A short guide on Category Ownership for AI SEO

Most businesses want what seems impossible - a consistent stream of high-quality leads, with low acquisition costs and high order values. 

Over the years, I’ve helped companies achieve just that by building scalable SEO frameworks that generate leads continuously, without being tied to paid ad spend that vanishes the moment your budget is depleted.

But something new is happening. A quiet power shift.

With AI SEO, small, scrappy teams are now able to compete credibly with the giants. The old guard, powered by armies and agency retainers, is suddenly vulnerable. For those who move fast, this is your land grab moment.

What Is a Category—and Why Should You Own One?

A category is a broad market perception, like SEO Consultant. A vertical is more specific, like AI SEO consulting or technical SEO for B2B SaaS.

Owning a vertical builds depth. Owning the category builds dominance.

Most businesses operate across several verticals. But now, for the first time, it’s possible—even for small teams—to own an entire category, from the ground up. And AI SEO is the vehicle to get you there.

The AI-shaped buyer journey is already unfolding. In 2024, ✅ 45% of B2B tech buyers used GenAI in their decision process, such as ChatGPT. These buyers aren’t just searching—they’re interrogating. They're looking for depth, clarity, and clear recommendations. This is where smart content strategy becomes a strategic moat.

How to Own Your AI SEO Category

It starts with intentional clarity and structured execution.

1. Pick a Category: Choose a core category that aligns with your business’s long-term strength. Example: AI SEO Consultant. From there, build out relevant verticals. 

2. Interrogate the Category Use tools like AnswerThePublic to mine real questions and keyword intent. Or simply search for the most frequently asked 'what, where, why, and how' questions + 'keyword' in the search bar. The aim is to make you the who!

3. Think Like a Buyer. The golden rule: buyers haven’t changed, just their tools have.

From Pages to Power: What to Build

To deliver category ownership through AI SEO, your sitemap should be a strategic map of buyer intent:

• Location Pages – Show where you operate. Reflect local regulatory or market conditions. Build trust.

• Industry Pages – Segment your expertise. Show understanding of vertical-specific problems.

• Feature/Capability Pages – Explain what your solution does. Clearly.

• Technical Blog – Go deep. Use diagrams, citations, and code snippets if needed. Be the authority.

• Knowledge Base – Let people self-serve answers. Searchable, structured, and shareable.

This structure not only reflects how buyers think, but it also trains AI models on your relevance. The more granular and consistent your site structure, the more likely you are to be the AI’s first pick.

Why Now?

AI SEO is the Wild West. Algorithms are shifting monthly. New players are rising. Content expectations are increasing. Legacy players are still playing the 2018 game - utilising bulk content, backlinks, and outdated keyword stuffing.

This creates a unique moment: category ownership is available for the taking.

So pick your flag. Claim your land. And start building—before someone else does.

Get in touch.