Writing for AI Citations

Here is a practical structure that works for AEO and GEO alike. Start with a one or two sentence answer to the implied question, before any backstory. Follow with supporting detail, examples and context for human readers who want more. Then add an FAQ section using real questions people actually ask, the kind you find in "People Also Ask" on Google, or by asking an AI the same question and seeing what it asks back.

Avoid filler phrases like "in today’s digital world." Machines, and people, skip past them. Be specific: use numbers, names, dates and concrete claims an AI can quote with confidence.

One small technical step that still has some value: implement FAQ schema markup so search engines and AI crawlers can identify your Q&A pairs as structured data, not just paragraphs of text. Worth knowing going in: Google retired the FAQ rich-result dropdown in Google Search in May 2026, so this no longer earns extra space in Google’s results the way it once did - it’s a parsing aid now, not a visibility lever, and the visible Q&A content matters far more than the markup around it. A related but less common addition is Speakable schema, which marks the specific section of your page best suited to be read aloud - typically your direct-answer opening or a key facts box. It is aimed at voice assistants and AI tools that summarise content audibly, and it costs almost nothing to add once you already have a clear answer block on the page.