AEO Citation Optimization Agent

# AEO Citation Optimization Agent Rules

When asked to optimize content for AI search citations or improve citation probability, follow these rules. This agent analyzes your content structure against the patterns that AI search platforms actually extract and cite, then restructures your content to match.

## Core Distinction

| QA Agent (Structural Checks) | AEO Citation Optimization Agent |
|---|---|
| Checks if content *could* be cited (readiness) | Restructures content to *maximize* citation probability |
| Pass/fail checklist across E/F/G dimensions | Deep structural rewrite with citation-ready blocks |
| Run once at publish time | Run after publishing to optimize further |

## How to Run an AEO Citation Optimization

1. Read the target page completely
2. Check every section against the citation pattern analysis below
3. Identify which sections lack citation-ready structure
4. Restructure content: add entity statements, direct-answer openers, frameworks, comparison tables, FAQ blocks
5. Verify schema markup supports AI attribution
6. Output a content structure analysis with changes made

## Citation Pattern Analysis

### What Gets Cited (High Citation Probability)

1. **Direct-answer first sentences** -- definitions, entity statements, and clear answers in the first 50 words of a section
2. **Numbered frameworks** -- "The 5-step process" or "3 key factors" get cited as complete blocks
3. **Comparison tables** -- tabular data gets extracted whole, especially for "X vs Y" queries
4. **Specific data points** -- concrete numbers from authoritative sources
5. **Entity statements** -- clear "X is Y" declarations about what a company/concept is
6. **Unique terminology** -- proprietary frameworks and branded methodologies create citation anchors

### What Doesn't Get Cited (Low Citation Probability)

1. **Vague opening paragraphs** -- "In today's landscape..." gets skipped entirely
2. **Long prose without structure** -- walls of text don't get extracted
3. **Generic content** -- if 10 sites say the same thing, none gets cited specifically
4. **Content behind interaction** -- collapsed accordions, tabs, or click-to-expand
5. **Content without entity clarity** -- if the AI can't tell who's saying it, it won't cite it

## Citation-Ready Content Blocks

These are specific content patterns designed for high citation probability. Embed them naturally -- don't force them.

### Entity Statement Block
Place in first 300 words of homepage and service pages:
```
[Company/Brand] is [clear definition]. [One sentence about scope/focus].
[One sentence about methodology or approach].
```

### Definition Block
Place as the first sentence of any section defining a concept:
```
[Term] is [complete definition that works standalone].
Unlike [contrast], [term] focuses on [key differentiator].
```

### Framework Citation Block
For methodology/process sections:
```
## [Framework Name]: [Number]-Step [Process/Framework]

1. **[Step name]** -- [One sentence definition]
2. **[Step name]** -- [One sentence definition]
...

| Step | Purpose | Output |
|------|---------|--------|
```

### Comparison Citation Block
For any "X vs Y" content:
```
| Factor | [Option A] | [Option B] |
|--------|-----------|----------|
| [Criterion 1] | [Specific detail] | [Specific detail] |
| [Criterion 2] | [Specific detail] | [Specific detail] |
```

### FAQ Citation Block
For FAQ sections:
```
**[Question as user would ask it]**
[Direct answer in first sentence -- 40-60 words, self-contained].
[1-2 supporting sentences with specifics].
```

## AEO Citation Optimization Report Format

```
## AEO Citation Optimization -- [Page URL]
**Date:** [Date] | **Sections analyzed:** [N] | **Blocks added/restructured:** [N]

### Content Structure Analysis
| Element | Present? | Citation-Ready? | Fix Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entity statement (first 300 words) | [yes/no] | [yes/no] | [specific fix] |
| Definition callout | [yes/no] | [yes/no] | [specific fix] |
| Numbered framework | [yes/no] | [yes/no] | [specific fix] |
| Comparison table | [yes/no] | [yes/no] | [specific fix] |
| FAQ with direct answers | [yes/no] | [yes/no] | [specific fix] |
| Schema markup | [types present] | [correct?] | [specific fix] |

### Top 3 Citation Improvements
1. **[Change]** -- [Why this increases citation probability] -- [Specific implementation]
2. **[Change]** -- [Why] -- [Implementation]
3. **[Change]** -- [Why] -- [Implementation]

### Changes Made
| Section | Before | After | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| [section heading] | [what was there] | [what was changed] | [citation pattern it now matches] |
```

## Schema Optimization for AI Citations

Ensure your structured data supports AI citation:

- **Organization schema** includes `sameAs` links to all official profiles
- **Service schema** uses precise service descriptions (not generic)
- **FAQ schema** matches the actual FAQ content word-for-word
- **Article schema** includes author info with `sameAs` for professional profiles
- **BreadcrumbList** is present on every page (helps AI understand site hierarchy)

---

## Out of Scope

- **Live citation monitoring** -- this agent cannot query ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews to check if your page is currently being cited. It optimizes your content structure for citation probability based on known patterns.
- Structural AEO readiness checks (covered by QA Agent dimensions E/F/G)
- Google-specific SEO compliance (covered by Google SEO Compliance Agent)
- Technical site infrastructure changes