Feeding Perplexity.AI

If Perplexity.AI and other AI tools are going to become primary search tools, learning how to optimize websites to be used by them in their citations will become more important. It seems from the initial information from Perplexity.AI, the initial optimization efforts look a lot like fundamental SEO optimization. The only trick here is getting your website discovered by Perplexity.AI. Jump to the end to see how you can determine if Perplexity.AI will use your website as a citation.

Optimizing for Perplexity.AI

Focus on Quality and Authority: It’s all about creating content that’s both informative and engaging. Perplexity.AI looks for content that stands out for its depth, accuracy, and authority. So, aim to provide well-researched and thorough information that adds value.

Build Your Online Reputation: Links from other reputable sites can significantly boost your visibility. These backlinks act as endorsements, signaling to Perplexity.AI that your content is valuable and trusted by others in your field.

Stay on Topic: Make sure your content aligns closely with what people are searching for. The more relevant your articles are to user queries, the better your chances of being picked up by Perplexity.AI. It's all about matching your content with the needs of your audience.

Optimize Your Site’s Tech: Don’t overlook the technical side of things. A website that’s easy to navigate, quick to load, and mobile-friendly can help your content get noticed. These technical aspects are part of what Perplexity.AI considers when selecting content.

Use Structured Data: Implementing structured data helps Perplexity.AI better understand and categorize your content. This can lead to more accurate and relevant citations, enhancing your visibility in search results.

Adhering to these practices can enhance your website's chances of being recognized and cited by Perplexity.AI, even though there are no explicit guidelines provided. It’s about ensuring your content is both accessible and valuable.

Is My Website Known by Perplexity.AI?

This is going to feel ultra-basic, but it is the starting point. Go to Perplexity.AI and do a branded search. For example, if you are the Midtown Athletic Club, ask "What is the Midtown Athletic Club?"

You are going to get a response like this:

What we are looking for is under sources, a mention of your website. If you aren't showing up there, then Perplexity.AI most likely isn't crawling your site.

I have a tiny site called Hygge Zone... Perplexity.AI doesn't care about it. So don't assume your website is being crawled and included in Perplexity.AI.

There are additional questions you can ask regarding your category of services to determine if Perplexity.AI sees your site as an authority.

Ideally, your site shows up in topic-related searches like "Best web design companies in Chicago" but we also want the citation marker (the little gray circles with numbers in them) to also link to your website. That is a clear indicator your site is seen as authoritative on the topic.

Take this with a grain of salt right now. There is a lot of poking and prodding of this service still left to do before making truly definitive statements.