aeo-content-free

# AEO Content Skill (Free) > **Source:** [github.com/psyduckler/aeo-skills](https://github.com/psyduckler/aeo-skills/tree/main/aeo-content-free) > **Part of:** [AEO Skills Suite](https://github.com/psyduckler/aeo-skills) — [Prompt Research](https://github.com/psyduckler/aeo-skills/tree/main/aeo-prompt-research-free) → Content → [Analytics](https://github.com/psyduckler/aeo-skills/tree/main/aeo-analytics-free) Create or refresh content that AI assistants want to cite — using zero paid APIs. ## Requirements - `web_fetch` — analyze currently-cited sources and existing content - `web_search` — find competing content (Brave free tier, optional) - LLM reasoning — research, brief, draft, and evaluate ## Mode Detection - **Create mode** — User provides a target prompt but no existing URL → write new content - **Refresh mode** — User provides an existing page URL (+ optional target prompt) → audit and update ## Input - **Target prompt** (required for create, optional for refresh) — the AI prompt this content should win - **Brand/domain** (required) — who the content is for - **Existing URL** (refresh mode) — the page to update - **Topic context** (optional) — additional info about the brand's angle - **Content type** (optional) — guide, comparison, how-to, explainer --- ## Create Mode Workflow ### Step 1: AI Landscape Research Search the target prompt and close variants to understand the current answer landscape: 1. **Web search the exact prompt** — search engines show similar sources to what AI cites 2. **`web_fetch` the top 5-10 results** — these are the pages AI models draw from 3. **`web_search` for `"[topic]" site:reddit.com`** — find real user questions and discussions For each top-ranking page, extract: - Main points and structure - Unique data, frameworks, or insights - Gaps — what they miss or get wrong - Freshness — when was it last updated? ### Step 2: Build the Content Brief Use the template in `references/content-brief-template.md` to structure research. Key decisions: - **Mandatory topics** — every sub-topic the AI currently covers in its answer - **Unique value angle** — what will this content add that no current source provides? (Most important decision.) - **Content structure** — outline with H2/H3 headings that mirror question phrasing - **Target specs** — word count, format, tone ### Step 3: Write Citation-Worthy Content Draft following citation signals from `references/citation-signals.md`. Key principles: - Lead each section with a direct, quotable 1-2 sentence answer - Use descriptive headings that match question phrasing - Include original data, frameworks, or expert perspective - Name specific tools, companies, people, statistics - Cover every sub-question the AI currently answers, then go deeper on 2-3 areas - Cut fluff — every paragraph earns its place ### Step 4: Self-Evaluate Before delivering, check the draft against currently-cited sources: 1. **Coverage** — addresses every topic the top sources cover? 2. **Depth** — goes deeper on at least 2-3 areas? 3. **Uniqueness** — offers something no current source has? 4. **Extractability** — AI can pull a direct answer from each section? 5. **Entity richness** — specific names, tools, numbers throughout? 6. **Freshness** — examples, data, references are current? ### Step 5: Deliver with Publishing Guidance Output final content plus title, meta description (150-160 chars), and: - Add publication date + author byline with credentials - Ensure page is indexable (no noindex, no paywall) - Add schema markup if applicable (FAQ, HowTo, Article) - Internal link from existing related content - Re-check target prompt in AI models 2-4 weeks after indexing --- ## Refresh Mode Workflow ### Step R0: Audit the Existing Page Before any landscape research, analyze the current page: 1. **`web_fetch` the existing URL** — get the full content 2. Extract current structure: headings, topics covered, depth per section 3. Note: publication date, last updated date, author info 4. Check freshness: outdated stats, old tool names, expired examples, stale references 5. Identify what's already strong (keep these sections) ### Step R1: AI Landscape Research Same as Create Step 1 — research what AI models currently cite for the target prompt. If no target prompt was provided, infer it from the page's topic and title. ### Step R2: Gap Analysis (Diff) Compare existing content against the competitive landscape: - **Missing topics** — sub-topics AI covers that the page doesn't → flag for addition - **Outdated info** — old statistics, discontinued tools, expired examples → flag for replacement - **Missing entities** — competitors, tools, people the AI mentions that the page doesn't → flag for inclusion - **Structural issues** — buried answers, vague headings, no clear extractable statements → flag for restructure - **Freshness gaps** — old dates, prior-year references → flag for update - **Strengths to preserve** — sections already well-written, potentially already cited → keep as-is Output: a prioritized list of changes with rationale for each. ### Step R3: Edit (Not Rewrite) Apply changes surgically: - **Add** new sections for coverage gaps (place them logically in the existing structure) - **Update** outdated data points, examples, tool names, statistics - **Restructure** weak sections — add extractable lead sentences, improve headings - **Weave in** missing entities naturally (don't keyword-stuff) - **Preserve** sections that are already strong - **Update** publication/modified date Output the refreshed content with clear markup showing changes: - `[ADDED]` — new sections or paragraphs - `[UPDATED]` — modified existing content - `[RESTRUCTURED]` — reorganized for better extractability - `[UNCHANGED]` — kept as-is (note why it's strong) ### Step R4: Before/After Summary Provide a clear comparison: - What was added (new sections, topics, entities) - What was updated (stats, examples, references) - What was restructured (headings, lead sentences) - What was removed (outdated info) - Expected impact on citation-worthiness ### Step R5: Self-Evaluate + Deliver Same 6-point evaluation as Create Step 4, plus: - Does the refresh maintain the page's existing voice and style? - Are all internal/external links still valid? - Is the updated date reflected? Deliver with the same publishing guidance as Create Step 5. --- ## Tips - The unique value angle is make-or-break for both modes - For refresh: resist the urge to rewrite everything. Surgical edits that add missing pieces are more efficient and preserve existing authority - First-party data is the strongest citation signal — if the brand has relevant data, use it prominently - For comparison prompts ("X vs Y"), be balanced — AI models avoid citing biased sources - Shorter, sharper content that directly answers the prompt beats long rambling pieces - This skill pairs with `aeo-prompt-research-free` which identifies target prompts