In 2025, writing for humans isn’t enough — you need to write for algorithms too.
With Google introducing AI Overviews and constantly evolving how it ranks and displays content, blog posts need to serve a dual purpose:
- Engage and inform real readers
- Be clearly understandable to machines
That means smart structure, consistent formatting, and strong visuals — every time.
Here’s how to create blog posts that rank well, appear in AI results, and get real clicks.
🧠 Why Structure Matters in 2025
Search engines — especially AI-driven ones — rely on patterns to understand content.
Without structure, even great articles may go unnoticed.
Well-structured posts:
- Help Google Discover recognize your content
- Increase the chance of being cited in AI Overviews
- Boost user readability and session time
- Improve accessibility and content reuse
Let’s break it down step-by-step.
📍 Start With a Clear, Specific Headline
Your headline should:
- Contain the target keyword
- Match the user intent (how-to, list, guide, etc.)
- Avoid being clickbait — AI penalizes misleading titles
✅ Good Example: How to Structure Blog Posts for SEO and AI
🚫 Bad Example: This One Trick Will Boost Your Blog Overnight!
Bonus tip: Use tools like AnswerThePublic or Ubersuggest to find phrasing people search for.
✍️ Use a Short, Hooky Intro (Under 100 Words)
Your intro should:
- Clearly state what the article is about
- Include your main keyword (naturally)
- Set expectations for the reader and search engine
Keep it punchy. No fluff.
Tip: Google often pulls the first paragraph as a summary in Discover and AI Overviews.
🧩 Use H2 and H3 Headings to Break Up Content
Every section should be marked with clear HTML headings:
<h2>
for main sections<h3>
for subsections- Never skip levels (don’t jump from H2 to H4)
Why it matters:
- AI Overviews often pull direct answers from subheadings
- SEO benefits from clear keyword-rich headings
✅ Add Bullet Points, Lists, and Step-by-Step Formats
AI loves structured information:
- Use numbered steps for tutorials
- Use bullet points for summaries or comparisons
- Keep paragraphs under 4 lines for mobile readability
Example:
Best Practices for AI-Optimized Content:
- Use short, factual sentences
- Define terms and concepts
- Include FAQs at the bottom
- Cite sources or link internally
🔍 Include an FAQ Section at the End
This is crucial for AI Overviews.
Use real questions — not just made-up ones.
Answer concisely in 1–2 short sentences.
Add FAQ schema markup for even better results (WordPress plugins or manual JSON-LD).
Example:
Q: How long should a blog post be for SEO in 2025?
A: Around 1,000–2,000 words, depending on topic depth and competition.
📸 Use Featured Images and Visuals the Right Way
Google Discover and AI Overviews both show images — but only if:
- They are at least 1200×675 px
- They have ALT text
- They are relevant to the content
👉 Browse Pixplet.com for free, SEO-optimized stock photos that fit blog post formats.
Tip: Use one image every 300–400 words to keep readers engaged.
🏗 Add Schema Markup (Even Basic One Helps)
Use structured data like:
Article
ImageObject
FAQPage
BreadcrumbList
Even if you’re not technical, many WordPress plugins like Rank Math or Yoast help automate this.
Schema helps AI understand the purpose and parts of your content — critical in 2025.
🚀 Final Checklist Before Publishing
- ✅ Compelling, keyword-rich headline
- ✅ Short intro with clear summary
- ✅ Clear H2/H3 headings
- ✅ Lists and short paragraphs
- ✅ FAQ section
- ✅ Featured image with ALT text
- ✅ Schema markup
If you hit all of these, you’re writing not just for SEO — but also for AI systems that are reshaping the web.
✨ Pro Tip: Use the Right Images From the Start
All visuals on Pixplet are:
- Free to use
- Discover-optimized
- Properly sized
- Available in popular formats like Blog Post, Pinterest, Facebook Cover, and more
Try it now → Pixplet Image Library