Hi iwan,

ChatGPT processes 1.1 billion queries daily. Perplexity handles 780 million searches per month.

And 95% of websites? Not showing up in either.

So here's my 2026 strategy: stop chasing Google's shrinking informational traffic, and start capturing AI search visitors who actually convert.

Here are the 6 changes that fixed this for me and my clients:

1. Structure content for AI citations

ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews don't pull random pages.

They cite content with:

  • Clear H2/H3 hierarchy

  • First-party data and original research

  • Specific, sourced statistics (not vague claims)

  • Answer blocks that stand alone

According to Semrush, content with concrete statistics gets referenced more often than generic advice.

Replace "many businesses struggle" with "email marketing generates $42 for every $1 spent, according to Litmus 2024 research."

2. Embed commerce directly in content

The days of "blog post with CTA at bottom" are over.

With AI eating informational queries, you need to monetize every visitor who lands on your content.

Embed:

  • Product recommendations inline (not just footer links)

  • Lead capture forms mid-article (not just exit intent)

  • Comparison tables with direct purchase options

Make the action accessible without forcing users to navigate elsewhere.

3. Map content to psychographic personas, not demographics

Most marketers still target "women aged 30-40 in X location."

That's surface-level and it doesn't work for AI personalization.

Instead, segment by:

  • Buying motivations (peer-influenced vs trend-skeptical)

  • Research depth (DIY learners vs quick-answer seekers)

  • Content consumption habits (video-first vs text-deep-divers)

According to persona-based marketing research, email campaigns using buyer personas see 14% higher click-through rates and 10% higher conversion rates.

Why? Because you're matching intent, not just age brackets.

4. Publish topic clusters, not individual articles

AI platforms prioritize sites that demonstrate topical authority.

That means:

  • One comprehensive pillar page covering the core topic

  • 5-10 supporting articles diving into subtopics

  • Internal links connecting the cluster

This isn't new advice, but here's the twist:

Format those pages for conversational queries.

People ask ChatGPT, "What's the best way to..." not "keyword + location + modifier."

Write like you're answering a real human, not gaming an algorithm.

5. Leverage seasonality systematically

Most businesses have seasonal patterns they're not capitalizing on.

Track:

  • When search volume spikes for specific topics

  • Content performance by quarter

  • Google Discover pickup timing

Publish or update content 2-3 weeks BEFORE the seasonal spike hits.

This gives you:

Fresh content signals when demand surges

Google Discover visibility (if timed right)

Ranking momentum before competitors react

6. Build authority assets AI can't ignore

Generic content loses to AI summaries every time.

Original research wins.

Conduct surveys, compile proprietary data, publish findings.

These become evergreen citation sources because:

  • AI platforms prefer unique data over regurgitated advice

  • Journalists reference original stats for years

  • Your brand becomes synonymous with that insight

The bottom line: AI didn't kill SEO. It killed lazy content.

If your strategy is "publish blog posts and wait for Google traffic," you're done.

The new model is AI-optimized structure, embedded conversion paths, psychographic targeting, topic authority clusters, seasonal momentum, and original data ownership.

Want visibility in 2026? Stop writing for search engines.

Start writing for how people actually use AI.

Click here to request a free audit to see how your content stacks up against these benchmarks.

To your continued success,

Matt Diggity