AI-Optimised Category Pages: How to Rank in Google and AI Search

Category pages are some of the highest-value pages on any website. They capture users with commercial and navigational intent. But in 2026, ranking in Google is only half the battle. Your category pages also need to appear in AI Overviews, get cited by ChatGPT, and surface in Perplexity results.

This guide explains how to build AI-optimised category pages that perform in both traditional and AI-powered search.

What Are AI-Optimised Category Pages?

AI-optimised category pages are collection or listing pages designed to work across all search interfaces: Google's traditional results, Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT web search, Perplexity, and other AI systems.

A standard category page might list products, services, or content items with minimal context. An AI-optimised category page adds:

• Contextual introduction copy that explains what the category is and who it is for
• Structured data that helps machines understand the page content
• Answers to common questions users have about the category
• Clear internal linking that connects related pages
• Fast loading and excellent Core Web Vitals

The difference matters because AI search systems do not just look at keywords. They look for pages that comprehensively answer a topic and can be cited as authoritative sources.

Why Category Pages Underperform in AI Search

Most category pages were built for a pre-AI search era. Here is why they struggle:

Thin content. The typical category page has a title, some filters, and a grid of items. There is no contextual copy for AI systems to extract, quote, or cite. AI Overviews need paragraphs they can summarize. A page with zero explanatory text will never be cited.

No structured data. Without schema markup, AI systems have to guess what your page is about. Structured data makes your content machine-readable and increases the chance of being selected for rich results and AI citations.

Poor internal linking. Category pages often exist as isolated nodes. They link down to products or articles but rarely link to related categories, guides, or comparison content. This makes it harder for both search engines and AI systems to understand the page's authority and context.

Slow loading. Category pages with dozens of images and complex filtering often have poor Core Web Vitals. Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor, and slow pages get deprioritized in both traditional and AI results.

Keyword-stuffed titles. Old-school SEO tactics like stuffing the category title with keywords ("Buy Best Cheap Running Shoes Online 2026 Sale") hurt credibility with AI systems that evaluate content quality and trustworthiness.

How to Optimise Category Pages for AI Search

1. Add Contextual Introduction Copy

The single most impactful change you can make to a category page is adding 150-300 words of contextual copy at the top, before the product or content grid.

This copy should:

• Define what the category is and who it serves
• Explain what differentiates the items in this category
• Mention key considerations for someone browsing this category
• Use natural language, not keyword stuffing

Example for an e-commerce shoe category:

"Our running shoes collection features road and trail options for every runner, from beginners training for their first 5K to ultramarathon veterans. Each shoe is tested by our running team and rated on cushioning, stability, weight, and durability. Filter by terrain type, pronation support, or drop height to find your match."

This gives AI systems something to cite and helps traditional search understand the page's purpose.

2. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Implement schema markup that matches your category page type:

• E-commerce categories: Use CollectionPage or ItemList schema to describe the collection and its items
• Content categories: Use CollectionPage with mainEntity pointing to an ItemList of articles
• Service categories: Use Service schema within an ItemList

Always include:

• Name and description of the category
• Number of items
• Breadcrumb schema showing the page's position in your site hierarchy
• FAQ schema if you include a questions section

3. Answer Questions Users Actually Ask

Add a FAQ section to your category page addressing the questions people have when browsing this type of content. These questions should be:

• Specific to the category, not generic
• Phrased the way real users ask them
• Answered concisely but completely

AI systems love FAQ content because it is structured, question-answer formatted, and easy to extract for citations.

How to find the right questions:

• Check Google's "People Also Ask" for your category keywords
• Review customer support questions about products in this category
• Look at Reddit and forum discussions about the topic
• Use your own search data to see what queries lead to the page

4. Optimize for Featured Snippets and AI Overviews

Structure your content to be easily extractable by AI systems:

• Use clear H2 and H3 headings for each section
• Lead paragraphs with direct answers to implicit questions
• Use lists and tables for comparative information
• Keep key information in the first 2-3 sentences of each section
• Include specific numbers, statistics, and data points

Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT prefer content that provides a clear, complete answer in a scannable format.

5. Build Strong Internal Linking

Internal linking tells search engines (and AI systems) that your category page is authoritative on its topic.

Link to your category page from:

• Related blog posts and guides
• Parent and sibling category pages
• Product or service pages within the category
• Your homepage (if it is a primary category)

Link from your category page to:

• Individual items within the category
• Related categories
• Helpful guides and resources (e.g., buying guides, comparison articles)

Use descriptive anchor text, not "click here." For example, link with "running shoes for beginners" rather than "see more."

6. Ensure Fast Page Speed and Core Web Vitals

Category pages with many images and dynamic filters are prone to performance issues. Optimize for:

• LCP under 2.5 seconds: Lazy-load images below the fold, use responsive image formats (WebP/AVIF), and preload the hero image
• CLS under 0.1: Set explicit dimensions for all images and ad slots, avoid layout shifts from late-loading filters
• INP under 200ms: Optimize filter interactions to respond instantly, avoid heavy JavaScript blocking the main thread

Slow category pages lose rankings in both traditional search and AI results. See our landing page speed optimization guide for detailed techniques.

AI-Optimised Category Page Examples

E-commerce Example

Before: A product grid with 40 items, a filter sidebar, and nothing else. Title: "Shoes - Buy Online."

After (AI-optimised):

• Descriptive title: "Running Shoes for Every Terrain and Pace"
• 200-word intro explaining the collection and how to choose
• Smart filters with clear labels
• CollectionPage + ItemList schema markup
• FAQ section with 5 category-specific questions
• Links to related guides ("How to Choose Running Shoes", "Trail vs Road Shoes")
• Breadcrumb: Home > Shoes > Running Shoes

SaaS Product Category Example

Before: A feature comparison table and pricing grid. No contextual content.

After (AI-optimised):

• Title: "Email Marketing Tools: Features, Pricing, and Comparison"
• 250-word introduction explaining the category and key decision factors
• Structured comparison table with clear formatting
• FAQ section addressing common buyer questions
• SoftwareApplication schema for each tool
• Links to individual product pages and related blog content

Content Hub Example

Before: A blog archive page with post titles and dates in reverse chronological order.

After (AI-optimised):

• Title: "Landing Page Optimization: Complete Resource Library"
• 150-word introduction explaining what readers will find
• Posts organized by subtopic (not just date)
• CollectionPage + ItemList schema
• Featured posts highlighted at the top
• Links to pillar content and related hubs

Tools for Optimising Category Pages

Optimising category pages requires a combination of content, technical, and structural improvements. Here are tools that help:

• AI analysis tools like FixRoast can analyze your category page's design, content, UX, and performance in one scan
• Schema validators like Google's Rich Results Test verify your structured data is correct
• Core Web Vitals tools like PageSpeed Insights measure technical performance
• AI search testing — manually search for your category terms in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews to see if your pages are being cited

For a complete list of optimization tools, see our landing page optimization tools guide and best AI search optimization tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are AI-optimised category pages?

AI-optimised category pages are category or collection pages designed to rank well in both traditional search engines and AI-powered search systems like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. They combine SEO best practices with structured data, contextual content, and clear information architecture that AI systems can easily parse and cite.

How do you optimize category pages for AI search?

To optimize category pages for AI search, add contextual introduction copy that explains the category, implement structured data (schema markup), include FAQ sections that answer common questions, optimize for featured snippets with clear formatting, build strong internal linking, and ensure fast page load times with good Core Web Vitals scores.

Do category pages show up in AI Overviews?

Yes, category pages can appear in Google AI Overviews and get cited by AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity. To increase your chances, add contextual content that answers user questions, use structured data, and ensure your page provides comprehensive, well-organized information about the category topic.

Start Optimising Your Category Pages

Category pages represent some of your highest commercial intent traffic. Investing in AI optimisation ensures they perform not just in Google, but across the entire AI search landscape.

Not sure where your category pages stand? Get a free AI analysis with FixRoast →