Ilias Ismanalijev, an SEO expert focusing on AI search optimization, shares his insights on mastering AI-driven SEO. He discusses the four levels of AI search and how to map user intent through prompts. Listicle outreach and leveraging directories for off-page SEO are key strategies he emphasizes. Ilias highlights the unique readiness of AI traffic for conversions and offers actionable tips for optimizing content for AI models. His practical approach ensures brands can enhance their visibility while targeting bottom-of-funnel prompts effectively.
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insights INSIGHT
AI SEO Fits Complex Purchases
AI SEO mainly benefits software and SaaS companies where long research processes happen.
E-commerce and simple transactional products have less AI SEO traction due to limited detailed research need.
insights INSIGHT
AI Traffic is Buyer-Ready
AI-driven website traffic tends to be more buyer-ready with higher conversion rates.
Users have done extensive research and are at the final decision stage by the time they visit sites.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Track AI Rankings Regularly
Run specific AI queries regularly via API to track your rankings and mentions.
Use this data to monitor AI SEO visibility without expensive tools.
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This AI SEO deep‑dive gets tactical. I sit down with Ilias Ismanalijev (aka @illyism) to map the real discovery journey happening inside AI search—what users actually prompt from problem‑aware to buyer‑ready—and how to influence results across models (GPT, O3, Claude, Perplexity). You’ll learn how to surface the right phrases (not just keywords), make your pages AI‑readable, and win off‑page placements on the listicles and directories LLMs love to cite.
What you’ll learn
The 4 levels of AI search (no‑search → deep research) and how strategy changes at each.
How to spot AI‑generated queries in Google Search Console and build your tracking sheet.
On‑page for LLMs: crawlability, structured content/markdown, alt text, and avoiding blockers (robots.txt, Next.js assets).
Off‑page that moves rankings: listicle outreach, affiliate offers, directories (G2, Product Hunt), and Reddit/“parasite” opportunities.
Why AI traffic is often more buyer‑ready—and how to target bottom‑of‑funnel prompts (e.g., “X vs Y,” “best X for Y,” pricing specifics).
Chapters 0:00 Cold Open — What You’ll Learn 1:22 Sponsor: TalentFiber 2:25 Meet Ilias & Why AI SEO Now 3:02 Who Benefits Beyond SaaS? 4:58 Research vs. E‑com Use Cases 6:20 Comparison‑Style Prompts IRL 8:59 Brands Doing It Well (Examples) 10:46 Why AI Traffic Is Buyer‑Ready 13:42 Benchmarking AI Search Visibility 16:38 Frameworks for AI Keyword Research 20:58 On‑Page for LLMs (Crawlability) 23:30 Finding AI Queries in Search Console 27:30 Regex + Long‑Query Filters 28:25 The 4 Levels of AI Search 32:17 Bottom‑of‑Funnel Prompts That Convert 34:06 Off‑Page: Listicles, Affiliates, Outreach 37:00 Reddit/Parasite SEO & Page One Sources 38:59 Mapping Sources w/ LinkDR 41:02 Pricing Pages & AI Page Inspector 44:34 Directories, Reviews & Digital PR 47:41 Should You Create AI‑Optimized Resource Pages? 48:38 Wrap‑Up & Where to Find Ilias
Sponsor This episode is brought to you by TalentFiber — hiring top offshore software engineers as an extension of your team (technical interviews, compliance, replacements, fast turnarounds). Learn more at talentfiber.com
In the Pit with Cody Schneider | Marketing | Growth | Startups