Chapter 5
10 min read
Beginner Friendly

User Intent & Queries

Learn how people search with AI: intent types, prompt patterns, and how to map your pages to conversational queries so your brand gets recommended more often.

TL;DR

  • AI search prompts are longer, more specific, and more "job-to-be-done" focused than traditional keywords
  • Five intent types to cover: informational, comparative, evaluative, navigational, transactional
  • Users ask "best X for Y", "compare A vs B", "what should I choose if..."—map content to these patterns
  • Create comparison tables, use-case pages, and FAQs matching exact prompt phrasing

The Shift in Search Behavior

AI search fundamentally changes how people ask questions. Instead of typing fragments like "CRM software" into Google, users now ask complete questions:

  • "What's the best CRM for a 10-person e-commerce team under $50/month?"
  • "Compare Notion vs Coda for project management—which is better for startups?"
  • "Give me a step-by-step plan to implement marketing automation"

These conversational queries require different content strategies. You need to anticipate the questions users ask and provide direct, complete answers.

The 5 Intent Types You Must Cover

1. Informational Intent

Users want to learn or understand something.

  • "What is AEO?"
  • "How does AI search work?"
  • "Explain the difference between SEO and AEO"

Content needed: Definition pages, explainers, guides, "What is..." articles

2. Comparative Intent

Users want to compare options.

  • "AEO vs SEO vs GEO—what's the difference?"
  • "Compare Slack and Microsoft Teams"
  • "HubSpot vs Salesforce for small business"

Content needed: Comparison pages with tables, pros/cons lists, "X vs Y" articles

3. Evaluative Intent

Users want recommendations or rankings.

  • "Best AI visibility tools for 2025"
  • "Top CRMs for SaaS startups"
  • "Which project management tool should I use?"

Content needed: "Best of" lists, rankings, recommendation guides

4. Navigational Intent

Users want to find something specific about your brand.

  • "Asva AI pricing"
  • "Slack login page"
  • "HubSpot free CRM features"

Content needed: Clear pricing pages, feature pages, login/signup pages

5. Transactional Intent

Users want to take action.

  • "Get a demo of AI visibility software"
  • "Sign up for Notion free trial"
  • "Book consultation with SEO agency"

Content needed: Demo pages, trial signup, booking pages, clear CTAs

Query Patterns in AI Search

Users ask AI questions in predictable patterns. Understanding these patterns helps you create content that matches:

Best X for Y

  • "Best CRM for small business"
  • "Best AI visibility tool for agencies"
  • "Best project management app for remote teams"

Compare A vs B

  • "Notion vs Coda"
  • "ChatGPT vs Perplexity for research"
  • "HubSpot vs Salesforce"

What Should I Choose If...

  • "What CRM should I choose if I have a small budget?"
  • "Which AI tool is best if I need real-time data?"

Step-by-Step Plans

  • "Give me a step-by-step plan to implement AEO"
  • "How do I set up marketing automation from scratch?"

Mistakes to Avoid

  • "What mistakes should I avoid when choosing a CRM?"
  • "Common AEO mistakes"

How to Win These Prompts

Once you understand the patterns, create content specifically designed to match:

  • Comparison content with tables — AI loves structured comparisons
  • Use-case pages — "For agencies", "For e-commerce", "For startups"
  • Pricing clarity — Clear, specific pricing removes barriers
  • Implementation guides — Step-by-step content for action-oriented queries
  • FAQs matching prompt phrasing — Use the exact language users type

Building a Prompt Bank

Create a list of prompts your target customers might ask AI. This becomes your content roadmap:

  1. Interview customers about their AI search habits
  2. Test variations of queries across platforms
  3. Note which queries mention you vs. competitors
  4. Identify gaps where you should appear but don't
  5. Create content specifically targeting those gaps

Tools like Asva's Prompt Intelligence can help automate this process.

Ready to see your AI visibility?

Get a free audit to understand where your brand appears in AI search.

Practical Examples

  • 1Creating a "Best AI Visibility Tools for 2025" page that matches evaluative intent queries
  • 2Adding use-case pages for "For Agencies" and "For E-commerce" to capture specific queries
  • 3Writing FAQs using exact prompt phrasing: "What is the difference between AEO and SEO?"
  • 4Publishing "Asva vs. Competitors" comparison with feature tables
  • 5Creating step-by-step guides: "How to Implement AEO in 30 Days"

Action Checklist

  • Build a "Prompt Bank" of 50-100 queries your customers might ask AI
  • Create at least 10 FAQs using exact prompt phrasing across feature pages
  • Publish 2 comparison posts this month ("X vs Y" format)
  • Add use-case pages for your top 3 customer segments
  • Include "common mistakes" sections on key guide pages
  • Test your target queries across AI platforms monthly

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Writing for keywords instead of conversational queries
  • Ignoring comparative and evaluative intent (most valuable for conversions)
  • Not using the exact language customers use in prompts
  • Assuming SEO keyword research applies directly to AI queries
  • Neglecting to test how AI actually responds to your target queries

Track your brand mentions in AI

Asva monitors ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and more to show exactly where you appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI search intent?

AI search intent is what the user is truly trying to accomplish when they ask a conversational question. It can be informational, comparative, evaluative, navigational, or transactional.

What are common prompt patterns in AI search?

Common patterns include "best X for Y," "compare A vs B," "what should I choose," "step-by-step plan," and "mistakes to avoid." These patterns often trigger recommendations and comparisons.

How do I map content to AI prompts?

Create pages for each intent type: definitions for informational queries, comparison tables for comparative queries, buyer guides for evaluative queries, and clear product pages for transactional queries.

How do I reduce confusion for AI systems about my product?

Be explicit about what you do, who it's for, key features, outcomes, and proof. Keep pricing, positioning, and terminology consistent across your site to avoid contradictory signals.

What should I prioritize first: blogs or product pages?

Start with product pages and core positioning pages for clarity and conversion, then publish blogs that target high-intent prompts and link back to those product pages.

Related Reading

Key Terms

Prompt
The full question or instruction a user gives to an AI
Intent Type
The underlying goal behind a search query
Conversational Search
Natural language queries in AI interfaces
Prompt Bank
A collection of queries your target customers might ask
Query Pattern
Recurring structures in how users phrase questions
Evaluative Intent
Queries seeking recommendations or rankings