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Emily Cretella / Cursive Content

The new rules that make AI (and parents) actually read your website

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

August 2026

The Story Starter

Reader,

Last week, I wrote about how AI reads your website (short version: in pieces, not top to bottom, and your Google ranking doesn't guarantee it likes what it finds).

This week answers the question: does this mean we have to write differently?

Yes. Just not the way people assume. You don't need to start writing like a spec sheet. What needs to change is where the specific facts — dates, numbers, formats — live on the page.

​This week's post walks through three tips to make your website copy more AI-search-friendly, without losing your school story.

Remember: structure isn't the enemy of good storytelling. It's what gets the story read at all. Learn more.

Your storytelling tip:

Go to your admissions page. How long does it take you to find the answer to the question, "What is the application deadline?"

If it's more than five seconds, an AI system is going to skip right past it.

Em-dash: a peek inside Emily's office

What I'm writing: Beyond the (many, many) digital ads I'm writing for schools gearing up for fall admissions, I'm rewriting a private school's giving page — using both conversion copywriting techniques AND these new AI tips.

What clients are asking: Are FAQs really making a comeback? Oh, yeah. In a big way. Though I'd push back on the name — let's call them "elevated FAQs." More audience-focused, less info dump.

What I'm reading: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. It opens with the question, "Have you ever wanted to live inside a book?" So far? Yes. Yes, I have.

Your school has a powerful story to tell. You just need help telling it.

Let's turn your school's expertise, differentiators, outcomes, legacy, and vision into one cohesive school story that attracts dream families, increases inquiries & enrollment, strengthens communities, and grows school influence.

See you next week!

-Emily

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Emily Cretella / Cursive Content

School Storyteller for Independent Schools

Cursive Content helps independent school marketers tell powerful stories that attract dream families, increase inquiries & enrollment, strengthen communities, and grow school influence. Subscribe for weekly content and storytelling tips!

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