AEO Content Optimization Skill
Answer Engine Optimization - Optimize content for AI citations, not traditional search rankings.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
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User asks to optimize content for AI search/citations
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User mentions ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini visibility
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User wants FAQ schema, JSON-LD, or structured data for AI
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User asks about GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
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User wants to analyze content for AI extraction readiness
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User mentions "AI Overviews" or "answer engines"
NOT for traditional SEO - This is specifically for AI/LLM citation optimization.
Core Reference
Full templates and guidelines: Read prd.md in this directory for complete implementation details.
Quick Reference: Key Principles
The 18-Token Extraction Rule
LLMs extract self-contained sentences of ~18 tokens (~15-20 words). Key claims must be complete, quotable statements requiring zero surrounding context.
Good: "Eight-API synthesis reduces property analysis errors by 67%." (9 tokens) Bad: "Our system is incredibly fast and delivers amazing results." (vague)
Single-Topic Focus Pages
Single-concept pages vastly outperform multi-topic content. Create focused URLs like domain.com/specific-concept rather than comprehensive guides.
Citations + Statistics = 30-40% More Visibility
Every major claim needs:
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Verifiable data with methodology
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Date of data collection
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Expert attribution (Name + Credentials + Org)
Freshness is Critical
95% of AI citations come from content updated in last 10 months. Static content dies.
Authority Level Determines Strategy
Authority Level Optimization Approach
Challenger (new sites, low authority) Aggressive: 5-7 extraction points per page, heavy citations, weekly micro-updates
Established (top-ranked, well-known) Light touch: 1-2 strategic points, trust existing credibility, avoid over-optimization
Princeton finding: Rank-5 sites gained 115% visibility with aggressive optimization. Rank-1 sites that over-optimized lost 30%.
What to Generate
When user requests AEO content, generate:
- Product Overview (50 words)
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What it is (one clause)
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Scope/timeframe context
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Why it matters (value proposition)
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"Last updated" date
- 15 FAQs with Schema
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Questions: 7-12 words, natural language
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Answers: 30-50 words (sweet spot for AI extraction)
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FAQPage JSON-LD schema with datePublished and dateModified
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Persistent anchor IDs (#faq-slug)
- Evidence Panels
For every important claim:
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Claim statement
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Methodology
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Data source + URL
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Date of data collection
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Limitations
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Contact for questions
- JSON-LD Schema
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FAQPage (most important)
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HowTo (for guides)
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Product (for product pages)
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Organization (for About page)
Anti-Patterns (What to Avoid)
Traditional SEO Tactics Harm GEO
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Keyword stuffing
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Generic listicles without original insight
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Vague hedged language ("may help", "could potentially")
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Multi-topic comprehensive guides
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Over-optimization on established sites
Content Structure Errors
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FAQ answers over 50 words
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Buried answers (put conclusion first)
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Pronoun ambiguity ("it" instead of "the product")
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Missing dates and freshness signals
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No schema markup
Assessment Framework
When analyzing content for AEO readiness, score (0-10):
Dimension What to Check
Extraction How many citation-ready sentences under 18 tokens?
Focus Single topic or sprawling multi-topic?
Authority Expert attribution with credentials? Citations?
Freshness Updated within 90 days? Dated content?
Quick test: Can you copy-paste 3 sentences that fully answer a question without context?
Implementation Checklist
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Product overview: 50 words, dated, under H1
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15 FAQs: 30-50 words each, natural questions
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Evidence panels: method, data, date, limitations
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"Last updated" dates on every section
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FAQPage JSON-LD schema in <head>
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Persistent anchor IDs for FAQs
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Validated with Google Rich Results Test
Testing Protocol
After implementation, test with:
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Recognition: "What is [Product]?" (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini)
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Comparison: "Compare [Product] to [Competitor]"
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Best for: "What's the best [category] for [use case]?"
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How-to: "How do I [task with product]?"
Track: Mentioned? Linked? Accurate? Evidence quoted?
Full Documentation
For complete templates, examples, and detailed guidelines, read:
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prd.md
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Full AEO content generation guide with HTML templates
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story-structured.md
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Framework summary from Princeton study