the basis for new Answer Assets.
3. Prioritize: Prioritize by finding the intersection of high business value and a significant content gap from your audit. Your 'Golden Topic' is the one that, if you owned it, would have the biggest impact on your bottom line.

Step 3: Engineer for AI – Structure Your Content for Machine Readability

Once you've identified your target Answer Asset, you need to format it so that a machine can easily parse, understand, and quote it.

Your Action Plan:

• Lead with a TL;DR: Start the article with a concise, 2-3 sentence summary that directly answers the main question. AI models love quotable, "snippet-ready" content.
• Use Question-Based Headings: Structure your content with clear H2s and H3s that mirror the language of real user queries (e.g., "How Do I Choose the Right Nipple Flow Rate?").
• Leverage Lists and Tables: Use bullet points, numbered lists, and comparison tables to break down complex information into easily digestible chunks.
• Implement Schema Markup: Add FAQPage schema for question-and-answer sections and Article schema with clear author and date information. This provides explicit context to search engines and AI crawlers.

Step 4: Build Your 'Trust Layer' – Earn Off-Site Validation (SEvO in Action)

A powerful Answer Asset on your website is necessary, but not sufficient. You need third-party validation from sources that AI models already trust. This is where you build your Trust Layer through Search Everywhere Optimization (SEVO).

Your Action Plan:

1. Identify Your Ecosystem: Revisit your Step 1 audit. Where did the AI find its answers? Was it from industry publications, Reddit threads, Quora, or specific review sites? This is your target ecosystem.
2. Get Cited in Trusted Publications: Focus your PR and guest posting efforts on the publications that AI models are already citing for your topics. One mention in a source that an AI trusts is worth more than ten on random blogs.
3. Engage in High-Value Communities: Don't just spam links. Find the most relevant subreddits or Quora topics and provide genuine, expert answers. An insightful, unlinked comment that gets upvoted can become a powerful authority signal.

Step 5: Close the Loop – Measure What Matters

LLM SEO is not a "set it and forget it" activity. The final step is to establish a measurement framework to track your progress and prove the value of your efforts.

Your Action Plan:

1. Monitor Brand Mentions: Use brand monitoring tools (like those within Ahrefs or Semrush) to track both linked and unlinked mentions across the web. A rising tide of positive mentions is a key leading indicator of success.
2. Track Share of Voice in AI: Use emerging AI analytics platforms (like Ahrefs' AI Content Grader or other specialized tools) to measure how often your brand is cited for your target queries compared to competitors. Your goal is to see this "citation share" increase over time.
3. Look for 'Invisible Influence': While direct attribution is tricky, look for a corresponding lift in your direct and branded organic traffic in Google Analytics. This is often the first sign that users are discovering you in AI tools.
4. Repeat the Audit: Every quarter, repeat the foundational audit from Step 1. Use the insights to refine your strategy for the next quarter.

Conclusion: From Seed to Strategy

This five-step process provides the seed for a resilient and effective LLM SEO strategy. By starting with a clear understanding of your current visibility, building high-value content, and validating your authority across the web, you move beyond chasing algorithms and start building a durable brand presence.