What to fix first if AI search feels overwhelming (the checklist I promised!)


September 2026

The Story Starter

Reader,

Here it is, the promised checklist post — 10 specific things independent schools should be doing right now for AI search, in the order I'd tackle them.

A few are five-minute fixes (rewriting a subhead as a real question). A few need your web developer (schema markup). All 10 are pretty important.

​Read the full checklist→ and forward it to whoever owns your website. Most of this doesn't require a big budget, just some focused attention.

Your storytelling tip:

If you only do three things from this list, do these: rewrite your top pages to answer the question in sentence one, put a real name behind your content, and audit your Niche/GreatSchools/Google Business listings for anything that doesn't match your site anymore.


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

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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