Step 1: conduct comprehensive AI platform research

Start by understanding where you currently stand. Run 50 queries related to your industry through ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Document which brands get cited, how often, and in what context. This baseline becomes your roadmap.

What typically surfaces during this audit? Most brands discover shocking gaps. A SaaS company might rank first on Google for “customer retention software” but never appear in AI responses for the same query. That disconnect reveals exactly where your AEO strategy needs focus.

Track these specific metrics:

• Citation frequency per platform

• Context of mentions (recommended, compared, referenced)

• Competitor citation patterns

• Content formats that generate citations

  
  

Create a simple spreadsheet tracking query, platform, cited brands, and citation type. Patterns emerge quickly. You’ll notice certain competitors dominating specific query types or platforms favoring particular content structures.

Step 2: define measurable AEO objectives

Vague goals produce vague results. “Increase AI visibility” means nothing without specifics. Instead, set targets like “Achieve 40% citation rate for product-category queries on Perplexity within 90 days.”

How should these objectives connect to real business outcomes? If you’re launching a new feature, target citations in comparison queries. Building thought leadership? Focus on educational query citations. Each goal requires different tactics.

We recommend this framework:

1. Choose 3-5 priority query categories

2. Set platform-specific citation targets

3. Define acceptable citation contexts

4. Establish monitoring frequency

5. Create improvement thresholds

   
   

Step 3: structure content for AI comprehension

AI engines don’t read content like humans do. They parse, extract, and synthesize. Your content structure determines whether you become a citation or get ignored.

Here’s what works consistently:

Question-answer pairs: Structure sections as direct Q&As. “What is customer churn?” followed by a concise, authoritative answer increases citation probability by 40%.

Numbered processes: Step-by-step guides with clear numbering get extracted wholesale into AI responses. Keep steps under 50 words each.

Comparison tables: When users ask for comparisons, AI engines pull from structured data. Tables with clear headers and concise cells become instant citations.

Definition blocks: Start sections with one-sentence definitions. AI engines love extractable definitions they can quote directly.

What’s the ideal format? In my experience, the sweet spot is 2-3 sentence answers to specific questions, followed by supporting detail. AI engines grab the concise answer while linking to your full content.

Step 4: optimize brand entity recognition

Your brand needs consistent representation across the internet. Not just your website. Everywhere.

Entity recognition happens when AI engines connect mentions across platforms to build understanding of what your brand represents. Inconsistent naming, descriptions, or attributes create confusion that reduces citation potential.

Start with these fundamentals:

• Standardize brand name usage (including capitalization and spacing)

• Create consistent taglines and descriptions

• Maintain uniform product/service naming

• Update all platform profiles simultaneously

• Implement organization schema markup

  
  

Want proof this matters? We tracked one client who had seven variations of their company description across different platforms. After standardization, their AI citations increased 180% in two months. Consistency matters more than creativity here.

Step 5: build authoritative off-page signals

Backlinks still matter, but unlinked brand mentions now carry equal weight for AI citation algorithms. When authoritative sites discuss your brand naturally, AI engines notice.

Focus on earning mentions in:

• Industry publications and trade journals

• Academic papers and research reports

• Government and educational resources

• High-authority news sites

• Specialized forums and communities

  
  

Why does Reddit deserve special attention? AI engines heavily weight Reddit discussions for authenticity signals. Genuine participation in relevant subreddits, answering questions, and sharing expertise builds the contextual mentions AI engines value.

But here’s what most miss: citation context matters more than volume. Five mentions in authoritative, relevant sources outweigh fifty mentions in generic directories.

Step 6: implement comprehensive schema markup

Schema markup is your direct line to AI comprehension. It’s the difference between hoping AI understands your content and guaranteeing it.

Essential schema types for AEO:

• Organization: Defines your brand entity clearly

• FAQ: Makes Q&As instantly parseable

• Article: Structures your content logically

• Product: Clarifies offerings and features

• Review: Validates social proof

  
  

How much difference does this really make? According to recent Semrush research on schema markup, pages with proper schema markup see 40% higher AI citation rates than those without. Yet only 30% of sites implement schema correctly.

Step 7: monitor and iterate based on data

AEO isn’t set-and-forget. AI algorithms evolve weekly. What generates citations today might not tomorrow.

Track these metrics religiously:

• Citation frequency by query type

• Citation context and sentiment

• Competitor citation changes

• Platform-specific performance

• Content format effectiveness

  
  

We use automated monitoring to track citation performance across platforms daily. Notice a sudden drop in citations for specific queries? Usually, it’s a competitor publishing better-structured content or AI engines updating their selection criteria.

Adjust your strategy based on patterns. If how-to content suddenly generates more citations, pivot your content calendar. If certain platforms favor video transcripts, add them to your workflow.