Structuring Web Pages for AI-First Indexing

SEO is changing faster than ever. It’s not just Google’s bots visiting your site anymore. Now, large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Gemini are reading your content too – and they influence what people see and trust. 

This shift is often called AI-first indexing because AI models are starting to decide which content shows up first in answers, not just Google’s search results. If your site isn’t ready for this, you’re missing out on a lot of potential traffic and visibility.

Traditional SEO had a lot to do with keywords, backlinks, and meta tags. This still matters, but it’s not enough. Today, you also need to make sure your content makes sense to machines trained to understand human language. This means clear structure, plain language, and actually answering the questions your future customers are asking.

But don’t panic! In this post, I’ll break down exactly what’s changed, why it matters for your SaaS site, how to get your SaaS brand in ChatGPT answers and–most importantly–how you can structure your web pages to make AI work for you, not against you.

Here are some simple steps you can take right now to get your pages ready for the future of search.

What is AI-first indexing, really?

AI-first indexing is Google’s (and Bing’s) way of deciding what gets seen, ranked, or totally ignored, using artificial intelligence. Instead of crawling and indexing every page on the web, search engines now let their AI do a pre-check. 

Before your SaaS page even gets a shot, the AI asks: “Is this content actually valuable? Does it answer real user questions? Does it connect to known topics or entities?” If the answer is no, your page might never make it into the search results, no matter how slick your product is. That’s where LLM SEO and LLM optimization come in.

Think about Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) or Bing’s integration with GPT. These aren’t giving links to the users but they’re summarizing content, pulling answers from multiple pages, and generating overviews right in the search results. If your content isn’t clear, well-structured, and easy to quote or summarize, it’s going to get skipped over.

Here’s where it gets interesting: AI-first indexing isn’t just “mobile-first” 2.0. With mobile-first, the focus was on how your site looked and loaded on smaller screens. With AI-first, it’s more about how well your content communicates. AI tools need structured, plain-language content that actually says something useful – and they’re trained to detect fluff, keyword stuffing, and vague copy.

Learn more about how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) impacts AI recommendations, a must-read if you’re serious about LLM SEO strategies for 2025.

What this means for your SaaS site:

If your homepage, product pages, and blog content are written like sales decks or stuffed with jargon, AI tools are going to struggle. That means fewer mentions in AI answers, less visibility in generative search, and fewer chances to get in front of buyers early.

You need to structure your pages so AI can instantly see what you’re about, how your content connects to real-world concepts (like your product category or pain points you solve), and why your answer is better than the rest.

In short: AI-first indexing forces you to build pages that are both human-friendly and machine-readable, or you’ll get left behind.

Next, let’s break down how they actually read your pages – and what they look for.

Why does your page structure matter more than ever?

So far, we know that AI doesn’t “read” your website like a human does.

It doesn’t get distracted by pretty graphics or clever taglines. It’s not scrolling through your landing page, admiring your clever copy, or filling out your demo form.

Instead, it’s scanning for structure, context, and relationships between ideas.If that’s missing? If your SaaS landing page is just a wall of text or a jumble of features, AI is going to struggle. Your page gets ignored, plain and simple.

It’s not just about keywords anymore

In old-school SEO, you had to hit all the right keywords in the right spots. And yeah, that still helps – but it’s not enough. Today’s AI models look at the context around those keywords. They’re asking things like:

• What is this page really about?
• Does it clearly explain a product, feature, or solution?
• Is it connected to other useful, related content?

That means you need to give them more than just a list of features and a slick tagline.

Semantic search is here – and it’s not going away

AI doesn’t just match phrases anymore – it understands entities (like your company, your product, your niche) and how they relate to each other. This is called semantic search, and it’s how tools like ChatGPT or Google’s SGE pull answers that actually make sense.

If your content is vague, jargony, or buried in weird design choices, it gets skipped. If your structure is clear and easy to parse, it becomes usable – and quotable.

Good vs. bad content structure for AI indexing of SaaS pages

Let’s say you run a B2B SaaS product that automates invoice processing.

I’ll take two quick examples to explain my point:

Bad structure:

One long, unbroken page with no subheadings, random feature lists, and no clear explanation of what your SaaS actually does. As a result, AI gets confused, misses key info, and your page gets skipped.

Bad structure example:

• Hero headline: “Empowering the future of finance”
• Body copy: A wall of buzzwords and generic benefits
• No clear subheadings or explainer sections
• CTA buried in a dropdown or carousel

AI looks at that and goes: “No clue what this does. Moving on.”

Good structure:

Clear H1 for your main topic (“All-in-One CRM for SaaS Startups”), H2s for each feature or pain point, bullet lists for benefits, and a FAQ section at the end. As a result, AI can easily scan, extract, and rank the most relevant sections, even if a user’s query is super specific.

Good structure example:

• Headline: “Automated invoice processing for finance teams”
• Subhead: “Cut manual work by 80% and get paid faster”
• Clear sections: Features, use cases, integrations, FAQs
• Internal links to related blog posts or guides

Now the AI (and your visitors) know exactly what you offer, who it’s for, and how it helps. That’s the goal.

What are the core elements of an AI-friendly web page?

You don’t need to know technical SEO or a fancy plugin to make your pages work for AI-first indexing. But you do need to get a few basics right – consistently. Here’s what actually matters.

a. Clear, logical headings

Headings aren’t just for breaking up walls of text. They’re the roadmap AI uses to figure out what your page is about and how each section connects. When you use them right, they help AI bots to understand what your page is about and how the content flows.

Use H1 for the main idea – usually your page title. Then, use H2s for sections, and H3s for supporting points under each section.

Example (SaaS landing page):

• H1: “All-in-one payroll software for remote teams”
• H2: “Automate global payments”
• H2: “Stay compliant in 100+ countries”
• H2: “Why finance teams love our product”
• H3: “Save time on admin”
• H3: “Reduce payment errors”

This kind of layout makes your content easier to scan and easier for AI to pull into answers.

b. Concise, context-rich content

This part’s simple but hard: write clearly.

You want your content to be easy for a real person to read, but also packed with enough context that AI can tell what you’re talking about. This means ditching the fluff and getting straight to the point.

Machines don’t love fluff. They want direct, useful information. If you can answer a question in two sentences, do that. Think less sales pitch, more helpful explainer.

This helps with things like featured snippets and Google’s SGE – where short, specific answers often get pulled in directly.

Bad: “Our platform revolutionizes team synergy to drive operational efficiency.”

Good: “Our tool helps remote teams share files, track tasks, and manage deadlines in one place.”

One sounds like marketing speak. The other sounds like something AI (and real people) can actually use.

Related: LLMs.txt Files: The New SEO Hack for AI-Powered Search

c. Schema markup and structured data

Schema markup is a way to give search engines extra info about your content. It’s not visible on the page, but it helps AI understand what’s what. 

You don’t need to mark up everything. Just hit the essentials:

• FAQ schema → For your support or product Q&A sections
• HowTo schema → For guides, tutorials, onboarding help
• Product schema → To highlight pricing, features, availability
• Review schema → If you’re showcasing customer ratings or testimonials

Most CMS tools or SEO plugins make adding schema pretty easy. It’s low effort, high impact.

d. Internal linking that makes sense

AI follows your links to understand how your site fits together. If your feature pages, blog posts, and help docs are all connected in a logical way, it’s easier for AI to map out your expertise and surface the right content for the right search.

For instance, your blog talks about “automated expense reporting,” and your product has a feature page for that, link to it. If you’ve written a guide on compliance workflows, link it from your landing page’s “security” section.

Pro tip: Don’t overdo it. Just link where it makes sense, and always use anchor text that’s clear (not “click here”).

Practical steps to restructure your SaaS pages

Okay – so now you know why structure matters and what AI is looking for. But what if your current pages… aren’t exactly AI-friendly?

You don’t need to burn it all down. A few small changes can make a big difference. Let’s walk through how to check your site and clean things up – without needing a full redesign.

Simple audit: Is your page AI-friendly? (Checklist)

• Does your hero section clearly explain what your product does in one sentence?
• Are your headings (H1, H2, H3) logical and descriptive, not just “Features” or “Learn More”?
• Can a visitor (or AI) understand your core value prop within 10 seconds?
• Do you have clear sections for features, use cases, pricing, and proof (like testimonials)?
• Are your CTAs obvious and relevant to the page content?
• Is your internal linking helping users (and bots) discover related pages–like features, pricing, and blog posts?
• Are you using schema markup for FAQs, products, reviews, or how-to guides?
• Is your copy free of jargon and fluff, focusing on what your user actually cares about?

If you answered “no” to any of these, don’t panic. That’s normal. Let’s fix it.

Easy fixes you can do today

You don’t need a developer or a full content overhaul. Here are a few small moves that add up:

• Rewrite your H1 so it clearly says what your product does
  (Not: “Smarter finance workflows.” → Try: “Automated invoicing software for B2B startups”)
• Add subheadings to break up your sections
  If you’ve got big blocks of text, split them up with H2s and H3s.
• Add 1–2 internal links to related pages
  Help AI connect the dots and help users find what they need
• Turn your feature list into short, scannable bullets
  Avoid paragraphs about each one. Keep it tight and useful.
• Answer 2–3 FAQs right on the page
  Bonus points if you mark them up with FAQ schema later

Tools to help (free and paid)

Here are a few tools that can speed things up:

• ChatGPT (Free or Plus): Paste your page copy in and ask, “What’s this about?” If the tool can’t explain it clearly, you should consider rewriting it.
• Ahrefs or SEMrush (Paid): Great for checking what keywords you’re actually ranking for and which pages are doing the work.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Free up to 500 URLs): Spot missing H1s, messed up tags, or bloated pages fast.
• Google Search Console (Free): Check which pages get impressions vs. clicks, then dig into why.
• Merkle Schema Markup Generator (Free): Easy way to create FAQ, HowTo, and other structured data without coding.

Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. Start with the basics–clear structure, logical flow, and helpful links. The easier you make it for both users and AI to “get” your SaaS, the better your results will be.

Now that you’re restructuring your site for LLM content optimization, don’t forget to measure your progress. Read our guide on how to create an LLM referral report in GA4.

Fixing your homepage and product pages for AI

Your homepage and product pages aren’t just digital brochures anymore. In the AI-first world, they’re often the first (and sometimes only) thing an LLM or search engine sees from your brand. That means they need to do more than just look nice – they need to communicate clearly.

Your homepage: Keep it simple, specific, and skimmable

This is where a lot of SaaS brands overdo it. You don’t need a big, clever headline that tries to be “disruptive.” You need clarity.

Checklist for an AI-friendly homepage:

• A clear H1 that says what your product is and who it’s for
• Short intro that explains the problem you solve
• Key benefits in bullets (not fluffy paragraphs)
• Internal links to your main feature pages and blog content
• Clear CTA (and yes, “Book a demo” still works)

Example:
Instead of: “The Future of Team Collaboration Starts Here”

Try: “Project management software for remote design teams”

Big difference, right?

Product pages: Structure like a conversation

Each product or feature page should walk the reader through three basic questions – and answer them clearly:

1. What is this? (Feature overview in plain English)
2. Why does it matter? (Benefits, not just specs)
3. How does it work? (Screenshots, short videos, or step-by-step explanation)

Pro tip: Use headings that sound like real questions. Think:

• “How does automated invoicing work?”
• “What tools do finance teams get?”
• “Is it easy to integrate with Xero?”

Add internal links to related features or use case pages so both AI and humans can explore your product naturally. This builds topical authority and keeps visitors moving through your site.

Dig deeper: GEO vs SEO: Why Your Content Might Be Invisible in AI Search (And How to Fix It)

Real-world examples: SaaS pages that nail AI-first structure

It’s one thing to talk about AI-first indexing best practices, but what does it look like in practice? Here are two SaaS brands we’ve worked with at Quoleady that got real results from structuring their content the right way.

Bettermode: Clean headings, clean rankings

Page: Discussion Forums for Online Communities

Bettermode already had good content already, but what we helped them do was refine the structure. That meant fixing up their headings, making sure each section had a clear purpose, and using H2s and H3s to guide readers (and AI) through the page.

What we did:

• Restructured headings for clarity and flow
• Rewrote section intros for stronger context
• Optimized internal linking to related product and blog pages
  

Result: The brand appeared in Google AI Overview for keyword ‘discussion forum examples’. The clean, logical layout made it easier for AI and people to understand the page and Google rewarded it.

Takeaway: Your heading structure isn’t just about looks. When it reflects what the page actually covers, AI gets it, and so do your users.

FuelFinance: Smart use of structure + schema

Page: 8 Best AI Forecasting Tools in 2025 (Ranked & Compared)

FuelFinance took things a step further. They wrote a strong, helpful article and then layered in schema markup and smart formatting that made the content even easier to parse.

What they did:

• Added structured data: FAQ schema + clear data tables
• Used question-style subheadings to mimic user search behavior
• Broke complex ideas into bite-sized, skimmable sections
  

Result: The post ranks for AI forecasting tools in Google AI Overview and gets featured in LLM (ChatGPT) for the same keyword. This happened because it answers questions directly and includes structured support.

Takeaway: If you’re already writing helpful content, adding schema and structure is like giving it a megaphone.

Final thoughts: Your content has to make sense to LLMs and people

LLM vs SEO isn’t about picking sides. The best brands are combining both. If you want your SaaS content to show up and stand out, it has to make sense to large language models (LLMs) and real people. AI-first indexing is about clarity, structure, and being genuinely helpful.

You’re not writing for robots. You’re writing for real people – AI is just the middle layer now. If your content is vague, bloated, or buried in design tricks, it gets ignored. But if it’s well-structured, skimmable, and genuinely helpful? It gets found. It gets used. It gets shared.

So don’t overthink it.

Think like a helpful teacher, not a keyword machine. Explain what your product does. Break things into chunks. Answer real questions. Link things that should be connected.

Just better content – built to work in the world we’re already living in.

Need help writing better content that will get featured in AI tools? Book a strategy call with Quoleady today.

TL;DR – Key takeaways

• AI-first indexing is real – tools like Google SGE and Bing are rewriting how content gets discovered.
• Clear structure > clever copy – use proper H1, H2, H3 tags to guide both users and AI.
• Write like a human, for a machine – answer real questions in plain language, no fluff or jargon.
• Schema markup helps AI get it – add FAQ, HowTo, Product, or Review schema where it makes sense.
• Internal links matter more than you think – they help AI understand how your content fits together.
• Start with a simple audit – check if your key pages clearly say what your product does and who it’s for.
• Fix your homepage and product pages first – these carry the most weight in AI-driven search.
• Being helpful is the whole game – if your content is useful and well-structured, AI will pick it up.

FAQs about AI-first indexing

What is AI-first SEO?

AI-first SEO is about structuring your content so it’s easy for AI tools, like Google’s SGE or ChatGPT, to understand and use. It focuses less on keywords and more on clarity, context, and answering real questions in a logical way.

How is it different from mobile-first indexing?

Mobile-first focused on how your site looked on phones. AI-first focuses on how well your content answers questions and explains topics.

Is there a checklist to follow for optimizing my site for AI bots?

Yes! You can follow this checklist:

• Use clear, logical headings (H1, H2, H3)
• Answer common questions directly
• Add schema markup (FAQ, HowTo, etc.)
• Keep content skimmable and to the point
• Link between related pages to show topic depth
• Make sure your pages clearly explain what you do and who it’s for

Do I need to change my whole website?

No, you just need to clean up the structure and make your content easier to read and understand, for people and LLMs.

What’s the most important thing to fix first?

Start with your homepage and product pages. Make sure they clearly say what you do, who it’s for, and how it helps.

Is schema markup really necessary?

It’s not required, but it helps AI understand your content better, especially FAQs, product info, and guides.

Are there agencies that help SaaS brands show up in AI-generated answers?

Yes, some content and SEO agencies now specialize in optimizing for AI tools like ChatGPT and Google SGE. If you’re looking for help, here’s a list of top AI marketing agencies that work with SaaS brands.