Freelance Content Writer, SEO Blogger, Ghostwriter – squareONE

Authority was always one of the building blocks of establishing a presence on the World Wide Web

Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash

There was a time when internet search engines would display the most authoritative, legitimate-sounding article once a query was typed in. This may have been before many of you were born. Not kidding.

But then came SEO and keywords, and all of a sudden, people were gaming the system with backlinks and other sophisticated methods.

What at one time was considered an authoritative source of information, like a digital library, was all of a sudden filled with articles with titles that had to have ‘The Best’, ‘The Top 5’, etc., and readers wondered, well, according to who exactly are you the best? Which authority has placed you at no. 3 in a list of the top 5?

Structuring content for AEO

With the advancement of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), we are witnessing a gradual shift in what appears when we type in a query. Yes, most of the time you will get an authoritative article or a legitimate sounding source, not just a catchy title or clickbait.

Now, when a user types a query into an AI prompt tool, they expect an exact answer with accurate sources that are properly referenced. Not just some trashy keyword-stuffed blog article. And most of the time, they get just that. Emphasis on the word ‘most.’ Nothing is foolproof.

Now, content writers will answer specific, useful questions, such as who, what, why, and how.

Slowly, writers are returning to where it all began, researching and providing references, stating facts, and not just opinions. Taking the time to actually write an article that not only provides an answer but also sources to back it up.

It’s more about user intent rather than just placing keywords, and being ahead of the curve when it comes to different platforms that feed into AI tools like ChatGPT, like, for example, Reddit.

As I write this article, people are already trying to game the system, I bet.

But in the end, authority will always win. I am fairly certain that people are tired of clickbait and false promises, including the disappointment readers experience when they click on something only to be presented with a page filled with nothing but advertisements or opinions that are not backed by legitimate sources.

What that means for businesses is that they now have a chance to actually be the answer in an AI-generated tool if they can prove their relevance to specific user queries.

With zero traffic. That is the linchpin and key point here.

User-focused content and not rankings.

Here are five simple, quick things you can do today to transform already written content into information that is concise and AEO formatted:

1. Use questions in headings

This may seem like a simple task, but it can be time-consuming when restructuring entire pages of content. The key here is to try to mirror AI queries, so using questions instead of five to three-word headings can increase the chances of your content being featured in AI tools.

2. Use hierarchy and proper headings

The content hierarchy must be presented in a logical sequence, with information organized under relevant headings. H2 and H3 headings are important for breaking up content, and avoiding long stretches of text is crucial. The headings help to signal to the AI tool what the content is about.

3. Too Long; Didn’t Read summaries (TL;DR)

Many readers may not have time to read the entire article, and that is where TL;DR are so important. These summaries compile key points into a concise and readable format that allows readers to scan through quickly. It also helps AI tools recognize the article’s content immediately. These can even be placed at the end of certain sections to summarize the section’s content.

4. Use PAA as a guide

Google’s People Also Ask (PAA) is a great way to incorporate information about what people care about and are asking. This is a quick way to identify common questions, and then you can tailor your content accordingly. Use the exact phrases for a higher chance of becoming the answer to one of the PAA questions.

5. Don’t bury your answers

One of the hallmarks of long-winded blog articles was writing a lot about really nothing. Now, readers are not interested in lengthy introductions or conclusions; they want the answer to the question upfront and quickly. This means it’s important not to bury the answer after you ask the question. Present it within the next few lines and in a concise manner. It is okay to elaborate further after presenting the answer quickly. And also don’t write in a very formal or uptight manner, but more of a conversational tone. Examine the tone your ChatGPT tool uses, and try to replicate it.

Rounding up

There’s a lot more to this than those five easy steps, but it’s a good start for anyone trying to understand how to tailor content for AEO. Ultimately, understanding customer user intent and tailoring business information to answer customer questions will help it appear in AI-generated queries and help your content regain its relevance and authority.

Being an expert in your field or in the service or product you provide will help customers find you and lend more legitimacy, which is ultimately what every business strives for.

Originally published for AI Mind on Medium on August 27, 2025