Search Intent

Search intent (also called user intent or keyword intent) describes the reason behind a search query. Google categorizes intent into four types: informational (seeking knowledge), navigational (looking for a specific website), commercial investigation (researching before purchase), and transactional (ready to buy or take action).

Understanding search intent is critical for both SEO and AI optimization because matching content to intent determines whether your page satisfies the user. AI models are particularly adept at understanding intent and will only cite content that genuinely matches what the user is looking for.

Optimizing for intent involves analyzing the current SERP for each target keyword to understand what Google considers the correct intent, creating content that matches that intent format, and ensuring your page delivers the specific information or action the user expects.