Glossary
On-Page Optimization (for AI Search)
Editing an individual page (its structure, schema, and content) so AI engines cite it, based on the pages they already cite for a given prompt.
Definition
On-page optimization for AI search is the practice of changing one page to close the gap between it and the competitor pages AI engines actually cite for a question. Where traditional on-page SEO optimizes for keyword rankings, AI on-page optimization optimizes for retrieval and citation: adding the FAQ schema, comparison table, concrete statistics, entity mentions, freshness, or heading structure that the cited sources have and your page lacks. Because the changes are grounded in real cited pages rather than generic best practices, with each retained change quote-matched to its source, each edit maps to a specific answer you're trying to win, and what follows can be measured after you ship it.
Example
A pricing page isn't cited for "best CRM for startups." Adding a paste-ready FAQ schema block and a comparison table (the two elements every cited competitor page has) turns it into a candidate for the answer.
Related terms
Citation Gap
The difference between the content AI engines cite for a question and the content your own site offers: the specific, missing pieces that keep you out of the answer.
Schema Markup
Structured data added to your pages (in JSON-LD format) that tells search engines and LLMs exactly what your content is about.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
The practice of optimizing your brand and content so that AI answer engines cite you when users ask direct questions.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
The practice of optimizing your brand and content to be cited, recommended, and described favorably by generative AI engines.
Prompt-to-Page
Deciding what page should exist to win a specific AI prompt (a new article, an update to an existing page, a comparison, an FAQ block, or nothing) before any content is written.
Citation Readiness
A score for how likely a page is to be cited by AI engines for a target prompt, based on answer completeness, entity and statistic coverage, schema, internal linking, and source support.
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