More and more people are starting to use Perplexity AI as a search engine. AI searches don’t just give you ten blue links – they actually read through sources and build you a custom answer with citations right there on the page.
Pretty cool, right? But it also means the old playbook doesn’t work the same way. We’ve spent months testing what actually gets our clients’ content featured in these AI responses. Turns out, there’s a pattern to how Perplexity picks its sources.
Newer Stuff Wins Almost Every Time
You know how Google cares about age and authority? Perplexity thinks differently. We’re watching brand-new articles beat established ones that have been around for years. The system heavily favors content that’s either freshly published or recently updated.
What does this mean for you? Stop treating your website like a library. Those blog posts from 2022 need attention. Go back and add new data points. Update your examples. Throw in some current statistics. Even small changes tell Perplexity your information is still relevant and worth citing. Regular blog updates matter more than ever in this AI-driven search environment.
Clicks Matter More Than You’d Think
Here’s where it gets interesting. When someone sees your site cited in a Perplexity answer and actually clicks through, that signals quality. Those early interactions really influence whether you’ll show up in future searches on similar topics.
That’s why we obsess over title tags and descriptions with our clients. You’ve got maybe two seconds to convince someone your link is worth the click. Vague titles like “Marketing Tips” don’t cut it. Try “5 Email Tactics That Doubled Our Open Rates” instead. Give people a reason to choose your citation over the others. Proper SEO elements become even more critical when competing for AI visibility.
Cover Your Topic From Every Angle
Perplexity doesn’t just look at one article in isolation. It’s a check to see whether your whole site demonstrates real expertise. Are you writing about different aspects of your subject? Do your articles connect in logical ways?
We help businesses map this out through strategic content planning. Say you run a landscaping company. You’d want pieces on lawn care basics, seasonal maintenance schedules, native plant selection, irrigation systems, and pest management. Link them together naturally. Show that you understand the whole picture, not just a single slice. This approach to building topical authority helps both traditional search engines and AI platforms recognize your expertise.
Strategic Linking Actually Works
Perplexity trusts certain domains more than others in each industry. When you reference these authoritative sources in your content, or better yet, when they mention you, your chances of getting cited jump significantly. We’ve watched this happen with client sites.
For local businesses, your Google Business Profile and review platforms become super important. Keep those updated. Ask happy customers to leave reviews. These signals feed directly into how Perplexity evaluates your credibility. The platforms prioritize content from domains it deems trustworthy within specific industries.
Write Like You Actually Know Your Stuff
Including related terms throughout your content helps Perplexity understand what you’re really talking about. But here’s the thing. You can’t just stuff keywords in there awkwardly. Write like an expert who naturally uses industry language.
Our writers focus on sounding authentic first. If you’re explaining social media strategy, terms like “engagement metrics,” “algorithm preferences,” “content scheduling,” and “audience targeting” should flow naturally in context. Creating high-quality content that demonstrates genuine expertise increases your chances of being cited by AI search platforms.
Let’s Talk About Your Website!
We’re tracking these AI search changes closely at Boston Web Marketing. Our team can review your current content and identify precisely where you’re missing opportunities with platforms like Perplexity.
Want to see how your site measures up? Get a free audit from us. We’ll walk you through what’s working and what needs adjustment.