diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json index 9d4b4f2..85862ca 100644 --- a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json +++ b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json @@ -12,12 +12,13 @@ "plugins": [ { "name": "marketing-skills", - "description": "27 marketing skills for technical marketers and founders: CRO, copywriting, cold email, SEO, paid ads, ad creative, pricing strategy, referral programs, and more", + "description": "28 marketing skills for technical marketers and founders: CRO, copywriting, cold email, SEO, AI SEO, paid ads, ad creative, pricing strategy, referral programs, and more", "source": "./", "strict": false, "skills": [ "./skills/ab-test-setup", "./skills/ad-creative", + "./skills/ai-seo", "./skills/analytics-tracking", "./skills/cold-email", "./skills/competitor-alternatives", diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index c02313d..8026273 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Skills are markdown files that give AI agents specialized knowledge and workflow |-------|-------------| | [ab-test-setup](skills/ab-test-setup/) | When the user wants to plan, design, or implement an A/B test or experiment. Also use when the user mentions "A/B... | | [ad-creative](skills/ad-creative/) | When the user wants to generate, iterate, or scale ad creative — headlines, descriptions, primary text, or full ad... | +| [ai-seo](skills/ai-seo/) | When the user wants to optimize content for AI search engines, get cited by LLMs, or appear in AI-generated answers... | | [analytics-tracking](skills/analytics-tracking/) | When the user wants to set up, improve, or audit analytics tracking and measurement. Also use when the user mentions... | | [cold-email](skills/cold-email/) | Write B2B cold emails and follow-up sequences that get replies. Use when the user wants to write cold outreach emails,... | | [competitor-alternatives](skills/competitor-alternatives/) | When the user wants to create competitor comparison or alternative pages for SEO and sales enablement. Also use when... | @@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ You can also invoke skills directly: ### SEO & Discovery - `seo-audit` - Technical and on-page SEO +- `ai-seo` - AI search optimization (AEO, GEO, LLMO) - `programmatic-seo` - Scaled page generation - `competitor-alternatives` - Comparison and alternative pages - `schema-markup` - Structured data diff --git a/VERSIONS.md b/VERSIONS.md index f5373f1..2d99ed3 100644 --- a/VERSIONS.md +++ b/VERSIONS.md @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Current versions of all skills. Agents can compare against local versions to che |-------|---------|--------------| | ab-test-setup | 1.0.0 | 2026-01-27 | | ad-creative | 1.0.0 | 2026-02-17 | +| ai-seo | 1.0.0 | 2026-02-18 | | analytics-tracking | 1.0.0 | 2026-01-27 | | cold-email | 1.0.0 | 2026-02-14 | | competitor-alternatives | 1.0.0 | 2026-01-27 | @@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ Current versions of all skills. Agents can compare against local versions to che ## Recent Changes +### 2026-02-18 +- Added `ai-seo` skill for AI search optimization (AEO, GEO, LLMO, AI Overviews) +- Moved AEO/GEO content patterns from `seo-audit` references to `ai-seo` skill + ### 2026-02-17 - Added `ad-creative` skill for bulk ad creative generation and performance-based iteration - Added 51 zero-dependency CLI tools for marketing platforms (`tools/clis/`) diff --git a/skills/ai-seo/SKILL.md b/skills/ai-seo/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6902dc8 --- /dev/null +++ b/skills/ai-seo/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,363 @@ +--- +name: ai-seo +description: "When the user wants to optimize content for AI search engines, get cited by LLMs, or appear in AI-generated answers. Also use when the user mentions 'AI SEO,' 'AEO,' 'GEO,' 'LLMO,' 'answer engine optimization,' 'generative engine optimization,' 'LLM optimization,' 'AI Overviews,' 'optimize for ChatGPT,' 'optimize for Perplexity,' 'AI citations,' 'AI visibility,' or 'zero-click search.' This skill covers content optimization for AI answer engines, monitoring AI visibility, and getting cited as a source. For traditional technical and on-page SEO audits, see seo-audit. For structured data implementation, see schema-markup." +metadata: + version: 1.0.0 +--- + +# AI SEO + +You are an expert in AI search optimization — the practice of making content discoverable, extractable, and citable by AI systems including Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. Your goal is to help users get their content cited as a source in AI-generated answers. + +## Before Starting + +**Check for product marketing context first:** +If `.claude/product-marketing-context.md` exists, read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task. + +Gather this context (ask if not provided): + +### 1. Current AI Visibility +- Do you know if your brand appears in AI-generated answers today? +- Have you checked ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews for your key queries? +- What queries matter most to your business? + +### 2. Content & Domain +- What type of content do you produce? (Blog, docs, comparisons, product pages) +- What's your domain authority / traditional SEO strength? +- Do you have existing structured data (schema markup)? + +### 3. Goals +- Get cited as a source in AI answers? +- Appear in Google AI Overviews for specific queries? +- Compete with specific brands already getting cited? +- Optimize existing content or create new AI-optimized content? + +### 4. Competitive Landscape +- Who are your top competitors in AI search results? +- Are they being cited where you're not? + +--- + +## How AI Search Works + +### The AI Search Landscape + +| Platform | How It Works | Source Selection | +|----------|-------------|----------------| +| **Google AI Overviews** | Summarizes top-ranking pages | Strong correlation with traditional rankings | +| **ChatGPT (with search)** | Searches web, cites sources | Draws from wider range, not just top-ranked | +| **Perplexity** | Always cites sources with links | Favors authoritative, recent, well-structured content | +| **Gemini** | Google's AI assistant | Pulls from Google index + Knowledge Graph | +| **Copilot** | Bing-powered AI search | Bing index + authoritative sources | +| **Claude** | No live search (web search when enabled) | Training data + search results when available | + +### Key Difference from Traditional SEO + +Traditional SEO gets you ranked. AI SEO gets you **cited**. + +In traditional search, you need to rank on page 1. In AI search, a well-structured page can get cited even if it ranks on page 2 or 3 — AI systems select sources based on content quality, structure, and relevance, not just rank position. + +**Critical stats:** +- AI Overviews appear in ~45% of Google searches +- AI Overviews reduce clicks to websites by up to 58% +- Brands are 6.5x more likely to be cited via third-party sources than their own domains +- Optimized content gets cited 3x more often than non-optimized +- Statistics and citations boost visibility by 40%+ across queries + +--- + +## AI Visibility Audit + +Before optimizing, assess your current AI search presence. + +### Step 1: Check AI Answers for Your Key Queries + +Test 10-20 of your most important queries across platforms: + +| Query | Google AI Overview | ChatGPT | Perplexity | You Cited? | Competitors Cited? | +|-------|:-----------------:|:-------:|:----------:|:----------:|:-----------------:| +| [query 1] | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | [who] | +| [query 2] | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | [who] | + +**Query types to test:** +- "What is [your product category]?" +- "Best [product category] for [use case]" +- "[Your brand] vs [competitor]" +- "How to [problem your product solves]" +- "[Your product category] pricing" + +### Step 2: Analyze Citation Patterns + +When your competitors get cited and you don't, examine: +- **Content structure** — Is their content more extractable? +- **Authority signals** — Do they have more citations, stats, expert quotes? +- **Freshness** — Is their content more recently updated? +- **Schema markup** — Do they have structured data you're missing? +- **Third-party presence** — Are they cited via Wikipedia, Reddit, review sites? + +### Step 3: Content Extractability Check + +For each priority page, verify: + +| Check | Pass/Fail | +|-------|-----------| +| Clear definition in first paragraph? | | +| Self-contained answer blocks (work without surrounding context)? | | +| Statistics with sources cited? | | +| Comparison tables for "[X] vs [Y]" queries? | | +| FAQ section with natural-language questions? | | +| Schema markup (FAQ, HowTo, Article, Product)? | | +| Expert attribution (author name, credentials)? | | +| Recently updated (within 6 months)? | | +| Heading structure matches query patterns? | | + +--- + +## Optimization Strategy + +### The Three Pillars + +``` +1. Structure (make it extractable) +2. Authority (make it citable) +3. Presence (be where AI looks) +``` + +### Pillar 1: Structure — Make Content Extractable + +AI systems extract passages, not pages. Every key claim should work as a standalone statement. + +**Content block patterns:** +- **Definition blocks** for "What is X?" queries +- **Step-by-step blocks** for "How to X" queries +- **Comparison tables** for "X vs Y" queries +- **Pros/cons blocks** for evaluation queries +- **FAQ blocks** for common questions +- **Statistic blocks** with cited sources + +For detailed templates for each block type, see [references/content-patterns.md](references/content-patterns.md). + +**Structural rules:** +- Lead every section with a direct answer (don't bury it) +- Keep key answer passages to 40-60 words (optimal for snippet extraction) +- Use H2/H3 headings that match how people phrase queries +- Tables beat prose for comparison content +- Numbered lists beat paragraphs for process content +- Each paragraph should convey one clear idea + +### Pillar 2: Authority — Make Content Citable + +AI systems prefer sources they can trust. Build citation-worthiness: + +**Statistics and data** (40%+ citation boost) +- Include specific numbers with sources +- Cite original research, not summaries of research +- Add dates to all statistics +- Original data beats aggregated data + +**Expert attribution** (25-30% citation boost) +- Named authors with credentials +- Expert quotes with titles and organizations +- "According to [Source]" framing for claims +- Author bios with relevant expertise + +**Freshness signals** +- "Last updated: [date]" prominently displayed +- Regular content refreshes (quarterly minimum for competitive topics) +- Current year references and recent statistics +- Remove or update outdated information + +**E-E-A-T alignment** +- First-hand experience demonstrated +- Specific, detailed information (not generic) +- Transparent sourcing and methodology +- Clear author expertise for the topic + +### Pillar 3: Presence — Be Where AI Looks + +AI systems don't just cite your website — they cite where you appear. + +**Third-party sources matter more than your own site:** +- Wikipedia mentions (7.8% of all ChatGPT citations) +- Reddit discussions (1.8% of ChatGPT citations) +- Industry publications and guest posts +- Review sites (G2, Capterra, TrustRadius for B2B SaaS) +- YouTube (frequently cited by Google AI Overviews) +- Quora answers + +**Actions:** +- Ensure your Wikipedia page is accurate and current +- Participate authentically in Reddit communities +- Get featured in industry roundups and comparison articles +- Maintain updated profiles on relevant review platforms +- Create YouTube content for key how-to queries +- Answer relevant Quora questions with depth + +### Schema Markup for AI + +Structured data helps AI systems understand your content. Key schemas: + +| Content Type | Schema | Why It Helps | +|-------------|--------|-------------| +| Articles/Blog posts | `Article`, `BlogPosting` | Author, date, topic identification | +| How-to content | `HowTo` | Step extraction for process queries | +| FAQs | `FAQPage` | Direct Q&A extraction | +| Products | `Product` | Pricing, features, reviews | +| Comparisons | `ItemList` | Structured comparison data | +| Reviews | `Review`, `AggregateRating` | Trust signals | +| Organization | `Organization` | Entity recognition | + +Content with proper schema shows 30-40% higher AI visibility. For implementation, use the **schema-markup** skill. + +--- + +## Content Types That Get Cited Most + +Not all content is equally citable. Prioritize these formats: + +| Content Type | Citation Share | Why AI Cites It | +|-------------|:------------:|----------------| +| **Comparison articles** | ~33% | Structured, balanced, high-intent | +| **Definitive guides** | ~15% | Comprehensive, authoritative | +| **Original research/data** | ~12% | Unique, citable statistics | +| **Best-of/listicles** | ~10% | Clear structure, entity-rich | +| **Product pages** | ~10% | Specific details AI can extract | +| **How-to guides** | ~8% | Step-by-step structure | +| **Opinion/analysis** | ~10% | Expert perspective, quotable | + +**Underperformers for AI citation:** +- Generic blog posts without structure +- Thin product pages with marketing fluff +- Gated content (AI can't access it) +- Content without dates or author attribution +- PDF-only content (harder for AI to parse) + +--- + +## Monitoring AI Visibility + +### What to Track + +| Metric | What It Measures | How to Check | +|--------|-----------------|-------------| +| AI Overview presence | Do AI Overviews appear for your queries? | Manual check or Semrush/Ahrefs | +| Brand citation rate | How often you're cited in AI answers | AI visibility tools (see below) | +| Share of AI voice | Your citations vs. competitors | Peec AI, Otterly, ZipTie | +| Citation sentiment | How AI describes your brand | Manual review + monitoring tools | +| Source attribution | Which of your pages get cited | Track referral traffic from AI sources | + +### AI Visibility Monitoring Tools + +| Tool | Coverage | Best For | +|------|----------|----------| +| **Otterly AI** | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews | Share of AI voice tracking | +| **Peec AI** | ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Copilot+ | Multi-platform monitoring at scale | +| **ZipTie** | Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity | Brand mention + sentiment tracking | +| **LLMrefs** | ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, Gemini | SEO keyword → AI visibility mapping | + +### DIY Monitoring (No Tools) + +Monthly manual check: +1. Pick your top 20 queries +2. Run each through ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google +3. Record: Are you cited? Who is? What page? +4. Log in a spreadsheet, track month-over-month + +--- + +## AI SEO for Different Content Types + +### SaaS Product Pages + +**Goal:** Get cited in "What is [category]?" and "Best [category]" queries. + +**Optimize:** +- Clear product description in first paragraph (what it does, who it's for) +- Feature comparison tables (you vs. category, not just competitors) +- Specific metrics ("processes 10,000 transactions/sec" not "blazing fast") +- Customer count or social proof with numbers +- Pricing transparency (AI cites pages with visible pricing) +- FAQ section addressing common buyer questions + +### Blog Content + +**Goal:** Get cited as an authoritative source on topics in your space. + +**Optimize:** +- One clear target query per post (match heading to query) +- Definition in first paragraph for "What is" queries +- Original data, research, or expert quotes +- "Last updated" date visible +- Author bio with relevant credentials +- Internal links to related product/feature pages + +### Comparison/Alternative Pages + +**Goal:** Get cited in "[X] vs [Y]" and "Best [X] alternatives" queries. + +**Optimize:** +- Structured comparison tables (not just prose) +- Fair and balanced (AI penalizes obviously biased comparisons) +- Specific criteria with ratings or scores +- Updated pricing and feature data +- Cite the competitor-alternatives skill for building these pages + +### Documentation / Help Content + +**Goal:** Get cited in "How to [X] with [your product]" queries. + +**Optimize:** +- Step-by-step format with numbered lists +- Code examples where relevant +- HowTo schema markup +- Screenshots with descriptive alt text +- Clear prerequisites and expected outcomes + +--- + +## Common Mistakes + +- **Ignoring AI search entirely** — ~45% of Google searches now show AI Overviews, and ChatGPT/Perplexity are growing fast +- **Treating AI SEO as separate from SEO** — Good traditional SEO is the foundation; AI SEO adds structure and authority on top +- **Writing for AI, not humans** — If content reads like it was written to game an algorithm, it won't get cited or convert +- **No freshness signals** — Undated content loses to dated content. Always show when content was last updated +- **Gating all content** — AI can't access gated content. Keep your most authoritative content open +- **Ignoring third-party presence** — You may get more AI citations from a Wikipedia mention than from your own blog +- **No structured data** — Schema markup gives AI systems structured context about your content +- **Generic content without data** — "We're the best" won't get cited. "Our customers see 3x improvement in [metric]" will +- **Forgetting to monitor** — You can't improve what you don't measure. Check AI visibility monthly at minimum + +--- + +## Tool Integrations + +For implementation, see the [tools registry](../../tools/REGISTRY.md). + +| Tool | Use For | +|------|---------| +| `semrush` | AI Overview tracking, keyword research, content gap analysis | +| `ahrefs` | Backlink analysis, content explorer, AI Overview data | +| `gsc` | Search Console performance data, query tracking | +| `ga4` | Referral traffic from AI sources | + +--- + +## Task-Specific Questions + +1. What are your top 10-20 most important queries? +2. Have you checked if AI answers exist for those queries today? +3. Do you have structured data (schema markup) on your site? +4. What content types do you publish? (Blog, docs, comparisons, etc.) +5. Are competitors being cited by AI where you're not? +6. Do you have a Wikipedia page or presence on review sites? + +--- + +## Related Skills + +- **seo-audit**: For traditional technical and on-page SEO audits +- **schema-markup**: For implementing structured data that helps AI understand your content +- **content-strategy**: For planning what content to create +- **competitor-alternatives**: For building comparison pages that get cited +- **programmatic-seo**: For building SEO pages at scale +- **copywriting**: For writing content that's both human-readable and AI-extractable diff --git a/skills/seo-audit/references/aeo-geo-patterns.md b/skills/ai-seo/references/content-patterns.md similarity index 100% rename from skills/seo-audit/references/aeo-geo-patterns.md rename to skills/ai-seo/references/content-patterns.md diff --git a/skills/content-strategy/SKILL.md b/skills/content-strategy/SKILL.md index 30652fd..cc1bd00 100644 --- a/skills/content-strategy/SKILL.md +++ b/skills/content-strategy/SKILL.md @@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ Visual or structured representation of how content interconnects. - **copywriting**: For writing individual content pieces - **seo-audit**: For technical SEO and on-page optimization +- **ai-seo**: For optimizing content for AI search engines and getting cited by LLMs - **programmatic-seo**: For scaled content generation - **email-sequence**: For email-based content - **social-content**: For social media content diff --git a/skills/schema-markup/SKILL.md b/skills/schema-markup/SKILL.md index 17c59eb..bd61598 100644 --- a/skills/schema-markup/SKILL.md +++ b/skills/schema-markup/SKILL.md @@ -174,4 +174,5 @@ You can combine multiple schema types on one page using `@graph`: ## Related Skills - **seo-audit**: For overall SEO including schema review +- **ai-seo**: For AI search optimization (schema helps AI understand content) - **programmatic-seo**: For templated schema at scale diff --git a/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md b/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md index c378638..fe14acf 100644 --- a/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md +++ b/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md @@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ Same format as above ## References - [AI Writing Detection](references/ai-writing-detection.md): Common AI writing patterns to avoid (em dashes, overused phrases, filler words) -- [AEO & GEO Patterns](references/aeo-geo-patterns.md): Content patterns optimized for answer engines and AI citation +- For AI search optimization (AEO, GEO, LLMO, AI Overviews), see the **ai-seo** skill --- @@ -404,6 +404,7 @@ Same format as above ## Related Skills +- **ai-seo**: For optimizing content for AI search engines (AEO, GEO, LLMO) - **programmatic-seo**: For building SEO pages at scale - **schema-markup**: For implementing structured data - **page-cro**: For optimizing pages for conversion (not just ranking)