aeo-optimization

SKILL.md

AI Engine Optimization (AEO) Skill

Purpose: Optimize content for AI engines (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) so your brand gets cited in AI-generated answers.

Source: Based on HubSpot's AEO Guide and industry best practices.

Why AEO Matters Now
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  THE GREAT DECOUPLING                                          │
│  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────  │
│  Impressions ≠ Clicks anymore.                                 │
│  AI engines compile answers from multiple sources.             │
│  More buyer journey happens inside chat experiences.           │
│  58% of Google searches = zero clicks (AI overviews).          │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  THE OPPORTUNITY                                               │
│  ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────  │
│  Shape what AI engines say about your category and product.    │
│  Get cited as the authoritative source.                        │
│  Best answer > Best page ranking.                              │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Stats:

70% of consumers use ChatGPT for searches

47% of Google queries show AI overviews

Average ChatGPT prompt: 23 words (vs 4.2 for Google)

AEO market: $886M (2024) → $7.3B (2031)

How AI Engines Choose Answers

AI engines use three main signals to select content for answers:

1. Consensus

Facts that appear across multiple credible sources get trusted and reused.

How to build consensus:

Repeat key facts consistently across your own pages

Use same terminology as industry leaders

Link to and from authoritative external sources

Create internal content clusters that reinforce each other

2. Information Gain

Net-new insight beats generic advice. AI engines prefer content that adds value.

How to add information gain:

Original research and data

Concrete examples with specifics

Clear point of view (not fence-sitting)

Expert quotes with credentials

Case studies with metrics

3. Entities & Structure

Clear entities and tidy structure reduce ambiguity and boost quotability.

How to optimize structure:

Use semantic triples (Subject → Verb → Object)

Clear headings with entity names

Schema markup (Article, FAQ, Product)

Short, scannable paragraphs (2-4 sentences)

Semantic Triples (Critical for AEO)

What they are: Compact facts that AI engines (and humans) can't misread.

Pattern: [Subject] [verb] [object].

Examples

✅ GOOD (clear triples):
- HubSpot CRM syncs contact and company data.
- Lead Scoring assigns priority based on engagement.
- Workflows trigger email sequences from events.

❌ BAD (vague, no clear entity):
- The system helps with various tasks.
- It can do many things for users.
- This improves overall performance.

Triple Checklist

For every key claim, ask:

 Is the subject a clear entity (product, feature, brand)?

 Is the verb specific and active?

 Is the object concrete and measurable?

Paragraph Pattern (Feature → How → Outcome)

Every substantive paragraph should follow this structure:

[Feature] helps [User/Role] with [Job].
It [mechanism/inputs] to [process].
Teams see [metric/result] in [timeframe/context].

Triples:
- [Subject] [verb] [object].
- [Subject] [verb] [object].

Example

Lead Scoring helps sales teams prioritize prospects. It combines
page views, email engagement, and firmographic data to assign a
numeric score, then auto-enrolls high scorers into follow-up
sequences. Reps focus on qualified accounts and book 40% more
meetings.

- Lead Scoring assigns scores from engagement data.
- High scorers trigger automated follow-up sequences.

Page Templates

Template 1: Category Explainer

Goal: Define the category, tie it to your product, earn citations.

# What is [Category]? — [1-2 line value promise]

## What is [Category]? (~80 words)
[Plain definition in everyday language. Name adjacent entities.]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

## Why it matters now (~60 words)
[One paragraph. Mention shift to answers over links; tie to buyer outcomes.]

## How to apply it (3-5 bullets)
- [Action 1]
- [Action 2]
- [Action 3]

## FAQ
**Q: [Question]?**
A: [~1 sentence answer]

**Q: [Question]?**
A: [~1 sentence answer]

**Q: [Question]?**
A: [~1 sentence answer]

---
**Links:** [Category hub] | [Product/Feature] | [Credible source 1] | [Credible source 2]
**CTA:** [Demo / Template / Signup]
**Schema:** Article + FAQ. Author + last updated.

Template 2: Product & Feature Page

Goal: Clarify capability, fit, and next step; reinforce category linkage.

# [Product/Feature] — [Outcome in 3-5 words]

**[Product/Feature] enables [Outcome] for [User/Role].**

## [Feature Area 1]
[2-4 sentences using Feature → How → Outcome]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

## [Feature Area 2]
[2-4 sentences using Feature → How → Outcome]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

## [Feature Area 3]
[2-4 sentences using Feature → How → Outcome]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

## FAQ
**Q: [Question]?**
A: [~1 sentence]

**Q: [Question]?**
A: [~1 sentence]

**Q: [Question]?**
A: [~1 sentence]

---
**Links:** Back to [Category Explainer] | Forward to [Demo/Trial]
**Proof:** [Benchmark/Analyst/Customer proof]
**Notes:** Requirements/limits (pricing tier, integrations)
**Schema:** Article + FAQ. Author + last updated.

Template 3: Comparison / Alternatives Page

Goal: Help readers decide with clear criteria; earn fair citations.

# [Product] vs. [Alternative] — Which fits [Use case]?

## Comparison Table

| Criterion | [Product] | [Alt A] | [Alt B] | Source |
|-----------|-----------|---------|---------|--------|
| [Feature/Limit] | [value] | [value] | [value] | [link] |
| [Requirement] | [value] | [value] | [value] | [link] |
| [Best for] | [value] | [value] | [value] | [link] |

*Source-back all claims in the table or footnotes.*

## Fit Statements

1. **[Product]** suits [Team/Use case] when [Condition].
2. **[Alt A]** fits [Team/Use case] when [Condition].
3. **[Alt B]** works for [Team/Use case] when [Condition].

---
**Links:** [Category Explainer] | [Feature pages]
**CTA:** [Try / Demo / Talk to Sales]
**Schema:** Article. Author + last updated.

Template 4: Use Case / Industry Page

Goal: Connect product to outcomes in a context readers recognize.

# [Industry/Use Case] — [Outcome KPI]

**Teams reduce [Metric] by [Y%] in [Timeframe].**

## Mini Case Study
[Company/Role] used [Product/Feature] to [Action], resulting in
[Metric improvement] within [Timeframe].

## How It Works

### [Feature 1]
[Feature → How → Outcome paragraph]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

### [Feature 2]
[Feature → How → Outcome paragraph]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

## Who Uses This
**Roles:** [Role 1], [Role 2], [Role 3]
**Workflows:** [Workflow 1], [Workflow 2]
**Integrations:** [Integration 1], [Integration 2]

---
**Links:** [Product/Feature pages] | [Supporting blog]
**CTA:** [Industry template / Demo variant]
**Schema:** Article. Author + last updated.

Template 5: Supporting Blog Post

Goal: Add information gain and support your content cluster.

# [Topic] — [Specific promise]

## Opening (~60-80 words)
[State the problem. Align terminology with Category Explainer. Preview outcome.]

## [Section 1 Heading] (~120 words max)
[Feature → How → Outcome]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

**Internal link:** [Related page]
**External citation:** [Credible source]

## [Section 2 Heading] (~120 words max)
[Feature → How → Outcome]

Triples:
1. [Subject] [verb] [object].
2. [Subject] [verb] [object].

**Internal link:** [Related page]
**External citation:** [Credible source]

## Key Takeaway
[1-2 lines summarizing the main point]

**CTA:** [Single primary action]

---
**Schema:** Article. Author + last updated.

Site-Wide Trust Signals

Required on Every Page

Element
Implementation

Schema markup
Article + FAQ (if FAQ exists)

Author attribution
Name, bio, credentials, photo

Last updated date
Visible, machine-readable

Internal links
3-5 per page (upstream/downstream)

External citations
1-2 credible sources per section

Single CTA
Demo, template, or signup (repeated once near end)

Schema Implementation