{"id":16790,"date":"2026-05-22T18:23:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/?p=16790"},"modified":"2026-06-02T15:49:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T11:49:22","slug":"backlinks-importance-in-ai-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/blog\/backlinks-importance-in-ai-search\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0412\u0430\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0441\u0441\u044b\u043b\u043e\u043a \u0432 \u043f\u043e\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0435 \u0441 \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0449\u044c\u044e \u0418\u0418: \u0438\u043c\u0435\u044e\u0442 \u043b\u0438 \u043e\u043d\u0438 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/ai-seo-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI SEO statistics<\/a> show that 80% of consumers now use AI summaries for at least 40% of their searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means that people prefer fast and summarized results instead of opening search result sources one by one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your website might still do well on SERPs through building backlinks, but there is much more to be done to appear in AI summaries and generated answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And do backlinks play any role here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read along as we discuss the backlinks importance in AI search, and what other steps are needed to be cited by AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Role of Backlinks in Traditional SEO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, backlinks have been and still are the cornerstone of any website\u2019s off-page SEO strategy, especially for those just starting with their digital marketing efforts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses need to get more backlinks from other websites so that they can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drive traffic to their website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boost online visibility so that search engines and more people can learn about them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grow their website\u2019s credibility and ranking potential<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Given this steady understanding of why backlinks are important, many still choose to invest in link building services and other backlink strategies. The more backlinks they get from authoritative and relevant websites, the more their rankings benefit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This has always been the rule.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But with AI, a lot has changed in how people find answers to their questions and how businesses build their online presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div id=\"wrapper_ng1_1\" style=\"margin:48px 0;transition:all 0.4s ease;\">\n\t\t<iframe\n\t\t\tid=\"frame_ng1_1\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/plugins\/ninty-games\/games\/ninty-tictactoe.html\"\n\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/plugins\/ninty-games\/games\/ninty-tictactoe.html\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Tic Tac Toe: Ninty vs Linky\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"width:100%;height:460px;border:1px solid #e2e5ea;border-radius:16px;box-shadow:0 4px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);\"\n\t\t\tframeborder=\"0\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t><\/iframe>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div\n\t\tid=\"minimized_ng1_1\"\n\t\tstyle=\"margin:48px 0;padding:16px 24px;background:#031D3D;border-radius:12px;cursor:pointer;transition:all 0.3s;display:none;\"\n\t\tonclick=\"showNintyGame_ng1_1()\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\taria-label=\"Open Tic Tac Toe: Ninty vs Linky\"\n\t>\n\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;\">\n\t\t\t<div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/plugins\/ninty-games\/assets\/play.png\" alt=\"Ninty\" style=\"width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:50%;object-fit:cover;display:block;\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"font-weight:700;color:#fff;font-size:15px;\">Tic Tac Toe: Ninty vs Linky<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"background:#ff8a3b;color:#fff;padding:8px 20px;border-radius:9999px;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;\">Open<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<script>\n\t(function () {\n\t\tvar wrapperId   = \"wrapper_ng1_1\";\n\t\tvar minimizedId = \"minimized_ng1_1\";\n\t\tvar frameId     = \"frame_ng1_1\";\n\t\tvar msg         = \"hideNintyTTT\";\n\n\t\twindow[\"showNintyGame_ng1_1\"] = function () {\n\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( minimizedId ).style.display = 'none';\n\t\t\tvar frame = document.getElementById( frameId );\n\t\t\tif ( frame.src === 'about:blank' ) frame.src = frame.dataset.src;\n\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( wrapperId ).style.display = '';\n\t\t};\n\n\t\twindow.addEventListener( 'message', function ( e ) {\n\t\t\t\/\/ Only react to messages from this specific iframe instance.\n\t\t\tvar frame = document.getElementById( frameId );\n\t\t\tif ( frame && e.source === frame.contentWindow && e.data === msg ) {\n\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( wrapperId ).style.display   = 'none';\n\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( minimizedId ).style.display = 'block';\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t} );\n\t})();\n\t<\/script>\n\t\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is AI Changing the Search?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compared with traditional SERPs, AI search engines have their own way of answering users\u2019 queries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>And how do they determine which sources \u201cdeserve\u201d to get cited?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simple as it is, AI search systems typically retrieve relevant sources, analyze their content, and summarize the information into a generated answer, citing multiple sources used in the process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although different AI platforms (like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or AI Overviews) evaluate and present their answers differently, they all aim to deliver relevant and trustworthy information to users.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is how the <a href=\"https:\/\/static.googleusercontent.com\/media\/www.google.com\/en\/\/search\/howsearchworks\/google-about-AI-overviews.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google AI Overview Document<\/a>, for example, describes the logic behind AI Overview\u2019s answer generation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"807\" height=\"207\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174457.030-1.webp\" alt=\"How AI Overviews surface information\" class=\"wp-image-16795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174457.030-1.webp 807w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174457.030-1-400x103.webp 400w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174457.030-1-768x197.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174457.030-1-18x5.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 807px) 100vw, 807px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, AI search engines usually pull information from sources that are already indexed by search engines, and many of those sources may also rank well on SERPs. Since backlinks play a major role in this, they might also be an indirect <em>website credibility and trust signal <\/em>to AI search engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So basically, we can\u2019t fully deny the importance of backlinks in SEO, and consequently in AI SEO, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is how SayNine\u2019s CMO, Mariam Mkhitaryan, has backed this idea:<br><br><em>\u201cBoth SEO and AI SEO are interconnected. You need to focus on both, because by building strong SEO foundations, you also build strong AI visibility foundations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But speaking of AI SEO, there is a lot more to consider and to do (strategy-wise) in order to succeed in AI search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Backlinks Still Important? Here\u2019s What Experts Say<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right after these new AI search realities, experts and SEO professionals started analyzing what patterns stand out in brands\u2019 AI visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So there is a lot of research and data explaining what matters to AI the most when answering users\u2019 questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/ai-overview-brand-correlation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Analysis of AI Overview Brand Visibility Factors<\/a> resulted in the following key takeaways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>AI Overview visibility correlates weakly with link metrics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And the strongest correlation with the AI Overview mentions comes from:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Branded web mentions (0.664)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Branded anchors (0.527)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Branded search volume (0.392)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1769\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174735.807.webp\" alt=\"Factors that correlate with brand appearance in AI overviews\" class=\"wp-image-16797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174735.807.webp 1600w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174735.807-362x400.webp 362w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174735.807-768x849.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174735.807-1389x1536.webp 1389w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T174735.807-11x12.webp 11w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The takeaway is that backlinks get you into the index. Brand mentions move you from indexed to cited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what Margarita Loktionova, the Product and Content Marketing lead at SEMrush, suggests, based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/margarita-loktionova_do-backlinks-still-matter-in-ai-search-activity-7384936272634482688-2uhA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEMrush&#8217;s study<\/a> on 1000 domains across five leading AI platforms (ChatGPT, ChatGPT with Search, Gemini, Google\u2019s AI Overviews, and Perplexity).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"say9-infographic-block\">\n\t<div class=\"blockquote-section\" data-id=\"4a953c2d-35a3-4ea2-a66c-fefa30c0782e\">\r\n    <div class=\"say9-blockquote\">\r\n        <div class=\"blockquote-icon\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/plugins\/say9blocks\/build\/infographic\/components\/..\/..\/..\/assets\/images\/blockquote-icon.svg\" alt=\"\" \/>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n                    <blockquote class=\"blockquote-text\">The most visible domains didn\u2019t have the most links; they had the right ones. Quality, credibility, and source diversity win. <\/blockquote>\r\n        \r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1204\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175218.104.webp\" alt=\"AI mentions by authority tier\" class=\"wp-image-16800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175218.104.webp 1600w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175218.104-400x301.webp 400w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175218.104-768x578.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175218.104-1536x1156.webp 1536w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175218.104-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, domains with strong backlink profiles show up more often in AI answers, especially after they pass certain authority thresholds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This meant that the focus should now be more towards quality over quantity, along with the relevance and authority of the websites from which those backlinks come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as she later explains, backlinks are not the only trust signal for AI engines. Unlinked brand mentions matter, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And on our end, we also understand the backlink benefits and combine effective link building with AI SEO strategies when working with our clients. For example, the core strategies to improve <a href=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/case-studies\/growrk-ai-visibility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GroWrk\u2019s AI visibility<\/a> and SEO growth included:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Building high-authority backlinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Launching a guest posting campaign with branded anchor text backlinks included<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Writing and publishing listicles with GroWrk mentions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After months of steady work, the numbers didn\u2019t make us wait too long. The client saw 29% in traffic increase and a 60% increase in AI citations, building trust among AI search engines and LLMs for further recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that the strategic change in AI SEO&nbsp; is visible to you, let\u2019s see what the core strategies actually are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build More Brand Mentions&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brand authority matters a lot to AI models. And the best way to signal to AI that it can trust and recommend your brand is to make sure it is talked about a lot online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One way to do this is by earning lots of <a href=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/blog\/what-are-brand-mentions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brand mentions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brand mentions are any reference to your brand online. They can be linked (a backlink that uses your brand name as anchor text) or unlinked (your brand name in plain text, with no link).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both matter. The more mentions you get across credible sources, the more signals AI engines have to notice and cite you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And to prove this, we are more than happy to bring our own example.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1883\" height=\"901\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175628.463.webp\" alt=\"SayNine brand mention example\" class=\"wp-image-16801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175628.463.webp 1883w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175628.463-400x191.webp 400w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175628.463-768x367.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175628.463-1536x735.webp 1536w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175628.463-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1883px) 100vw, 1883px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, branded mentions help you level up your brand\u2019s credibility, authority, and trustworthiness in the eyes of AI models and LLMs. So, when people look for \u201cbest video editing tools\u201d, for example, your brand can appear in AI\u2019s options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publish\/Get Included in Listicles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next important step you should take is making sure your brand is <a href=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/blog\/what-are-listicles\/\">mentioned in listicles<\/a>, especially those discussing the \u201ctop\u201d or \u201cbest\u201d services\/products in your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is important to balance between publishing such listicles yourself (with your brand mentioned, of course) and reaching out to relevant websites to get featured in their listicles, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How can you find them? Consider SEO tools like Ahrefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Follow these steps to find listicle opportunities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your Ahrefs account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to its \u201cContent Explorer\u201d section<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Type <strong>inurl:https:\/\/ \u201ctop + your industry agencies\/software\/service\u201d<\/strong> OR <strong>\u201cbest + your industry agencies\/software\/service\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filter the necessary metrics to get high-ranking websites (such as DR 50-90, website traffic from 1K)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1919\" height=\"854\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175946.864.webp\" alt=\"how to find listicle placements using Ahrefs\" class=\"wp-image-16802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175946.864.webp 1919w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175946.864-400x178.webp 400w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175946.864-768x342.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175946.864-1536x684.webp 1536w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T175946.864-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1919px) 100vw, 1919px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After selecting the website that fits your criteria, reach out and ask to get featured\/linked to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note: <\/em><\/strong><em>This method will give you access to the existing listicles only, and the possibility of your brand being included in the top 3 options of the articles can be low. Besides, your outreach efforts may take too much time without a clear outcome.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, we offer SayNine\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/link-building-marketplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link Building Marketplace<\/a> as another good option for your listicle strategy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1866\" height=\"890\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180245.488.webp\" alt=\"SayNine link building marketplace\" class=\"wp-image-16805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180245.488.webp 1866w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180245.488-400x191.webp 400w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180245.488-768x366.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180245.488-1536x733.webp 1536w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180245.488-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1866px) 100vw, 1866px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the Marketplace, you can access 5,000+ verified domains, filter the right ones that fit your needs, and be the first to publish listicles with your brand mentioned in top positions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Structure Your Content Clearly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As said before, AI models mostly work by scanning existing content and retrieving information that matches users\u2019 queries the most. This means that how your content is written and structured is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Have you ever noticed that when you search for something on AI search engines, the cited sources come from both highly popular websites (like Wikipedia) and lesser-known ones?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s exactly because the former are already recognized as trusted sources online. Meanwhile, smaller websites can still earn citations by publishing content that AI systems consider highly relevant, useful, and well-structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a simple ChatGPT search example for \u201cWhat are the current SEO trends?\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1846\" height=\"807\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180523.700.webp\" alt=\"ChatGPT answer for &quot;what are the current SEO trends&quot; query.\" class=\"wp-image-16818\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180523.700.webp 1846w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180523.700-400x175.webp 400w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180523.700-768x336.webp 768w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180523.700-1536x671.webp 1536w, https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2026-05-22T180523.700-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1846px) 100vw, 1846px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you open the sources, you can clearly notice that the content is structured in clear question-answer formatting, with clear headings and sections listing the trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, next time you write your content, make sure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Write it in a clear and simple language. Provide direct answers to your topic questions without long introductions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where applicable, break your paragraphs into smaller ones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use bullet points or numbering when you list something<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Include FAQ sections with relevant Q&amp;As, keep them direct and precise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Include images, charts, graphs, or tables for AI systems to interpret, extract, and present in generated answers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add an llms.txt file to your root domain. It tells AI crawlers which pages you want them to use, similar to robots.txt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use structured data for Articles, FAQs, Products, and Organizations. It helps AI scan your content faster<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AI parses content differently from humans and approaches it purely from a technical perspective.&nbsp;And, thus, to \u201cget picked\u201d by AI engines, your content should fit their rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, do backlinks still matter in AI search? The answer is yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Build them for the SEO foundation to get indexed, ranked, and visible to AI crawlers. Without that base, there is nothing for AI to find.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then go further. Brand mentions, listicles, well-structured content, and the technical basics (llms.txt and schema) are what move you from &#8220;ranked on Google&#8221; to &#8220;cited by ChatGPT.&#8221; Two independent studies and our own client case study point to the same conclusion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SEO and AI SEO are not separate strategies. They feed each other. SayNine builds both. If you want a partner that gets the foundation right and also covers the <a href=\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ai-seo-services\/\">AI SEO<\/a> part, book a free consultation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ on Backlinks Importance in AI Search<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1779456242089\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why are backlinks important for SEO?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Backlinks are important for SEO as they act as digital &#8220;votes of confidence&#8221; that tell search engines your site is trusted, credible, and worth ranking.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1779458818266\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do nofollow links perform in AI search visibility according to Semrush&#8217;s research?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Nofollow links work nearly as well as follow links. Both showed similar correlation scores, with the biggest gains only at the top authority tiers.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1779458953289\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do you do SEO for AI searches?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>SEO for AI searches, often called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) or AEO, focuses on strategies like brand mentions or listicle placements to ensure your content is cited by Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Google, and Perplexity.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recent AI SEO statistics show that 80% of consumers now use AI summaries for at least 40% of their searches. This means that people prefer fast and summarized results instead of opening search result sources one by one.&nbsp; Your website might still do well on SERPs through building backlinks, but there is much more to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":16791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-16790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-linkbuilding","tag-link-building"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16790"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16964,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16790\/revisions\/16964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}