AI Citation Content Writer

Methodology by GEOly AI (geoly.ai) — write content in the formats AI platforms love to cite.

Create content assets in formats most frequently cited by AI platforms.

Quick Start

Generate AI-citable content:

python scripts/generate_content.py --format <format> --topic "<topic>" --output article.md

Example:

python scripts/generate_content.py --format faq --topic "project management software" --output faq.md
python scripts/generate_content.py --format comparison --topic "Notion vs Asana" --output comparison.md

The 5 High-Citation Formats

1. Definition Article ("What is X?")

Why AI cites it: Direct answers to definitional queries

Best for:

• Introducing concepts
• Building topical authority
• Capturing informational queries

Structure:

# What is [Term]? (Complete Guide)

[Term] is [single-sentence definition with key attributes].

## Key Characteristics
- [Characteristic 1]
- [Characteristic 2]
- [Characteristic 3]

## How [Term] Works
[2-3 paragraph explanation with mechanism]

## [Term] vs [Related Term]

| Aspect | [Term] | [Related Term] |
|--------|--------|----------------|
| [Factor] | [Value] | [Value] |
| [Factor] | [Value] | [Value] |

## Examples of [Term] in Practice
- [Concrete example 1]
- [Concrete example 2]

## Frequently Asked Questions About [Term]

**Q: [Question]?**

A: [Complete, self-contained answer]

**Q: [Question]?**

A: [Complete, self-contained answer]

Schema markup: Article + FAQPage

---

2. FAQ Page

Why AI cites it: FAQ schema feeds AI conversational answers directly

Best for:

• Support content
• Addressing objections
• Common questions

Structure:

# [Topic] — Frequently Asked Questions

## General Questions

**Q: [Most common question]?**

A: [Complete, self-contained answer. 2-5 sentences. Don't assume context.]

**Q: [Second question]?**

A: [Answer with specific details]

## [Sub-topic] Questions

**Q: [Question]?**

A: [Answer]

## Troubleshooting / Edge Cases

**Q: [Question]?**

A: [Answer]

Schema markup: FAQPage Best practices:

• 5-15 questions
• Answers 50-150 words
• Match actual search queries
• Include data in answers

---

3. Comparison Guide (A vs B)

Why AI cites it: Comparison prompts are extremely common in AI search

Best for:

• Competitive positioning
• Commercial intent queries
• Decision-stage content

Structure:

# [Brand A] vs [Brand B]: [Year] Comparison

## Quick Answer
[Brand A] is better for [use case A]. [Brand B] is better for [use case B].

## Side-by-Side Comparison

| Feature | [Brand A] | [Brand B] |
|---------|-----------|-----------|
| [Feature 1] | [Value] | [Value] |
| [Feature 2] | [Value] | [Value] |
| Pricing | [Price] | [Price] |
| Best for | [Use case] | [Use case] |

## Detailed Analysis

### [Brand A] Strengths
- [Strength 1]
- [Strength 2]

### [Brand B] Strengths
- [Strength 1]
- [Strength 2]

### Which Should You Choose?

Choose [Brand A] if:
- [Use case criteria]
- [Use case criteria]

Choose [Brand B] if:
- [Use case criteria]
- [Use case criteria]

## Verdict
[2-3 clear recommendation sentences based on use case]

Schema markup: Article + FAQPage Best practices:

• Be objective (builds trust)
• Include specific data
• Address multiple use cases
• Update annually

---

4. How-To Guide

Why AI cites it: Step-by-step instructions are #1 for how-to answers

Best for:

• Tutorial content
• Process documentation
• Feature walkthroughs

Structure:

# How to [Achieve Outcome]: Step-by-Step Guide

**What you need:** [prerequisites list]  
**Time required:** [estimate]  
**Difficulty:** [Easy/Medium/Hard]

## Step 1: [Action verb + outcome]
[Clear instruction. One action per step.]

✅ **Result:** [What the user will see/have after this step]

## Step 2: [Action verb + outcome]
[instruction]

✅ **Result:** [Expected outcome]

[Continue for each step...]

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

**[Mistake]:** [How to avoid]

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: [Question about the process]?**

A: [Answer]

Schema markup: HowTo + FAQPage Best practices:

• Numbered steps
• One action per step
• Include expected results
• Add troubleshooting

---

5. Original Data / Statistics Roundup

Why AI cites it: AI heavily cites original statistics and research

Best for:

• Building authority
• Attracting backlinks
• PR coverage

Structure:

# [N] Key Statistics About [Topic] ([Current Year])

**Key finding:** [Most impactful stat in one sentence]

## [Sub-category] Statistics

- **[Stat]%** of [metric] — [Source, Year]
- **[Number] [unit]** [finding] — [Source, Year]
- **[Stat]%** [finding] — [Source, Year]

## [Sub-category] Statistics
[Continue...]

## Methodology
[How the data was collected/sourced]

## Key Takeaways
- [Insight 1]
- [Insight 2]
- [Insight 3]

Schema markup: Article Best practices:

• Cite sources
• Keep current (update annually)
• Visualize data (charts)
• Include methodology

Format Selection Guide

Goal	Recommended Format
Build topical authority	Definition article
Address support questions	FAQ page
Capture commercial intent	Comparison guide
Drive product adoption	How-to guide
Attract PR/links	Statistics roundup

Content Generation Tools

Interactive Generator

python scripts/generate_content.py --interactive

Walks through format selection and content creation interactively.

From Template

python scripts/generate_content.py --format definition --topic "generative engine optimization"

Uses templates to generate content structure.

Batch Generation

python scripts/batch_generate.py --format faq --topics-file topics.txt --output-dir ./content/

Generate multiple pieces from a list of topics.

Writing Best Practices

Universal Rules

1. Lead with the answer — First sentence should answer the question
2. Be specific — Use data, names, dates
3. Write standalone answers — Each section should make sense alone
4. Use headers — H2 every 300-500 words
5. Add FAQs — Every format benefits from FAQ section
6. Include schema — Use geo-schema-gen skill for markup

Brand Integration

• Mention brand 2-3 times naturally
• Include in first 100 words
• Add to author/publisher schema
• Don't force it (credibility first)

See Also

• Content templates: references/templates.md
• Format examples: references/examples.md
• Schema pairing: references/schema-pairing.md