Direct Answer Blocks: The Complete AEO Writing Guide

Start with an H1 that poses the core question: 'What is X?' or 'How do I Y?'. Follow with a single paragraph of 40-60 words that directly answers the question. Include the what, who, and how in plain language. Avoid superlatives like 'amazing', 'world-class', 'revolutionary'. Be specific and factual. Include one concrete number or detail if possible. The answer must stand alone—no clicking required to understand.

H1: What is [Product Name]? Direct Answer: [Product Name] is a project management tool for software teams. Unlike Asana, it includes built-in time tracking and sprint planning. It integrates with Jira, GitHub, and Slack. Plans start at $12 per user per month with a 14-day free trial. The answer covers what, who, how, differentiator, integration, and price in 47 words.

H1: What services does [Agency] provide? Direct Answer: [Agency] provides SEO and content marketing services for B2B SaaS companies. Core services include technical SEO audits, blog content production, and link building. Clients typically see organic traffic increases of 50-150% within 6 months. Projects range from $5,000 to $25,000 monthly. Specific services, measurable outcomes, and pricing transparency.

H1: How to optimize for AI search? Direct Answer: To optimize for AI search, add FAQPage schema to Q&A content, write 40-60 word direct answers at the top of pages, include Organization schema on your homepage, allow AI crawlers in robots.txt, and demonstrate E-E-A-T through author credentials and citations. Start with an audit to identify gaps. Five actionable steps with clear priority.

DO use plain language. DO be specific and factual. DO include numbers and data. DO answer the question directly without preamble. DO keep sentences under 20 words. DON'T use marketing superlatives. DON'T bury the answer in narrative. DON'T use jargon without explanation. DON'T write more than 60 words. DON'T require clicking to understand.

Homepage: Answer 'What does [Company] do?'. Product pages: Answer 'What is [Product]?'. Service pages: Answer 'What services do you offer?'. Pricing page: Answer 'How much does it cost?'. About page: Answer 'Who is [Company]?'. FAQ pages: Each Q&A is a direct answer. Blog posts: Start with a summary that answers the post's core question.

ChatGPT prefers Wikipedia-style answers: neutral tone, comprehensive coverage, encyclopedic format. Perplexity favors fresh, news-style answers with recent data and current examples. Google AI Overviews work well with concise, bulleted answers that directly respond to the query. Claude appreciates nuanced answers that acknowledge complexity. Tailor your direct answer format to your target platforms.