Internal Linking Architecture (Authority Flow, Contextual Anchors)
Use 5–10 internal links per article with contextual anchor text. Avoid exact-match keyword anchors (e.g., “GEO optimization”); use natural phrases (e.g., “our breakdown of how LLMs choose sources”).
Link from high-authority pages (pillars) to supporting pages and back. Internal links help crawlability and topical association. For site-wide structure, see what is GEO and cluster linking in the content plan.
For a full 50-point assessment, see technical GEO audit checklist. For tracking results, see how to track AI visibility.
What is the answer-first principle?
Answer-first means stating the direct answer to the user’s intent in the first 40–60 words of the page. It improves match and extractability for both users and AI systems. See what is GEO for an example.
How long should paragraphs be for GEO?
40–60 words per paragraph is optimal. Long blocks reduce extractability; very short paragraphs can feel choppy. See writing AI-extractable content.
Should I use question-style headings?
Descriptive H2/H3 headings tend to get more citations than question-style headings. Use clear, declarative headings. See LLM ranking factors.
How many FAQs should I add?
5–7 FAQs per major page (or 5–15 for pillar pages) in natural language. Place at the end; use FAQ schema where applicable. See schema markup for GEO.
Do internal links need exact-match keywords?
No. Use contextual anchor text (e.g., “our breakdown of LLM ranking factors”). Avoid exact-match keyword stuffing. Link to related articles in the same cluster and adjacent clusters.
What word count is best for GEO?
2,900+ words for priority pages; 3,500–6,000 depending on topic and depth. Depth correlates with citation likelihood. See how to rank in ChatGPT.
Where can I get a full GEO audit checklist?
Use our technical GEO audit checklist for a 50-point assessment. Combine with AI visibility tracking to measure impact.