name: aeo-optimizer
description: Optimize content, websites, and marketing materials to rank well in AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini. Focuses on being the source AI models cite and reference through structured, authoritative content. Triggers on AEO, AI Engine Optimization, AI search, AI citations, Perplexity optimization, ChatGPT ranking.

AI Engine Optimization (AEO)

Optimize content to be discoverable and useful in AI-powered search and answer engines, ensuring your content ranks well when people search using ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and other AI assistants.

When to Use This Skill

Invoke this skill when you need to:
- Optimize blog posts, articles, or web pages for AI citations
- Structure content to be easily parsed by LLMs
- Create content that answers specific queries AI users ask
- Audit existing content for AEO best practices
- Develop FAQ pages or help documentation
- Write product descriptions that AI will recommend

Required Inputs

Ask for:
1. Content piece - paste the content or URL to analyze
2. Primary topic/keyword - what query should this rank for
3. Target audience - who is searching for this information
4. Content goal - inform, convert, educate, compare, etc.
5. Format - blog post, product page, FAQ, guide, etc.

AEO Optimization Checklist

Analyze and provide recommendations for:

Structure & Formatting

• Use clear, descriptive H2 and H3 headings that answer specific questions
• Include a concise summary or TL;DR at the beginning
• Use bullet points and numbered lists for scannability
• Structure content with question-answer pairs
• Include a table of contents for longer content

Content Quality

• Provide direct, authoritative answers to common questions
• Include specific data, statistics, and sources
• Use natural language that mirrors how people ask questions
• Define technical terms clearly
• Provide examples and use cases
• Include comparisons when relevant

Semantic Optimization

• Cover topic clusters comprehensively (don't just focus on one keyword)
• Answer related questions and subtopics
• Use entity-based language (proper nouns, brands, concepts)
• Include context that helps AI understand relationships
• Use schema markup recommendations where applicable

Citations & Authority

• Link to authoritative sources
• Include author credentials or expertise indicators
• Add publication/update dates
• Reference original research or data
• Use proper attribution

Output Format

Provide:
1. AEO Score (1-10 based on current optimization)
2. Strengths - what's already optimized well
3. Priority Fixes - 5 specific changes to make immediately
4. Content Gaps - questions or topics to add
5. Structural Recommendations - how to reorganize for better AI parsing
6. Sample Optimized Section - rewrite one section as an example

AEO Best Practices

Question-Answer Structure

Format content to directly answer common queries:

## How to [Achieve Goal]?

[Direct answer in first paragraph]

### Step 1: [Action]
[Detailed explanation]

### Step 2: [Action]
[Detailed explanation]

## What is [Concept]?

[Clear definition]
[Context and importance]
[How it relates to user's needs]

AI-Friendly Formatting

• Use descriptive headings that mirror search queries
• Start with direct answers before diving into details
• Include comparison tables for AI to reference
• Add FAQ sections for common questions
• Use numbered lists for step-by-step processes

Citation Optimization

According to [Authority Source], [statistic or fact]. This approach has been shown to [specific result] in [context/study].

Source: [Proper citation with link]

Example Optimization

Before:

Our software is great for businesses. It helps with productivity.

After:

## What is [Product Name] and How Does it Increase Business Productivity?

[Product Name] is a comprehensive project management platform that increases team productivity by an average of 34% (based on a study of 2,847 companies over 12 months).

### Key Productivity Features:
1. **Automated Task Assignment** - Reduces manual delegation by 60%
2. **Real-time Collaboration** - Eliminates email chains and version confusion
3. **Progress Tracking** - Provides instant visibility into project status

### Who Should Use [Product Name]?
This platform is specifically designed for:
- Remote teams of 5-50 people
- Project-based businesses (agencies, consultancies)
- Companies struggling with task visibility and accountability

Source: Internal productivity study, validated by [Third-party Research Firm]

Additional Guidelines

• Focus on being the most comprehensive, clear, and authoritative source
• Optimize for "zero-click" answers where AI can directly cite your content
• Consider voice search and conversational query patterns
• Ensure content remains valuable for human readers (don't over-optimize)
• Monitor which queries your content should rank for in AI engines