How to Optimise Your Content for Search Engine, Google & AI Citations

Running a business as a solo founder is tough enough without having to decode the never-ending shifts in search engines, backlinks, and — now — large language models (LLMs).

But here’s the reality: SEO is no longer just about ranking on Google. The rise of generative AI and conversational search means that your content also needs to be discoverable, trustworthy, and citation-worthy to earn visibility in LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.

In this deep dive, we’ll explore:

1. Why traditional SEO and backlinks still matter in 2025.

2. How to build backlinks when you don’t have a marketing team.

3. What “LLM SEO” actually means — and how to optimise your content for AI citations.

4. Practical steps solo founders can take today to future-proof their visibility.

Let’s get into it.

Why SEO Still Matters (Even If You Don’t Care About Google Rankings)

You might think SEO is a game for big brands with huge budgets. But for solo founders, it’s arguably even more important. Here’s why:

• Google is still the top discovery channel. Even as AI assistants rise, Google search still drives over 50% of website traffic across industries. Ranking for relevant keywords gives you organic reach you can’t afford to ignore.

• Backlinks = credibility. When other sites link to your content, Google interprets it as a vote of confidence. More backlinks = higher authority. That authority doesn’t just affect rankings, it signals trust to AI models too.

• LLMs are trained on indexed content. AI assistants often reference the same authoritative sources Google does. If your site lacks visibility in search, you’re less likely to surface in AI-generated answers.

In short: SEO is no longer just about Google traffic — it’s about building digital authority. And authority is the currency both Google and AI care about.

Backlinks 101: The Foundation of Digital Authority

If SEO is the engine, backlinks are the fuel. But what does that mean in practice for a solo founder without time to waste?

What are Backlinks?

A backlink is simply a link from another website pointing to yours. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more authoritative your site appears.

Think of it as reputation by association: if respected websites in your industry reference your work, both search engines and AI models take notice.

The Quality vs Quantity Trap

Not all backlinks are created equal.

• High-quality backlinks: links from relevant, authoritative sites (e.g., industry blogs, news outlets, respected SaaS platforms). These move the needle.

• Low-quality backlinks: spammy directories, link farms, or unrelated sites. These can actually hurt your rankings.

As a founder, aim for quality > quantity. Ten high-quality backlinks can outweigh 500 spammy ones.

Practical Backlink Strategies for Solo Founders

You don’t need an agency contract or five-person marketing team. Here are strategies you can execute yourself:

1. Guest Blogging With Authority, Not Desperation

Old-school guest blogging was spammy. Today, it works if you target authority sites in your niche.

• Identify 10–15 blogs, publications, or newsletters in your space.

• Pitch them educational, original insights that founders or buyers in your niche care about.

• Focus on value, not self-promotion — your link will be natural within the content.

Pro tip: AI assistants often cite industry blogs and niche publications. A backlink here = higher chance of citation later.

2. Original Research and Data Studies

One of the fastest ways to earn backlinks is by publishing something others want to reference.

• Run a small survey of your market.

• Share anonymised insights from your customer base.

• Publish your findings as a free report.

Journalists, bloggers, and AI models love citing data. A single report can generate backlinks for years.

3. Strategic Partnerships and Co-Creation

As a solo founder, you don’t have scale — but you do have agility. Collaborate with others to build authority:

• Co-author an article with a partner company.

• Swap backlinks in relevant, contextual posts (not spammy link swaps).

• Host joint webinars and ensure both sites link to the recap.

This multiplies your reach without multiplying your workload.

4. HARO & Journalist Requests

Platforms like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) or Qwoted connect journalists with expert sources. By replying to these requests, you can land mentions (and backlinks) in major publications.

A single link from Forbes, TechCrunch, or Business Insider carries huge authority weight — and these are exactly the sites LLMs favour for citations.

5. Content Designed to Be Cited

Ask yourself: Would I cite this piece in my own article or research?

Content that earns backlinks and AI citations usually includes:

• Frameworks (e.g., “The Pipeline Velocity Model”)

• Step-by-step guides

• Original definitions of concepts

• Comparisons or benchmarks

Create “reference content” that others naturally use to explain complex topics.

Enter LLM SEO (commonly known as GEO): Optimising for AI Citations

Here’s where things get interesting. Google isn’t the only gatekeeper anymore. AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are increasingly the first stop for business questions.

If someone types: “What is pipeline velocity in sales?” — an AI model will generate an answer by blending information from across the web.

Your job is to make sure your content is the one they pull from.

How LLMs Choose What to Cite

While the algorithms are opaque, here’s what we know:

1. Authoritative domains win. Content linked from multiple high-quality sites is more likely to be ingested and referenced.

2. Clear, structured definitions are prized. LLMs love concise “What is X?” sections.

3. Unique phrasing gets remembered. If you coin a term, build a framework, or define a process uniquely, it increases your citation odds.

4. Evergreen, well-formatted content is favoured. Bullets, headings, and clear explanations help LLMs parse content easily.

Practical Steps to Optimise for AI Citations

Here’s how you, as a solo founder, can prepare your content to surface in AI-generated answers:

1. Own the Definition

For each core keyword, create a clear, one-paragraph definition at the top of your article.
Example: “Pipeline velocity is a sales metric that measures how quickly qualified deals move through your sales process, helping you identify bottlenecks and forecast revenue accurately.”

That sentence is LLM-friendly. Short, precise, and easy to lift into an answer.

2. Build Frameworks with Names

AI models love citing frameworks. If you build a repeatable process, name it.

Example: “The ICP Precision Engine” → that’s unique enough to be cited.

Coining terms is one of the best ways to “own” a topic in both Google and AI.

3. Cite Sources in Your Own Content

Paradoxically, the more you reference other authoritative sources, the more likely your piece becomes a credible reference itself.

• Quote industry studies.

• Link to respected reports.

• Attribute stats properly.

LLMs are trained to value content that feels well-cited and trustworthy.

4. Format for Machines and Humans

LLMs scrape structured content more effectively. Use:

• Short paragraphs

• Subheadings (H2, H3)

• Numbered or bulleted lists

• Key takeaways

Readable for humans, parsable for machines.

5. Mix Long-Tail Keywords with Natural Questions

Example keywords to target:

• “how to build backlinks as a solo founder”

• “SEO strategies for startups 2025”

• “AI SEO optimisation”

• “how to get AI to cite your content”

These long-tail, natural questions are exactly how users query LLMs — so aligning with them boosts both Google SEO and AI visibility.

Quick Checklist for Solo Founders

Here’s your 30-day action plan to boost SEO, backlinks, and LLM citation potential:

✅ Audit your current backlinks — focus on quality over quantity.
✅ Write one citation-worthy article with clear definitions and frameworks.
✅ Pitch two guest posts to niche authority blogs.
✅ Reply to 5 HARO/journalist requests.
✅ Create one original data point or insight others can reference.
✅ Interlink your own posts into a structured pillar–cluster model.

Follow this, and you’ll build both Google authority and AI discoverability — doubling your odds of being cited and found.

The Bottom Line

For solo founders, SEO isn’t dead — it’s evolving. Backlinks remain the backbone of authority, but the real game now is building content that both humans and machines trust.

If you publish frameworks, definitions, and original insights, you won’t just rank higher on Google. You’ll also position yourself to be cited in AI-generated answers — the next frontier of visibility.

The companies that understand this shift early will own the conversation tomorrow.