Traditional SEO vs AI search optimization – similarities and differences - C-Chapter-3-Handout-AI-Pl

This pdf is part of the learning course "Adapting your web content to AI search: from SEO to AEO" by SDSU Payne School.

Chapter 3 Handout:

AI Platforms Compared: Your Web Content Optimization Priorities AI Platforms vary in their approach to content prioritization

Daøa-Dä ėpµ Google (Gemini) + Claude + DeepSeek Require structured, compliant, granular, real-time data. Businesses should invest in schema markup, compliance.

Bäaµj-F¾cĀìpj ChatGPT + Meta Care about brand reputation, trust, sustainability, and UX. Businesses should emphasize storytelling + verified trust signals.

Rpė pĘ-Cpµøä c Perplexity + Grok + Copilot Lean heavily on reviews and clear ranking factors. Businesses must manage aggregator content + ensure review strategies are proactive.

https://htm.sdsu.edu/

Uµ ėpäìa« AI P«aø ¾ä³ Päp päpµcpì What all AI platforms universally prefer when searching and prioritizing content

Rp«pėaµcp & Iµøpµø Maøc µ

AĀø ¾ä øĞ & Cäpj b « øĞ

Fäpì µpìì & RpcpµcĞ

Over 40% of brand

AI downranks outdated

Content must clearly answer

impressions come from

information. Keep content

user queries - not just

third-party citations. Brands

current with seasonal offers

keywords, but the intent

with more unique citations

and promotions.

behind them, including

rank higher in AI responses.

location relevance.

Uìpä C¾µøpĝø & Päp päpµcpì

CĀìø¾³pä Rpė pĘì & RpáĀøaø ¾µ S µa«ì

TäaµìáaäpµcĞ, TäĀìø & Sa pøĞ

Not every traveler is the

AI pays close attention to

AI is specifically trained to

same 4 so your content

what real customers say.

filter out biased or unsafe

shouldn't be one-size-fits-all.

practices.

Make sure you're addressing different needs.

Rpajab « øĞ ¾ C¾µøpµø (bĞ AI)

C¾³áaä ì¾µì & Va«Āp Dp³¾µìøäaø ¾µ

C¾µì ìøpµcĞ Acä¾ìì C aµµp«ì

AI tools have OCD, they like

Many questions in user

AI cross-checks. If your

neat, clean, structured things.

prompts related to

details differ between

Make it easy for them to find

purchasing products or

aggregators, Google, your

you and absorb your content.

services are value-based.

direct site - red flag for AI.

https://htm.sdsu.edu/

W aø ì j päpµø acä¾ìì AI á«aø ¾ä³ì

https://htm.sdsu.edu/