AEO Content Strategy: Creating Citation-Worthy Content

Creating content that AI assistants want to cite requires a different approach than traditional SEO content writing.

What Makes Content Citation-Worthy?

1. Comprehensive Answers

AI systems prefer content that thoroughly answers questions:

• Depth over breadth: Detailed explanations beat surface-level content
• Multiple perspectives: Cover different angles of a topic
• Specific examples: Concrete examples help AI understand context
• Clear conclusions: Explicit takeaways and summaries

2. Structured Format

Make it easy for AI to parse and cite:

• Clear headings: Use H2/H3 tags to organize information
• Bullet points: Lists are easier for AI to extract
• Definitions: Explicitly define key terms
• Numbered steps: Processes should be clearly numbered

3. Authoritative Sources

AI systems favor authoritative content:

• Expert credentials: Mention author expertise
• Data and statistics: Include relevant data sources
• Citations: Link to authoritative sources
• Updates: Keep content current with dates

Content Formats That Work Best

How-To Guides

Step-by-step guides are highly citable:

• Clear numbered steps
• Specific instructions
• Visual aids when possible
• Troubleshooting sections

Comparison Articles

"X vs Y" content performs well:

• Side-by-side comparisons
• Clear pros and cons
• Specific use cases
• Recommendations based on scenarios

Definitions and Explanations

Explanatory content gets cited frequently:

• Clear definitions
• Context and examples
• Related concepts
• Practical applications

Lists and Roundups

Ranked lists are citation-friendly:

• Clear criteria for ranking
• Brief explanations for each item
• Visual formatting
• Authoritative sources

Writing for AI Crawlers

Language and Tone

• Clear and direct: Avoid ambiguity
• Factual: Prioritize facts over opinions
• Objective: Present balanced perspectives
• Professional: Maintain credibility

Structure

• Introductory paragraphs: Summarize key points
• Body sections: One main idea per section
• Conclusion: Reinforce key takeaways
• FAQ sections: Address common questions

Technical Elements

• Schema markup: Use FAQPage, HowTo, Article schemas
• Alt text: Describe images clearly
• Meta descriptions: Summarize content accurately
• Internal linking: Connect related content

Testing Your Content

Before publishing, ask:

1. Does this thoroughly answer a specific question?
2. Can AI extract key points easily?
3. Is the information current and accurate?
4. Would this be useful to cite in an AI response?

Getting Started

Start with your most important topics and create comprehensive, citation-worthy content. Then track which content gets cited in AI responses and optimize accordingly.

Get your free visibility audit to see how your current content performs in AI search.