Optimization5 min read

How to improve your LLM readiness score

Last updated: December 13, 2024
245 people found this helpful

How to improve your LLM readiness score

Improving your LLM Readiness Score is the fastest way to increase your visibility in AI assistant responses. This guide provides actionable steps to boost your score quickly and effectively.

Quick Wins (Implement Today)

1. Add FAQ Sections

**Impact**: +10-15 points

**Time Required**: 2-4 hours per page

FAQ sections are the highest-ROI optimization for LLM citations. AI systems love Q&A formats because they directly match user query patterns.

**How to implement**:

  • Identify common questions your audience asks
  • Create clear, concise answers (50-200 words each)
  • Use natural language that matches how people speak to AI
  • Place FAQs prominently on relevant pages
  • **Example FAQ structure**:

    Q: How long does it take to see results from LLM optimization?

    A: Most websites see initial improvements in LLM citations within 2-4 weeks of implementing optimizations. Significant results typically appear within 2-3 months of consistent optimization efforts.

    2. Optimize Your Heading Structure

    **Impact**: +5-10 points

    **Time Required**: 1-2 hours per page

    Proper heading hierarchy helps AI systems understand your content organization.

    **Best practices**:

  • Use only one H1 per page (your main title)
  • Create logical H2 sections for main topics
  • Use H3s for subtopics under each H2
  • Make headings descriptive and keyword-rich
  • Avoid skipping heading levels (don't go H1 → H3)
  • 3. Add Author Information

    **Impact**: +3-8 points

    **Time Required**: 30 minutes per page

    Authority signals significantly impact AI citation likelihood.

    **Include**:

  • Author name and credentials
  • Publication date and last updated date
  • Author bio with relevant expertise
  • Contact information or social links
  • Medium-Impact Improvements (1-2 weeks)

    4. Enhance Content Structure

    **Impact**: +8-15 points

    Break up long paragraphs and improve scannability:

  • Keep paragraphs to 3-4 sentences maximum
  • Use bullet points for lists
  • Add numbered steps for processes
  • Include relevant subheadings every 200-300 words
  • Use bold text to highlight key points
  • 5. Implement Schema Markup

    **Impact**: +8-12 points

    Help AI systems better understand your content:

    <script type="application/ld+json">
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "Article",
      "headline": "Your Article Title",
      "author": {
        "@type": "Person",
        "name": "Author Name"
      },
      "datePublished": "2024-12-15",
      "dateModified": "2024-12-15"
    }
    </script>

    <script type="application/ld+json">

    {

    "@context": "https://schema.org",

    "@type": "Article",

    "headline": "Your Article Title",

    "author": {

    "@type": "Person",

    "name": "Author Name"

    },

    "datePublished": "2024-12-15",

    "dateModified": "2024-12-15"

    }

    </script>

    6. Optimize for Featured Snippets

    **Impact**: +10-20 points

    AI systems often reference content that performs well in featured snippets:

  • Answer questions directly and concisely
  • Use the question as a heading
  • Provide the answer in the first paragraph
  • Include supporting details below
  • Long-Term Strategies (1-3 months)

    7. Build Topical Authority

    **Impact**: +20-30 points

    Become the go-to source in your niche:

  • Create comprehensive content clusters around main topics
  • Link related articles together
  • Cover topics from multiple angles
  • Update content regularly with new insights
  • 8. Improve Content Depth

    **Impact**: +15-25 points

    AI systems prefer comprehensive, authoritative content:

  • Aim for 1,500+ words for main topic pages
  • Cover all aspects of a topic thoroughly
  • Include examples, case studies, and data
  • Address common objections and concerns
  • 9. Enhance User Engagement

    **Impact**: +10-20 points

    Engagement signals influence AI citation decisions:

  • Improve page load speed (target under 3 seconds)
  • Optimize for mobile devices
  • Add interactive elements where appropriate
  • Encourage social sharing and comments
  • Technical Optimizations

    10. Fix Crawlability Issues

    **Impact**: +5-15 points

    Ensure AI systems can access your content:

  • Submit XML sitemaps to search engines
  • Fix broken internal links
  • Optimize robots.txt file
  • Ensure proper URL structure
  • 11. Optimize Page Speed

    **Impact**: +5-10 points

    Faster pages get better AI treatment:

  • Compress images
  • Minimize CSS and JavaScript
  • Use content delivery networks (CDNs)
  • Enable browser caching
  • Content Quality Improvements

    12. Use Definitive Language

    **Impact**: +5-10 points

    AI systems prefer confident, factual statements:

  • Replace "might be" with "is"
  • Use "will" instead of "could"
  • Make clear, authoritative claims
  • Back up statements with evidence
  • 13. Add Data and Statistics

    **Impact**: +8-15 points

    Quantitative information increases citation likelihood:

  • Include relevant industry statistics
  • Share survey results or research findings
  • Provide specific numbers and percentages
  • Cite authoritative sources for data
  • Monitoring Your Progress

    Track These Metrics Weekly:

  • Overall LLM Readiness Score
  • Individual component scores
  • Page-level improvements
  • Competitor score comparisons
  • Use Our Tools:

  • **Score Tracker**: Monitor daily score changes
  • **Recommendation Engine**: Get personalized optimization suggestions
  • **Competitor Analysis**: See how you stack up against competitors
  • **Progress Reports**: Track improvements over time
  • Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • **Keyword stuffing**: Focus on natural language over keyword density
  • **Ignoring mobile**: Ensure all optimizations work on mobile devices
  • **Neglecting freshness**: Update content regularly to maintain relevance
  • **Over-optimizing**: Maintain readability while optimizing for AI
  • **Forgetting user intent**: Always prioritize user value over AI optimization
  • Prioritization Framework

    **Week 1**: Add FAQs to top 5 pages

    **Week 2**: Fix heading structure site-wide

    **Week 3**: Add author information and dates

    **Week 4**: Implement schema markup

    **Month 2**: Focus on content depth and structure

    **Month 3**: Build topical authority and engagement

    Remember: Consistent, incremental improvements outperform sporadic major changes. Focus on one optimization at a time and measure results before moving to the next improvement.

    Was this article helpful?

    Still need help?

    Our support team is here to help you succeed with LLM optimization.