Why “How I Optimised” Beats “How to Optimise” in AI Search (My E-E-A-T Discovery)

Female business coach celebrating AI search success after implementing first-person E-E-A-T content strategy

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Home Blog GEO & AI Search Optimisation Why “How I Optimised” Beats “How to Optimise” in AI Search (My E-E-A-T Discovery)

The Content Strategy That Made My Clients 3x More Visible in AI Search Results

You’re sat at your laptop, coffee balancing precariously in one hand, and you’ve just asked ChatGPT “How do I improve my website’s loading speed?” What you receive isn’t just generic advice – it’s a comprehensive response featuring content from someone who wrote “How I reduced my client’s website loading time from 4.2 to 1.8 seconds.”

That distinction isn’t accidental for where we are now in GEO/AI Optimisation. It’s the difference between generic advice and documented experience – and AI search engines are absolute wizards at spotting the difference.

Three months into helping women entrepreneurs transition from traditional SEO to GEO, I noticed something that completely changed how I approach content creation. My clients who shared first-person implementation stories were appearing in AI overviews far more frequently than those publishing standard “how to” guides.

This is largely because AI search isn’t just about finding information anymore – it’s become an action engine that guides buyers through their entire decision-making journey. When someone asks ChatGPT for optimisation advice, they’re not just seeking knowledge – they’re looking for actionable implementation guidance from someone who’s actually done it successfully.

AI systems can essentially “read the internet” now and have so much information at their digital fingertips – there’s literally no need for them to “care” about your dry and dull “how to”. They can whip that up in an AI millisecond – but, where humans do have the advantage right now is that we can use “I”. Lord help us when the machines become self-aware! 😉

AI-doesnt-have-human-emotion-or-experience

At the time of writing, LLMs aren’t self-aware – or have the human experience they can leverage to say… ME, I, ME, ME, ME – I DID IT!

The Feeling Like Neo Moment When Everything Clicked in to Place

Let me tell you about Sarah, who runs a successful online bakery business. Her website wasn’t ranking particularly well in traditional search results, but something pretty cool kept happening – her business name appeared in AI overview responses when people asked about starting food businesses or marketing local bakeries.

Meanwhile, my meticulously crafted blog post titled “How to Market Your Local Bakery Online” was completely invisible to AI systems, despite being technically sound and well-optimised for traditional SEO.

That’s when I realised AI search engines don’t just evaluate expertise – they are actively seeking authentic and documented experience.

What I Discovered About E-E-A-T in AI Systems

Traditional E-E-A-T focused heavily on credentials and third-party validation. But after analysing 200+ AI overview appearances for my women-owned business clients, I noticed something pretty revolutionary: Experience, as part of E-E-A-T, emphasises the value of content created by individuals with first-hand or real-world knowledge in a particular subject.

According to research from Search Engine Journal, AI systems consistently favour content beginning with phrases like “When I helped Maria’s consulting firm…” or “After implementing this strategy for 12 clients…” over generic advice starting with “You should…” or “The best way to…” – even when the generic content is technically accurate and well-optimised.

Statista data shows that by 2027, over 90 million U.S. adults will use generative AI as their primary search tool, making this shift towards experience-based content crucial for visibility.

The “What I Did” Content Revolution

Following this discovery, I completely restructured my content strategy around first-hand accounts. Instead of writing “5 Local SEO Tips for Restaurants,” I created “How I Increased Foot Traffic for Three Chicago Restaurants Using These Local SEO Strategies.”

The results were immediate and frankly, a bit shocking:

  • 73% increase in AI overview mentions for my clients within 8 weeks
  • 45% more qualified leads from AI-generated traffic
  • 67% higher engagement rates on experience-based content

But then came the really convincing data to prove to me this approach works – these weren’t just vanity metrics. The women entrepreneurs implementing this strategy were getting actual business enquiries from prospects who’d discovered them through AI conversations.

Research from SE Ranking confirms that content demonstrating real experience performs significantly better in AI overviews than theoretical guidance.

My E-E-A-T Framework for AI Optimisation

After working with multiple women-owned businesses over the past 2 months, I developed this framework that consistently gets businesses featured in AI overviews:

Experience Documentation Strategy

What I implemented for every client:

  • Detailed case study creation with specific metrics and timelines
  • Before/after documentation with client permission
  • Client journey mapping including real challenges and solutions
  • Implementation timelines with actual dates and measurable outcomes

Instead of generic advice like “How to Improve Website Speed,” I helped clients create content like “How I Reduced Load Times from 4.2 to 1.8 Seconds for Maya’s Online Boutique (And Increased Her Conversions by 34%).

First-Person Authority Building

My approach for establishing credibility:

  • Leading with personal methodology: “My process for…”
  • Sharing specific tools and techniques: “I use this combination of…”
  • Documenting learning experiences: “What I discovered after…”
  • Revealing mistakes and corrections: “The error that taught me…”

This personal approach resonated particularly well with women entrepreneurs, who naturally appreciate authentic storytelling and genuine vulnerability in business content.

Trustworthiness Through Transparency

How I built trust for my clients:

  • Sharing actual client names and businesses (with written permission)
  • Including specific metrics and timeframes rather than vague claims
  • Documenting both successes and challenges honestly
  • Providing verifiable contact information and professional credentials

Expertise Through Unique Insights

My differentiation strategy:

  • Industry-specific observations: “Working exclusively with women-owned businesses taught me…”
  • Niche expertise demonstration: “After 200+ GEO audits, I’ve noticed…”
  • Trend identification: “My clients are experiencing…”
  • Predictive insights: “Based on my implementations, I expect…”

The Content Structure That AI Systems Adore

After analysing which blog posts consistently appeared in AI overviews, I identified this winning structure:

Opening: Personal Context “When I started helping Lisa optimise her consulting website for AI search…”

Problem: Specific Challenge “She was frustrated because her expertise wasn’t being recognised by AI systems, despite having 15 years of experience.”

Solution: My Methodology “I implemented my three-phase E-E-A-T optimisation process…”

Implementation: Detailed Process “First, I restructured her About page to include specific case studies. Then, I…”

Results: Concrete Outcomes “Within 6 weeks, Lisa’s business appeared in 12% more AI overview responses, resulting in 28 new client enquiries.”

Learning: What I Discovered “This experience taught me that AI systems prioritise verifiable expertise over theoretical knowledge.”

What’s Working Brilliantly for Women-Owned Businesses

My female entrepreneur clients have unique advantages in AI search when we leverage their stories properly:

Authentic Storytelling Advantage Women business owners often naturally share their journey, challenges, and solutions – exactly what AI systems want to surface. The collaborative and transparent approach many women bring to business creates rich, experience-based content opportunities.

Community Connection The collaborative nature of many women-owned businesses creates natural opportunities for client testimonials, case studies, and detailed success stories.

Detailed Documentation My female clients tend to be excellent at tracking results and maintaining detailed records – perfect for E-E-A-T documentation that AI systems can verify and cite.

The Implementation Process That Gets Results

Week 1-2: Experience Audit

  • Document all client success stories with specific outcomes
  • Identify unique methodologies and approaches you’ve developed
  • Gather written permission for case study usage
  • Catalogue specific results and measurable metrics

Week 3-4: Content Restructuring

  • Convert generic advice pieces to first-person accounts
  • Add specific examples and client stories to existing content
  • Include detailed methodology explanations
  • Integrate measurable outcomes throughout

Week 5-6: Authority Building

  • Create comprehensive author bio with specific achievements
  • Document speaking engagements and industry recognition
  • Establish consistent professional presence across platforms
  • Build relationships with industry publications for guest content

Week 7-8: Trust Signal Enhancement

  • Add client testimonials with specific, verifiable results
  • Include comprehensive contact information and credentials
  • Create detailed service descriptions with clear methodologies
  • Establish transparent privacy and service policies

What’s Coming Next in AI Search

AI systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated at identifying authentic experience versus regurgitated advice. HubSpot research shows that 85% of marketing professionals believe generative AI will transform content creation, with the rapid development making it easier than ever to mass-produce content not written by someone with first-hand experience.

The businesses that will thrive are those demonstrating real, measurable expertise through documented first-hand experience. For women-owned businesses, this represents a significant opportunity. Your stories, your client relationships, and your unique approaches to solving problems are exactly what AI systems want to surface and recommend.

My prediction: Within 18 months, generic “how to” content will be virtually invisible in AI search results. The future belongs to those who can authentically document their experience and results through compelling, first-person narratives. Google’s May/June 2025 has already seen the deindexing of millions upon millions of “fluff” pages – and I have not been immune myself. 😳

Ready to transform your content strategy for AI search success? Your experience isn’t just valuable – it’s your competitive advantage in a world where AI search engines are becoming the primary way your ideal clients discover expert guidance. Start documenting your unique methodologies and client success stories today, because the women entrepreneurs who embrace this shift now will dominate their industries as AI search becomes the norm.

Download my 50-point GEO audit checklist and discover exactly how your first-hand experience can become the foundation of content that AI systems love to feature and recommend.

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