The AI Search Optimizer helps you improve your content for both traditional SEO and AI search visibility.
It analyzes your text, identifies opportunities for improvement, and provides actionable recommendations so your articles can perform better in traditional search engines like Google and modern AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT.
What Is the AI Search Optimizer?
The AI Search Optimizer is part of the Semrush Content Toolkit. It allows you to optimize any text (whether you created it inside the Toolkit or imported it from another source) based on data-driven SEO metrics and AI search factors.
You can:
- Check keyword coverage, readability, and tone of voice
- Receive AI-generated suggestions for structure, clarity, and balance
- Optimize for both Google and AI search engines
- Export, publish, or share your improved content directly
Why Use the AI Search Optimizer
The tool helps you:
- Create content that performs across both SEO and AI search
- Improve readability, structure, and engagement
- Detect missing elements that reduce visibility in search and AI summaries
- Save time with instant AI-powered rewrite and correction tools
- Publish directly to connected platforms such as WordPress
How to Use the AI Search Optimizer
You can access the AI Search Optimizer from the Content Dashboard or the main navigation inside the Semrush Content Toolkit.
There are two major workflows:
- AI Search Optimization for visibility in AI and LLM-based platforms
- SEO Optimization for ranking higher in Google and other search engines
You can use one or both depending on your content goals.
AI Search Optimization
AI Search Optimization focuses on improving how your content appears in AI-powered discovery platforms such as ChatGPT.
It ensures that your article is easily understood, referenced, and surfaced by large language models (LLMs).
How to Optimize for AI Search
You can launch AI Search Optimizer directly from the Content Dashboard inside the Semrush Content Toolkit or from any article already stored in your My Content workspace.
Step 1. Open the AI Search Optimizer
- On the Content Dashboard, click "Optimize existing article."
- Choose how you want to import content:
- From our suggestions. Pick one of the articles that Semrush recommends optimizing based on your domain performance.
- Paste from the clipboard. Insert any text manually.
- From a URL. Enter the web address of the page you’d like to analyze.
- From existing content. Select an item you’ve already created or imported into My Content.
The chosen content opens in the chat + board interface, where you can follow the guided optimization process.
Step 2. Review the AI Search Analysis
Once the scan is complete, you’ll see an AI Search Insights panel on the right side of the editor. It highlights where your content may underperform in AI search visibility.
Each detected issue appears as an item in the list, sorted by importance with:
- A description of what needs improvement
- A recommendation explaining how to fix it
Step 3. Apply Improvements
- Start with the highest-priority items—these changes have the greatest effect on AI visibility.
- Let the AI rewrite the section automatically, or edit the text manually in the editor pane.
- Review each modification before confirming it.
- After applying several improvements, refresh your score and update the recommendation list.
Step 4. Check the Updated Visibility Score
After the AI re-evaluation, the AI Search Score appears at the top of the insights panel.
It reflects how well your content meets the structural and semantic criteria for AI platforms.
Aim for a high score—this indicates that your article is clear, comprehensive, and easily interpreted by LLMs.
Step 5. Save and Continue Optimizing
All applied changes are saved automatically in your My Content workspace. From there you can:
- Continue fine-tuning your text manually
- Switch to the SEO Optimization tab to improve keyword targeting and metadata
- Repurpose or publish your updated content through the connected integrations (WordPress, Mailchimp, Social Poster, or Zapier)
Pro Tips for AI Search Optimization
- Use concise sentences and headings. LLMs extract information more accurately from short, clearly labeled sections.
- Add definitions and examples. Structured explanations improve the likelihood of being quoted in AI answers.
- Include sources and data points. AI systems favor content that demonstrates credibility and evidence.
- Update regularly. AI search engines evolve quickly; re-run the optimizer every few months to keep your visibility strong.
SEO Optimization
The SEO Optimization workflow helps you refine your content for higher visibility in traditional search engines like Google.
It analyzes your text based on the target keywords, region, and tone of voice you define and provides actionable SEO recommendations for improvement.
You can optimize any content—whether it’s created directly in the Content Toolkit, imported from your site, or pasted manually.
Step 1. Import or Select Your Content
- Click "Optimize existing article" on the Content Dashboard.
- Choose one of the input methods:
- Paste your text directly into the editor.
- Enter a page URL. The optimizer will import the content automatically.
- Select from My Content—open an existing article or draft.
- Once your text is loaded, you’ll see your article displayed in the editor and the optimization panel on the right-hand side. Click on the SEO section to define the optimization targets.
Step 2. Define or Edit Optimization Targets
Click Edit targets to specify the focus of your optimization. Here you can set:
- Target region: the market or country you’re writing for.
- Keywords: add up to 30 target keywords you want to rank for.
- Tone of voice: choose from predefined tones like Neutral, Casual, or Formal.
- Recommended length: adjust the word count range for your article.
- Readability score: set your preferred difficulty level.
These parameters allow the tool to tailor its recommendations and scoring to your specific SEO goals.
Step 3. Review the SEO Recommendations
After setting your targets, the optimizer automatically analyzes your content and displays a list of improvement suggestions.
You’ll see recommendations grouped by category:
- Keywords — add missing keywords, adjust frequency, or improve placement.
- Readability — shorten long sentences and split dense paragraphs.
- Tone of voice — make your writing consistent with your selected tone.
- Structure — improve headers and ensure logical flow between sections.
- Metadata — optimize title and meta description for better click-through rate.
- Alt attributes — add descriptive text for images to improve accessibility.
Each suggestion includes:
- A brief explanation of the issue
- Context highlighting where it appears in your text
- An option to apply a fix automatically or correct it manually
Step 4. Apply Improvements
You can make changes directly in the editor or use quick AI commands to rewrite, shorten, or expand text.
Available AI editing options include:
- Rewrite: rephrases the selected text for clarity or style.
- Simplify: reduces sentence complexity for easier reading.
- Expand: adds depth or examples to support your point.
- Summarize: shortens long sections into concise statements.
- Make a list: converts text into an ordered or bulleted list.
Once you apply or reject a suggestion, the optimizer updates your SEO score instantly—so you can see the effect of your changes in real time.
Step 5. Generate Metadata and Visuals
On the right panel, you can automatically generate or edit key SEO elements:
- Title: the page title that appears in search results.
- Alt text: image descriptions for accessibility and SEO.
- Images: insert visuals directly from your library or generate them using AI tools.
Step 6. Export or Publish Your Optimized Content
Once your optimization is complete, you can export or publish your content directly without leaving the Toolkit.
Available options include:
- Publish to WordPress: connect your site and publish instantly.
- Export to Google Docs: continue collaborating or reviewing outside the Toolkit.
- Share for approval: generate a read-only link to collect feedback from stakeholders.
All exports include your optimized metadata and structure.
Pro Tips for SEO Optimization
- Focus on search intent—use keywords naturally within context.
- Keep paragraphs short and include descriptive headings.
- Use internal links to other relevant pages on your site.
- Review readability and keyword balance after each major edit.
- Combine with AI Search Optimization to ensure visibility across both search types.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between AI Search Optimization and SEO Optimization?
AI Search Optimization improves how your content is interpreted and surfaced by AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
SEO Optimization helps your page rank higher on traditional search engines such as Google. Both workflows complement each other.
Can I optimize content that wasn’t created inside the Content Toolkit?
Yes. You can paste your text, enter a URL, or select an imported article from My Content. The optimizer will scan and provide recommendations for both AI and SEO visibility.
Does the optimizer apply changes automatically?
Only when you click Apply fix. You can always preview suggestions or edit text manually.
Can I publish optimized content directly?
Yes. You can publish to WordPress, export to Google Docs, or share a view-only link for approvals.
How often should I re-optimize my content?
AI search and SEO algorithms change frequently. Re-run optimization periodically, especially after updating your content or adding new sections.