The essentials
- The eight formats cited: definitions, criteria-based comparisons, step-by-step guides, original data and studies, FAQs, factual product pages, reviews and first-hand accounts, entity pages (about us).
- The common denominator: an extractable answer, verifiable facts, an identifiable source, a readable structure.
- What doesn't come up: promotional pages, storytelling without facts, anonymous opinion pieces, duplicated content, and anything trapped in an image or in JavaScript.
- For a small business: an honest comparison, a reference guide and a solid entity page cover the essentials.
AI assistants don't cite at random: certain content formats recur in most answers, others never appear at all. Knowing those formats lets you choose what to produce to be visible in GEO. This article describes the eight most cited formats, explains why, gives an example of each, then lists what doesn't come up and why. The shared writing rules are in structuring content for LLMs.
The eight most cited formats
| Format | Why AI cites it | Typical question | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition and glossary | An "X is…" sentence is the easiest passage to extract and attribute | "What is GEO?" | One page per term, a one-sentence definition then the detail; see GEO: definition |
| Criteria-based comparison | A readable table, explicit criteria, answers to "X or Y" and "which… should I choose" | "Semrush or Ahrefs for a small business?" | GreenRed vs Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz and HubSpot |
| Step-by-step guide | Numbered, extractable steps, answers to "how" questions | "How do I set up GA4 key events?" | A 4- to 8-step procedure with the pitfalls |
| Original data and studies | A new figure gets cited with its source; this is the format that builds authority | "What is the average click-through rate in position 3?" | An annual benchmark, an analysis of your own aggregated data |
| FAQ | Matches conversational phrasing; FAQPage markup | Any secondary question | 3 to 6 questions at the end of the page, answers of 40 to 70 words |
| A factual product or service page | Price, features, who it's for, limits: what AI needs to know to recommend you | "How much does X cost?", "Is X suitable for…?" | A page with a table of plans, prices, use cases and limits |
| Reviews and first-hand accounts | Treated as the voice of users, especially for "choosing" | "Is X reliable?" | Google reviews, review platforms, named client case studies |
| Entity page | The source of the brand's description | "Who is X?" | the "about us" page optimised for AI |
What those formats have in common
- An extractable answer: a 40- to 60-word passage that answers a question on its own, under a heading that poses it.
- Verifiable facts: figures, dates, prices, criteria — things AI can cross-check against other sources.
- An identifiable source: a named author, a described company, an update date.
- A readable structure: hierarchical headings, HTML tables, lists, marked-up FAQs; see structuring your pages for AI.
- Something of your own: a figure, an angle or an example the other sources don't have; AI is looking for what completes the picture.
What never comes up, and why
| Format | Why it isn't cited | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Promotional page, sales landing page | No extractable facts, unverifiable superlatives | Add prices, criteria, comparison, limits |
| Storytelling, manifesto, "our values" | Nothing to attribute or verify | Keep it for conversion, add a factual entity page |
| Anonymous opinion piece | No author, no sourced argument | Sign it, argue it, quantify it |
| Generic duplicated content | Says the same as ten other, better-ranked pages | Bring a figure or an angle of your own |
| Infographic, text in an image, a PDF on its own | Unreadable or badly structured for crawlers | Publish the text in HTML |
| A JavaScript page with no server-side rendering | Empty as far as most AI crawlers are concerned | Server-side or static rendering; see indexing by AI |
| Video and podcast with no transcript | No text at all | A companion page with a transcript; see getting a podcast or a video ranked |
| Short-lived news | Out of date by the time the question is asked | Complement it with an in-depth guide kept up to date |
Where a small business should start
- A solid entity page: who you are, who for, where, since when, and with what proof. It is the precondition for being described correctly.
- An honest comparison on your customers' main choice question, including your competitors, with criteria and prices. It is the most cited format on "choosing" questions.
- A reference guide on the subject where you are most legitimate, structured as questions, with figures, updated every year.
- Factual product or service pages, with prices or price ranges, use cases and limits.
- Reviews collected continuously on Google and on your sector's platform.
- One original piece of data a year, drawn from your own business and published with its method: that is what will get you cited by the media and by AI for years.
This content is measured by the citation rate on your target questions, engine by engine; see GEO KPIs and the content AI and SEO both like.
How GreenRed helps
Rather than juggling several tools, GreenRed's GEO and AI module brings these metrics together in a single dashboard, compares them over time and tells you which actions come first. You can try it free, with no card, from the Pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What type of content does ChatGPT cite most?
Definitions, criteria-based comparisons, step-by-step guides and original data, because they contain short, factual, attributable passages. On choice questions, comparisons, reviews and first-hand accounts dominate; on questions of understanding, definitions and guides do.
Does AI cite blog articles?
Yes, if they answer a specific question with facts, a clear structure and a named author. Anonymous opinion pieces, storytelling and generic content aren't cited. A blog article structured as questions, with figures and an FAQ, is cited like a guide.
Do I need to produce content specifically for AI?
No: the formats AI cites (definitions, comparisons, guides, FAQs, data) are also the ones that perform best in SEO and convert best. Produce those formats for your readers, following the rules on structure and facts; AI will follow.
Can a small business get cited alongside the media and Wikipedia?
Yes, on the specific questions in its field, where it brings a comparison, a figure or an experience the generalist sources don't have. AI looks for specialist material to complement its authority sources. A small business won't be cited to define a common term, but it will be for an honest comparison or a figure from the field.