FAQ Page Template for AI Citation

FAQ pages have the highest citation correlation of any content type in AI search. When a user asks a direct question, AI engines look for content structured as question-and-answer pairs and FAQ schema tells them exactly where to find it. This template gives you the structure and the schema.

Why FAQ Pages Work for AEO

FAQ pages succeed in AI search for three reasons:

1. Format alignment: AI engines are question-answering systems. FAQ pages are structured as questions and answers. The format match is perfect.
2. Schema support: FAQPage schema is one of the few structured data types Google has explicitly kept as a supported feature, even as they’ve deprecated others.
3. Multi-query coverage: A single FAQ page can target dozens of long-tail queries, each with its own question-and-answer pair.

The Template

Page Structure

Title: [Topic] - Frequently Asked Questions
Meta description: Find answers to common questions about [topic].
Answers cover [subtopic 1], [subtopic 2], and [subtopic 3].

H1: [Topic] FAQ

Intro paragraph (40-60 words):
Direct statement about what questions this page answers
and who it's for. Mention the topic and your expertise.

H2: [Category 1 Name]

H3: [Question 1]?
[Answer - 30-50 words direct answer, then expanded context]

H3: [Question 2]?
[Answer - 30-50 words direct answer, then expanded context]

H2: [Category 2 Name]

H3: [Question 3]?
[Answer]

...continue pattern...

Answer Format Guidelines

Each answer should follow this structure:

1. Direct answer (first sentence, 15-25 words) Answer the question completely in one sentence
2. Context (2-3 sentences) Provide relevant background or nuance
3. Specifics (optional) Add data points, examples, or next steps

Good answer example:

Q: How long does AEO take to show results?

Most sites see improved AI citation within 4-8 weeks of implementing structured data and content optimization. The timeline depends on your domain authority, content quality, and the competitiveness of your target queries. Schema markup changes tend to show results faster than content-only changes because AI engines re-process structured data more frequently.

Bad answer example:

Q: How long does AEO take to show results?

It depends on many factors. Every site is different and results vary. Contact us to learn more about timelines for your specific situation.

The first answer gives AI a specific, extractable response. The second gives AI nothing to cite.

FAQ Schema (JSON-LD)

Copy and customize this schema for your FAQ page:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Your question here?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Your answer here. Keep the schema answer concise (under 300 characters for best results) while the on-page answer can be longer."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Second question here?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Second answer here."
      }
    }
  ]
}

Schema Best Practices

• Keep schema answers concise: 30-50 words in the schema text field. The on-page answer can be longer.
• Match exactly: The schema question must match the on-page question exactly.
• No HTML in schema: Keep schema answer text plain. Use the on-page version for formatting.
• Validate: Test with Google’s Rich Results Test before publishing.
• Limit per page: 5-10 questions per page for best results. Split larger sets across multiple pages.

Question Selection Strategy

Not all questions are equal for AEO. Prioritize:

Question Type	Example	AEO Value
Definition questions	”What is [concept]?”	High - AI answers these constantly
Comparison questions	”What’s the difference between X and Y?”	High - Perfect for AI synthesis
Process questions	”How do I [action]?”	High - Matches HowTo intent
Decision questions	”Should I [choice]?”	Medium - AI often hedges on advice
Opinion questions	”What’s the best [thing]?”	Medium - Depends on authority

Where to Find Questions

• Google’s “People Also Ask:” Real user questions
• AI engines themselves: Ask ChatGPT what people ask about your topic
• Customer support tickets: Questions your customers actually ask
• Search console queries: Questions that already bring traffic
• Social media and forums: Questions asked in your community

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too many questions per page: Keep to 5-10. More dilutes the signal.
2. Vague answers: “Contact us for more information” is not an answer.
3. Missing schema: The on-page FAQ format alone isn’t enough. AI engines rely on the schema.
4. Outdated answers: Review and update quarterly at minimum.
5. No internal links: Link answers to detailed pages where relevant.

How Genrank Automates This

Genrank’s Answerability dimension specifically evaluates whether your content is structured in a way AI can extract answers. It identifies pages where FAQ schema would improve citation rates and flags questions your content implicitly answers but doesn’t structure properly.