AI-powered search platforms are rapidly shaping how websites are discovered. One recent case study highlights how technical SEO—specifically crawl waste cleanup—can directly influence visibility across AI-driven results.

Crawl Waste Cleanup: What Happened

Crawl waste occurs when a website has too many non-indexed or duplicate pages clogging its crawlable content. This prevents search engines and AI models from focusing on the most valuable pages.

In one example from the childcare industry, a site had around 45,000 non-indexed pages, including thousands of duplicates and redirected URLs incorrectly listed in its sitemap. After optimizing the sitemap and removing unnecessary URLs, crawl efficiency improved significantly.

This cleanup helped AI systems and search engines better recognize the site’s high-quality, intent-driven content.

How AI Platforms Reacted

The results were promising:

• Visibility increased across most AI search platforms by up to 10%.
• Platforms like Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, and Meta AI responded most strongly.
• The only decline was with ChatGPT, which dropped by 4.1%—likely due to slower adoption of fresh indexing changes compared to other platforms.

Despite that dip, overall visibility across platforms still grew by 3.5%, enough for the brand to overtake a competitor in Gemini rankings.

Takeaways for SEO in the AI Era

• Audit sitemaps: Only include canonical URLs.
• Improve information architecture: Clear structures and internal linking boost discovery.
• Diversify focus: Different AI tools behave differently—don’t just measure against Google.
• Build topic pillars: Comprehensive, authoritative hubs remain highly effective.
• Keep testing: Early results are directional; validation requires broader data.

This case study suggests that technical SEO fundamentals remain essential—not just for traditional SERPs but for AI search visibility too.

At SEO Guru NYC, a leading SEO company in New York, we understand how crucial crawl efficiency and technical SEO are for improving both traditional and AI-driven search visibility. Our team helps businesses reduce crawl waste, strengthen site architecture, and boost rankings across platforms.

Partner with us today to optimize your website for the future of search and stay ahead of your competitors.