Definition content is king for AI citations - our 'What is X' pages get cited 3x more than anything else

Definition pages are AI gold. Here’s the structure that works.

The optimal definition page structure:

1. Title: "What is [Term]? Definition, Examples, and Guide"

2. TL;DR Definition (50-100 words)
   - One-sentence definition
   - Key characteristics
   - Why it matters

3. Expanded Explanation (300-500 words)
   - Deeper context
   - How it works
   - Historical background

4. Practical Examples (200-400 words)
   - Real-world applications
   - Specific use cases

5. Related Concepts (150-300 words)
   - Connected terms
   - How they differ

6. Common Misconceptions (150-250 words)
   - What people get wrong
   - Clarifications

7. FAQ Section (5-10 questions)
   - Common follow-up questions
   - Direct answers

8. Summary/Key Takeaways
   - Bullet points
   - Citable facts

Why this structure works for AI:

• TL;DR gives immediate citable answer
• FAQ catches follow-up queries
• Structured sections easy to extract
• Comprehensive coverage signals authority

The FAQ section is secret weapon of definition pages.

Why FAQs crush for AI:

AI systems love Q&A format because:

• Perfect for extracting answers
• Matches natural query patterns
• Easy to cite directly

FAQ development process:

1. Research “what is [term]” queries
2. Check “People Also Ask” boxes
3. Review related searches
4. Mine customer support questions
5. Test AI systems - What do they get wrong?

FAQ structure for AI:

<h3>Is [term] the same as [related term]?</h3>
<p>No, [term] and [related term] differ in [key way].
While [term] [description], [related term] [different description].</p>

Direct, specific answers win.

Our results:

Definition pages without FAQ: 25% AI citation rate Definition pages with FAQ: 45% AI citation rate

The glossary approach to definition content:

Individual pages vs. glossary:

The hybrid approach:

1. Glossary hub page - Links to all definitions
2. Individual definition pages - For high-priority terms
3. Glossary entries - For lower-priority terms

Internal linking:

Every definition page links to:

• Related definitions
• Practical how-to content
• Product/service pages

The authority signal:

A comprehensive glossary says “we know this industry deeply.”

AI sees:

“This site has defined 200+ industry terms. They’re probably authoritative.”

Technical content definition strategies:

The challenge:

Technical terms need precision. But AI also needs accessibility.

The balance:

Definition page structure for technical content:

1. Simple definition (one sentence, no jargon)
2. Why it matters (practical relevance)
3. Technical definition (precise language)
4. How it works (mechanics)
5. Code examples (if applicable)
6. Common implementations (real examples)

AI optimization:

AI cites both simple and technical definitions depending on query context.

Having both levels means you get cited for:

• “What is X?” (simple)
• “How does X work technically?” (technical)

Measuring definition page performance:

The metrics that matter:

Tracking with Am I Cited:

For each definition page, track:

• Which AI platforms cite it
• Which queries trigger citations
• Citation context (how it’s used)

What we learned:

Our best definition pages:

• 45% AI citation rate
• Cited by all major platforms
• Drive traffic to 3+ related pages

Worst definition pages:

• Too long before getting to definition
• No FAQ section
• Poor structure

The optimization cycle:

Monitor → Identify weak pages → Improve structure → Measure again

Perfect insights. Here’s my definition content framework:

The Definition Page Blueprint:

Structure:

1. Direct definition (first 50 words)
2. Expanded context (300-500 words)
3. Examples (200-400 words)
4. Related concepts (150-300 words)
5. FAQ (5-10 questions)
6. Summary with citable facts

Term identification:

Priority sources:

• Search volume data
• Customer questions
• Industry jargon
• Competitor gaps

Implementation approach:

Why 3x citation rate:

Definition pages match AI’s core function - answering “what is” questions. By being THE answer, you get cited constantly.

Action plan:

1. Audit existing definition content
2. Identify 20-30 priority terms
3. Create pages using optimal structure
4. Add FAQ sections to all
5. Monitor with Am I Cited
6. Expand based on performance

The payoff:

12% of content driving 38% of citations = high ROI. Double down on definitions.

Thanks everyone!