Crafting content that wins citations in AI-powered search isn’t just about keywords anymore. The new battleground is matching both intent and signal strength through title, slug, and language precision
**Introduction**
Crafting content that wins citations in AI-powered search isn’t just about keywords anymore. The new battleground is matching both intent and signal strength through title, slug, and language precision. A recent [AirOps report](https://www.airops.com/report/how-snippet-signals-influence-ai-search) highlights how snippet signals shape which pages get cited and how brands can adapt.
**How Snippet Signals Work**
Informational Queries. Precision Is Everything
For content meant to educate or inform, AI search engines prioritise literal language alignment and intent matching. Titles and slugs that echo the exact query language. Phrases like “how to,” “what is,” or “best practices” are much more likely to be cited.
**Commercial Queries. Embrace Semantic Flexibility**
When users are searching to compare, evaluate, or buy, AI engines value semantic breadth, synonyms, and related phrases more than strict word-for-word matches. In these cases, broader topic alignment and flexibility are what drive citations.
**Key Takeaways for Content Teams**
Craft titles and slugs with clarity. Use direct phrasing for informational content.
Mirror user language. Align page titles and URLs with the way people actually search.
Expand for commercial queries. Use synonyms and broader categories to stay relevant.
Test and refine language. Tailor your optimisation to whether the query is informational or commercial.
**Final Thoughts**
To become an AI search citation magnet, your content strategy needs both precision and contextual breadth, depending on user intent. Informational queries reward tight, mirrored language. Commercial queries reward semantic diversity and flexibility. Tune your titles and URLs accordingly to get noticed.