SEO and AIO: How to optimize content to appear on AI & Google

For more than a decade, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) has been the main weapon to help businesses conquer Google. But the context has changed. Since artificial intelligence (AI) exploded with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, user search behavior has shifted from “keywords” to “complex questions” and the desire to receive direct answers instead of a long list of links.

This is when AIO (AI Optimization) appears as a new concept. AIO does not replace SEO, but adds an important layer: ensuring that your content not only shows up on Google, but is also remembered and used by AI in responses to users.

In this in-depth article (3000 words), I will analyze in detail:

• Why AIO has become an inevitable trend.

• Changes in people search behavior use.

• Risks when the website is not "open" to AI bots.

• Practical case study in Vietnam.

• Specific solutions, including SEO + AIO strategies that Tan Phat Digital has applied to customers.

I. The shift in search behavior: From Google to AI

1. Traditional SEO – “Top 10” is the destination

In SEO, all optimization efforts are aimed at reaching the top 10 Google results. For example, with the keyword "70m2 apartment interior design", if your website ranks 1-3, the chance of receiving clicks is very high.

2. Users 2025 – Ask questions instead of searching for keywords

This habit is changing quickly. Instead of typing “Hanoi hotel”, users now ask:

“I want to find a boutique hotel in Hoi An, near the old town, priced under 1 million/night, with swimming pool.”

Google returns dozens of links, but ChatGPT or Perplexity will immediately give specific suggestions. Users save time and have a smoother experience.

3. “New Page 1” is AI data

Large language models (LLM) like GPT, Claude are trained on billions of web pages. If your content is not in this data, AI will not “know” who you are. This is like being absent from Google before.

II. Why has AIO become a vital factor?

1. AI does not display links, but displays answers

Unlike Google - where users select links - AI self-selects reliable sources to synthesize answers. You're not competing for the top 10 anymore, you're competing to be cited or referenced by AI.

2. International case study: Expedia vs Small travel blog

Expedia appears heavily in ChatGPT's answers when asking about "7-day US - Italy journey". Reason? Expedia has an open API, bilingual content, and does not block AI bots. Meanwhile, many small travel blogs, although they have good content, completely disappear because they are not present in the training set.

3. Lessons for Vietnamese businesses

Many businesses in Vietnam still only worry about optimizing Google keywords. But if foreign customers use AI in English to ask, your content will disappear completely. This is the biggest risk.

III. Common risks in the AIO era

1. Block AI bots via robots.txt

Many websites currently block GPTBot, CCBot, AnthropicBot... for fear of "data being taken". But in fact, when you block, you also block the opportunity to appear in the AI ​​answer.

For example: A hospital in Hanoi blocks GPTBot. When users asked ChatGPT about "type 2 diabetes symptoms", the results quoted from personal blogs instead of the official website.

2. Limited languages ​​– only Vietnamese

AI trains mainly from English data. If the website is only published in Vietnamese, the possibility of appearing in AI is low. This causes many businesses to lose the opportunity to reach international customers.

Necessary strategy: Bilingual publishing (Vietnamese + English). For example, the article "Comprehensive SEO Services" should have the English version "Comprehensive SEO Services" added so that AI can easily recognize it.

3. Technical infrastructure accidentally blocks AI

Some CDN platforms or firewalls (like Cloudflare) block AI bots by default. Without fine-tuning, no matter how good the content is, AI cannot collect it.

IV. AIO Strategy: Integrating SEO and AI Optimization

1. Keep traditional SEO - can't give up

SEO is still the foundation: onpage optimization, quality backlinks, internal links, page loading speed. Cannot be missed. You need services such as:

• Overall SEO services to build the foundation.

• Combining entity building for AI to recognize the brand.

2. Add AIO – optimized for AI

• Do not block GPTBot and AI bots.

• Bilingual publishing.

• Post content on many public platforms: Medium, LinkedIn, Wikipedia.

• Use extended schema: FAQ, HowTo, Author, Organization.

3. Actual case study – Vietnam tourism industry

A travel website in Da Nang applied AIO and SEO:

• Translated blog content into English.

• Opened robots.txt for GPTBot.

• Parallel publishing on Medium and LinkedIn.
  After 3 months, they noticed:

• Higher number of appearances in ChatGPT's answer increased significantly.

• The number of international visitors booking tours through the website increased by 40%.

V. The role of Tan Phat Digital in implementing AIO

Tan Phat Digital is one of the pioneering agencies in Vietnam applying SEO + AIO to businesses. With experience implementing hundreds of projects, Tan Phat Digital focuses on:

• Building a strong Entity for the brand. (Entity Building Service)

• Optimize multilingual content.

• Combining traditional SEO with AIO strategy.

• Infrastructure consulting (robots.txt, CDN, security) to not block AI bots.

Many furniture, real estate, and tourism businesses have recorded growth in traffic and potential customers. capabilities when deployed with Tan Phat Digital.

VI. Strategic advice for Vietnamese SEOers

1. Don't think SEO is enough. SEO is the foundation, but AIO is the new layer.

2. Bilingualism is mandatory. Don't just write in Vietnamese.

3. Open robots.txt for AI bots. If you're afraid of sensitive data, only block the private part, not the whole thing. site.

4. Multi-channel distribution. Appear on many platforms to increase the possibility of entering training data.

5. Combining professional agencies. Units like Tan Phat Digital will help businesses not miss this trend.

Traditional SEO is not dead, but its role has changed. While SEO helps you get to the top of Google, AIO helps you survive in the AI ​​answer - where user search behavior is gradually shifting.

If your business is not prepared, you will be absent from the "new page 1". But if you apply the right strategy, you can stay ahead of your competitors, becoming a trusted source that AI cites.

Tan Phat Digital has been accompanying many Vietnamese businesses in this process, helping them both maintain the top of Google and expand their presence in the AI ​​world.