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72% of all content cited by AI search engines has one thing in common.
It's not backlinks. It's not domain authority. It's a simple way to structure your content that takes about five minutes to implement.
And this isn't just theory from some research paper. Our community members are getting real results with this. They're getting cited by Google AI Overviews in Ireland. They're seeing more impressions and clicks. One member even had ChatGPT recommend them as "the best option in America" for a mortgage - and they closed that client the next day.
So how the hell does this work?
Traffic Is Down. But That's Not Necessarily Bad News.
Let's be honest - traffic is down for everyone.
HubSpot was one of the most trafficked websites in the world. Their blog traffic dropped by 80% in 10 months. They went from 24.4 million organic visits in March 2023 to just 6.1 million by January 2025.
If that can happen to HubSpot, it can happen to anyone.
But here's the thing - this isn't necessarily a death sentence if you understand what's happening.
We've entered what I call the citation economy. Clicks aren't as valuable as they used to be, but citations are extremely valuable. If you're not cited by the AI search engines, you're essentially invisible.
And whilst overall traffic is down, the traffic you CAN get from AI search engines - if you understand this strategy - converts significantly better:
- Ahrefs found that AI search visitors convert 23 times better than traditional search visitors
- Semrush's research shows AI search visitors are 4.4x more valuable on average
- Seer Interactive's case study found ChatGPT traffic converted at 15.9% compared to Google organic at 1.76%
Less traffic, but way better quality. I can work with that.
Before We Go Further: You Still Need Valuable Content
I want to make one thing very clear before we get into the technique.
This strategy by itself isn't enough. You need good content along with it.
Google gives you very blase examples of what "good content" means. So let me give you some structured fundamentals:
What makes content valuable:
- Updated data - Original statistics, research, or synthesized information that's easier to understand
- Clear opinions backed by data - Don't just state facts, have a perspective
- Practical explanations - Show people how to actually do something
- Original workflows - Maybe you've built automations or found tools that help you work better
- Personal experience - Case studies, things you've learned throughout your career
That last one tends to work the best. Real experience is something AI can't easily replicate.
Once those fundamentals are done, we can move into the technique.
The Capsule Content Method
Fancy name, but very easy execution.
The technique can be encapsulated in three main things:
1. Write Short Answers (Around 150 Characters)
Under every heading that asks a question, write a brief answer - about 30-50 words or roughly 150 characters.
According to Search Engine Land's study of 8,000 AI citations, 72% of pages cited by ChatGPT had an answer capsule present. It's the single most consistent predictor of AI citation.
2. Zero Links in That First Answer
Keep that initial answer clean. No links, no references - just a direct, confident answer.
This makes it a lot easier for the AI to extract and cite that paragraph.
3. Answer First, Explain Later
Essentially, you want to answer the question right away, then provide more context and depth afterward.
Really, to make it simple, keep one question in mind when you're writing:
"Can someone understand this paragraph without reading anything else on the page?"
Is this paragraph encapsulated by itself? Can the AI just grab it and use it as a source?
Bad Example vs Good Example
Let's say you're writing a blog post about SEO and you have an H2 asking "What is Technical SEO?"
Bad Example (The Way Most People Write)
"In today's digital landscape, businesses are increasingly looking for ways to improve their online presence. SEO has evolved significantly over the years, and in this comprehensive guide we'll explore..."
Way too long. No direct answer. AI is going to skip right over this.
Good Example (The Capsule Method)
"Technical SEO is the process of optimizing your website's infrastructure so that search engines can crawl, index, and rank your pages effectively."
Done. That's the answer right there in the first sentence. Now you can elaborate with more detail below it.
Real-World Proof This Works
You've probably read content structured this way - you just didn't notice it.
When I Googled in AI mode "what is the best way to write content that will get cited by AI search engines?", the most cited source was this article from Semrush.
Looking at that content through the lens of the capsule content technique:
The first H2 asks: "What is AI search and why should I care?"
And right below that: "AI search engines use large language models to generate complex answers using trusted content from the web. Instead of showing a list of links like traditional search engines, AI search engines deliver a single synthesized response."
They answered that right away, then gave more information.
This makes it extremely easy for AI to cite that as a source.
The Statistics Back This Up
The research supports this approach:
- Content structure matters: Pages using 120-180 words between headings receive 70% more ChatGPT citations than pages with sections under 50 words
- Self-contained answers win: AI prioritizes passages that fully answer queries in 134-167 word self-contained units
- Question-based headings boost citations: Using question-format headings and FAQ sections significantly increases your chances of being cited
- Original insights matter: Content containing information not easily found elsewhere is the second-strongest differentiator for cited pages
- Fresh content gets more citations: Content updated in the past three months averages 6 citations versus 3.6 for outdated pages
How to Rewrite Your Existing Content (Without Taking Ages)
Here's the process I use:
Step 1: Use the Prompt
I've created a prompt that analyzes your content for "capsule readiness." You can use it with ChatGPT, Perplexity, or any LLM with internet access.
The prompt will:
- Give you a citation readiness score
- Analyze each section of your content
- Show you which headings should be reformatted as questions
- Provide suggested rewrites for your answer capsules
Step 2: Check the Criteria
The prompt will tell you things like:
- Does this content have answer capsules present?
- Are headings formatted as questions?
- Are there clear structured lists?
- Is there original data or insights?
Step 3: Rewrite Your H2s as Questions
This is where the magic happens.
Current H2: "Retirement Investment Vehicle Overview"
Suggested Rewrite: "What Are the Main Retirement Investment Vehicles?"
Simple change. Drastic positive consequences.
Step 4: Add the Answer Capsule
Current opening: "When it comes to stacking cash for those golden years, you've got solid options on the table."
Capsule rewrite: "IRAs, 401k plans, and annuities are the primary retirement investment vehicles that help you grow and protect your savings."
Gets right to the point. Now you can add the conversational tone and additional detail below it.
This isn't about changing your tone of voice or completely rewriting everything. Just keep that one question in mind: can this be understood and cited as a standalone answer?
Where to Start: Find Your Second-Page Content
If you've got a bunch of content on your website, you might be wondering where to begin.
Here's the strategy: find all the pages or blog posts ranking on the second page of Google.
How to Find These Pages:
- Go to Google Search Console
- Navigate to Performance
- Make sure Average Position is selected
- Filter to show pages ranking between positions 8-20
These are your golden opportunities. This content is already in Google's database - it's just not ranking well enough.
The reason I target second-page content:
- It's already indexed
- Google already sees it as relevant to the query
- A small improvement can push it to page one
- Page one content has a much higher chance of being cited by AI
According to research, 76.1% of URLs cited in AI Overviews also rank in the top 10 of Google search results. Get to page one first, then watch the AI citations follow.
Community Results
This stuff actually works. Our community members are seeing real results:
Tim Armstrong had a client closing a mortgage deal directly from a ChatGPT recommendation. The customer came in saying "ChatGPT told me you might be the best option in America for this." That wasn't even a click - it was GPT practically handing the client a lead because good on-site SEO was done.

Members in Ireland are getting cited in Google AI Overviews after implementing just a fraction of this strategy.
William Moon, a financial advisor in Arizona, went from nearly zero clicks despite ranking #1, to closing a $165,000 retirement planning client after optimizing his content structure. His CTR went from 0.3% to 2.3% - a 7x increase.
The Bottom Line
The citation economy is here. Traffic is down across the board, but the brands getting cited in AI Overviews are seeing 35% higher organic CTR and 91% higher paid CTR compared to non-cited brands.
The Capsule Content Method is straightforward:
- Format your H2s as questions
- Answer in the first 150 characters (30-50 words)
- Keep that answer clean - no links
- Then elaborate with more detail, examples, and context
It takes about five minutes to implement per section. The results can be dramatic.
Remember: This doesn't replace good SEO fundamentals. You still need valuable content, proper on-site optimization, and everything else that makes a website trustworthy.
GEO without SEO is like trying to swim butterfly without learning to swim first. Get the fundamentals right, then structure your content so AI can actually cite you.
Next Steps
Want to dive deeper into AI search optimization? Here are some resources:
- How to Do SEO for SearchGPT - A complete guide to optimizing for AI search engines
- SEO in the Age of AI: Why Your Clicks Are Disappearing - Understanding the shift to zero-click searches
- Turn Claude 4 Into Your Own Personal SEO Assistant - How to build AI-powered SEO workflows
And if you want more hands-on support with live Q&A calls where I can look at your website and give you specific advice, consider joining the AI Ranking Skool community.





