Get Found by AI: LLMO Basics for Small Businesses

QUICK SUMMARY: This simple guide explains that LLMO or "large language model optimization" is the next step in SEO for modern small businesses — similar to improving content for human readers, but with AI in mind too. These LLMO tips help make your online content structured, clear, authoritative, so that AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini can read, understand, and use it effectively, making it easier for your brand to show up in AI-generated results.

AI is evil, so why should we optimize for it? Well, because search is changing and we have to understand it - even if we don't use it - in order to keep our small, creative businesses alive. (Stock image: Oleg Ivanov)

A Quick Intro to LLM Optimization Best Practices for Small Businesses

Wondering why your website isn’t getting the traffic it used to? It’s not just you: AI has fundamentally changed the way people search for information and services. Here’s a quick timeline of why getting discovered online feels harder than before – and how to reach new clients on today’s AI-driven internet using simple LLMO tips. 

Back in 2019, around the same time I began writing professionally online, the ‘zero-click’ search era started. Even then, research showed that about half of all Google searches ended without a single click. When AI Overview rolled out in 2024 – around the same time I transitioned to SEO content specialist – followed by AI Mode in 2025, things got much harder for small businesses. Harder how? Take your pick: less traffic, less visibility, fewer clients. 

These days, people can have an entire conversation with a search engine – getting answers to complex questions – without even seeing your website, let alone clicking on it. You’re still doing all the work, hustling up new blog posts and revising your ‘about me’ page, but it’s probably not paying off the way it used to. 

That’s the zero-click curse – and what all this means for small businesses is this: On its own, solid SEO is no longer a reliable driver of traffic (and ultimately, sales).

Now, don’t get me wrong.

Without a doubt, SEO basics are still essential – and I mean absolutely vital – to digital marketing and your website’s success. You can’t abandon them. You can’t ignore keyword placement, or semantic structure, or user experience. You still need strong internal linking, compelling title tags, and a clear content strategy. But you must start optimizing for AI platforms, too. 

And that looks different from the SEO of yesteryear… Enter "LLMO."

What is LLMO, or LLM Optimization? 

“LLMO” or “LLM optimization” stands for "large language model optimization," and it means creating strategic online content that it can be understood and surfaced by large language models (aka A.I. platforms), like Google’s Gemini and AI Mode, ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, and so on. When A.I. platforms understand your content, they're more likely to reference you in search results.

Successful LLM optimization makes it easier for AI platforms to discover, process, and cite your website — which means your business will become a reliable reference in AI results, putting your name in front of potential clients, without relying on a click.

Here’s how to start optimizing your content — from blog pages, to images, to service listings and "about me" pages — for both human readers and A.I platforms.

Start with just one item from the list of LLMO basics below to improve your website today! Set aside time each week, or each month, to continue making updates and improvements to boost your business's visibility online and in AI-generated results. (Stock image: Vitaly Gariev)

LLMO Basics for Small Businesses: Optimize Your Website to Show Up in A.I. Results

1. Give your on-page content a clear structure

• Use headings and subheadings (H1, H2, H3) to organize topics on a page. Called “semantic structure,” this is essential for both SEO and LLMO. Each page on your website should have only one H1 (the main title). Headings should always be used in order – don’t bounce from an H2 to an H4. These tips also make your pages more accessible to screen readers and disabled clients!

• Add a summary box to the top of detailed blog posts. Start your descriptive summary with an explicit goal, like: "This guide helps engaged couples choose the type of photography package they need for their elopement."

SEO may not benefit much from this, but LLMO does! That's because large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini use this information to summarize your page in AI-generated responses. These concise pieces of information are easier and ready-made for AI to quote.

• Break your written content into short paragraphs and lists for readability. This is very helpful for user experience, too. Bullet points, numbered sections, and intentional formatting can make dense topics and complex webpages easier to scan and read. 

• Present your content in a logical order. For example, blog posts should have an introduction paragraph, followed by your main points, and a simple conclusion paragraph. On your Services page, include a short introduction of the work you do, then discuss your packages in detail, followed by instructions on how to book or learn more. This logical flow makes it easier for human readers and LLMs to understand your message.

2. Include strong keywords & focus on topic clarity

• Include a strong primary keyword and related keywords naturally. Don’t “keyword stuff” or write gibberish just to include more keywords. LLMs are more sophisticated than search engines and can understand more from context. When writing blog posts, try to limit each post to one primary keyword (or long-tail keyword query), with multiple secondary keywords and naturally-related terms. 

• Write a concise meta description for each page, around 160 characters long or less. Include your main topic or keyword naturally here, too. A clear meta description can help AI platforms understand your content, making it easier to reference your business, brand, or expertise in AI-generated results.

• Use “contextual synonyms" in your content – words that are a close match to your keywords when used in a specific context, even if they aren't an exact synonym. For example, a graphic designer looking for freelance work might use contextual synonyms like “visual designer," “digital artist," "branding designer," or “illustrator” to help LLMs understand the work they do.

These contextually-similar words help A.I. platforms understand the intent behind your content – what you mean, not just what you say – and can help improve your visibility in A.I.-generated search results. Contextual synonyms are more valuable for LLMO than SEO, because LLMs are better at understanding context. As A.I. gets better at paraphrasing and extrapolating meaning, this usefulness will only increase.

• Make “search intent” explicit on each webpage. This means that each page should clearly address the client’s search – and directly answer the specific question your page answers. "Search intent" could be your average rates, the types of services you offer, the answer to a common question, how to contact you, or the expert information and education you bring to your industry. 

• Use common client questions as “keyword queries” in your content, and then answer them right away. For example, if clients always ask you: “How much do you charge to photograph a wedding like mine?”, you might title your blog post “How much does a wedding photographer cost?” or include this keyword query as a main heading on your rates page.

3. Include an FAQs or Q&A section in blog posts, on a services page, or wherever it naturally fits

• A.I. platforms love webpages that include FAQs and Q&A sections. These formats present information in a way that’s easy for LLMs to understand and quote. Use common client questions as your prompts, and directly answer the question to get maximum impact. For example, “Q: How much does a wedding photographer cost?” ; “A: Our average wedding photography packages range from…”

4. Include thoughtful internal linking, alt text, and authoritative references

• Just like SEO best-practices of years past, LLMO relies on smart internal linking. Every page on your site should link to at least one other relevant page on your site. 

• To maximize the impact of your internal links, use “descriptive anchor text” that includes valuable keywords and tells both human readers and AI where that link leads. For example, a link to your contact page could use “hiring a professional graphic designer” as anchor text. This tip isn’t just important for SEO and LLMO – it helps make your website more accessible to screen readers for disabled clients, too.

• Include alt text for all images on your website, including decorative banners and icons. This alt text is used by LLMs to understand more about the full context of your webpage, which can help your site appear in AI-generated results. Added bonus, it makes your site more accessible to screen readers and disabled clients!

• Include expert sources or citations to signal your authority in your field. Consider industry experts, experienced vendors you've collaborated with, and academic sources (if appropriate). If you’re a small service business, your clients can also be your experts! Include client quotes on your website to help signal your authority to LLMs. 

5. Update your website often & on a regular schedule

• Freshness improves your credibility and helps with LLM readability. Don’t be afraid to update your existing pages – but update with intention and care, by adding strong keywords, current statistics, improved semantic structure, clear alt text, fresh images, and more.

Remember, LLMO basics for small businesses are about making your content structured, clear, authoritative, and LLM-friendly, so AI can read, understand, and use it effectively — similar to how you’d optimize for human readers, but with AI in mind too.

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I'm creating a new portfolio! If you need help improving your existing website, please CONTACT ME. I'm offering sliding-scale rates and trades for SEO & LLMO services for small businesses and creatives.