Getting Started with AI Search Optimization for Your Business – Part 1

AI search is changing how people discover businesses, evaluate expertise, and decide who to trust. And while the technology can feel abstract, the first steps for understanding how your own website shows up in this new landscape are surprisingly simple.

You don’t need specialized tools or an SEO background. You only need a link to your website and the curiosity to see how an AI system reads your work.

These early explorations offer something precious: a mirror. They surface what’s clear, what’s confusing, what’s missing, and what your digital presence communicates without your awareness. And that clarity is foundational for any future optimization.

Below are simple starting steps that anyone can take.

1. Ask an AI tool to tell you what it sees

Choose an AI assistant (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini) and give it your website URL. Then ask:

• Who would you recommend this website to?
• Who is the audience for this business?
• What does this business offer or sell?
• How would you describe this business’s purpose or philosophy?

The goal here is insight. If the AI struggles to name what you do or whom you serve, visitors are likely struggling too.

2. Run the same queries in an anonymous account (or ask a friend)

If you’ve ever discussed your business with your AI tool, it may already “know” things about you. To remove that bias:

• Use a private/incognito window
• Create a quick secondary account
• Or ask a friend to run the prompts for you

This may give you a more accurate sense of how a first-time system would interpret your site.

3. Ask it consumer-style search questions

This step shows how your business might appear (or not appear) when someone searches for help. Try questions specific to your business. If we were asking ones about Alchemy + Aim, we might inquire:

• What are the best website design agencies for nonprofits?
• Who builds future-ready websites for thought leaders?
• Which web development teams specialize in long-term partnerships?

Then ask whether your website would plausibly appear in results for those queries. The AI will usually explain why it would or wouldn’t, and those insights can be incredibly valuable.

4. Ask the AI to summarize your site in multiple formats

This reveals what the model sees as essential. Ask for:

• A one-sentence summary
• A short bullet list
• A paragraph for someone completely new to your field

If the summaries feel off, your messaging may need to be clearer or more consistently expressed across your site.

5. Ask what questions your audience might be asking

Models are surprisingly good at predicting audience intent. Some questions to ask:

• What questions might a business owner ask when searching for a partner like this?
• Which of those questions does this website answer clearly?

This exposes gaps between what people are trying to find and what your website actually communicates.

A final note

These first steps aren’t about optimizing for algorithms. They’re about reclaiming clarity and making sure the essence of your work is translated cleanly and coherently into the digital spaces where AI now plays a powerful interpretive role.

When your website speaks clearly, both humans and AI understand you more easily. And that alignment becomes the foundation for future growth.

If you’re ready to invest in AI Search Optimization for your business, learn more about our 2-week sprint or contact us to schedule a call.