# Get cited by AI search

> Make your Astro site easy for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google's AI answers to read, trust and cite, with clear content and consistent facts.

Source: https://viralistic.nl/help/astro/ai-search

More and more people ask an AI assistant instead of scrolling through search results. Those assistants read web pages and cite the ones that answer clearly and agree with other sources. This article is for site owners and marketers who want their business to show up correctly in those answers. You will learn what makes a page easy to cite and the concrete changes to make on a Viralistic Astro site.

## How AI search picks sources

AI assistants combine a search index with their own crawlers. When they answer a question, they favour pages that:

- can be read as plain HTML,
- answer the question directly,
- state facts that match what other trusted sources say,
- clearly show who is behind the content.

Nobody can force a citation. These steps raise your chances and, just as important, make sure that what AI says about you is correct.

## Let the crawlers in

Astro builds every page to static HTML, so the full text is there without running JavaScript. That matters, because many AI crawlers do not run JavaScript at all.

Next, check that `robots.txt` does not block the crawlers you want. A Viralistic site generates `robots.txt` on every build and allows all crawlers by default. If you ever add rules, these are some of the names you will meet:

| Crawler         | Company    | Purpose                            |
| --------------- | ---------- | ---------------------------------- |
| `OAI-SearchBot` | OpenAI     | Search results in ChatGPT          |
| `GPTBot`        | OpenAI     | Collecting data for model training |
| `ClaudeBot`     | Anthropic  | Collecting data for Claude         |
| `PerplexityBot` | Perplexity | Search results in Perplexity       |

> **Note:** Crawler names and their purposes change. Check each company's documentation before you block or allow a specific one.

## Write answer-first content

Assistants quote sentences, not pages. Make it easy for them.

1. Open every page and every main section with a direct answer of one or two sentences. Details come after.
2. Use headings that match how people ask: "What does managed hosting cost?" instead of "Pricing".
3. Keep one topic per page, so it is clear what the page is the best answer to.
4. Include concrete facts: who it is for, where you work, how the process runs, what is included.
5. Add a short FAQ section to service pages with the questions customers actually ask you.

A good example of an answer-first opening: "Managed website hosting means your website is kept online, fast, secure and up to date by people who know how it was built."

## Use structured data

Structured data tells machines, without guessing, who you are. The base layout of a Viralistic site adds JSON-LD for the organisation, the founder, the website and each page. The facts come from `src/lib/schema.ts`, including the `sameAs` list that links your LinkedIn, Instagram and review profiles. Keep that file complete and up to date. See [Make your Astro site rank well](https://viralistic.nl/help/astro/astro-seo) for testing tools.

## Keep facts consistent everywhere

When your website, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn page and directory listings disagree, an assistant either hedges or repeats the wrong version.

- Use exactly the same company name, address and phone number everywhere.
- Describe your services in the same words on every profile.
- Update or remove old profiles and outdated pages.
- Earn mentions on reputable sites, such as partner pages, event pages and interviews. Third-party sources carry weight.

## Add an llms.txt file

`llms.txt` is a proposed convention: a markdown file at `/llms.txt` that summarises your site and links to the pages that matter most. It is not an official standard and not every AI system reads it, but it takes ten minutes to add. On a Viralistic site, put it in `public/llms.txt` so it keeps a fixed address:

```md
# Viralistic

> Strategic digital partner in Amsterdam for webdesign, branding, automation, SEO and digital strategy.

## Services

- [Webdesign](https://viralistic.nl/webdesign): Websites designed in Figma and built in Astro.
- [Automation](https://viralistic.nl/automation): n8n automation and agentic workflows.

## Company

- [About](https://viralistic.nl/about): Founder, way of working and principles.
- [Contact](https://viralistic.nl/contact): Email, address and how to book a call.
```

Update it when you add or remove important pages.

## Check what AI says about you

1. Write down five questions a potential customer would ask, such as "Which agency in Amsterdam builds Astro websites?"
2. Ask them in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google.
3. Note whether you are mentioned, which page is cited and whether the facts are right.
4. Fix the pages or profiles behind any wrong answer, and repeat every month or two.

> **Tip:** Answers vary between sessions and over time. Look for patterns across several questions, not a single result.

If you want an outside view of how AI assistants describe your business, book a strategic call: https://calendly.com/marrallisa/30min

## Next steps

- [Make your Astro site rank well](https://viralistic.nl/help/astro/astro-seo)
- [Score high on Lighthouse](https://viralistic.nl/help/astro/performance)
- [Edit text and pages](https://viralistic.nl/help/astro/edit-content)