Bing Says Optimize For AI Search By Following SEO Guidelines

08/01/25
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of How to Optimize for AI Search According to Bing’s Product Manager

Bing’s AI Search optimization relies on following traditional SEO best practices. Fabrice Canel, Bing Search Product Manager, confirms that normal SEO techniques like using XML sitemaps and keeping content fresh are essential. Key recommendations include using the Lastmod field in sitemaps and IndexNow protocol to ensure content is discoverable. Ultimately, AI Search finds content through crawling and indexing, just like standard search engines.

Optimixed’s Overview: Essential SEO Strategies to Enhance Content Visibility in AI-Powered Search Engines

Understanding AI Search Optimization Through Traditional SEO

Bing’s Search Product Manager, Fabrice Canel, emphasizes that optimizing for AI-powered search does not require drastically new methods. Instead, it involves adhering to established SEO guidelines that ensure your content is effectively crawled and indexed.

Key Practices to Keep Content Discoverable

  • XML Sitemaps: Maintain accurate and up-to-date sitemaps to guide search engines through your site structure.
  • Lastmod Field Usage: Update the lastmod timestamp in your sitemaps to signal fresh content, which is critical for Bing’s AI indexing processes.
  • IndexNow Protocol: Implement IndexNow to instantly notify search engines about content changes, speeding up discovery.

Why Traditional SEO Remains Vital for AI Search

AI search engines rely on crawling and indexing mechanisms similar to conventional search platforms. While the way users interact with AI search results might differ, ensuring that AI systems are aware of your content fundamentally depends on sound SEO practices. Consistent optimization efforts make your content accessible and improve the chances of being surfaced by AI search features.