<!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT -->
<!-- SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2025-2026 Marcus Quinn -->

# AEO Patterns

Templates for featured snippets, answer boxes, and spoken-result queries.

## Definition

```markdown
## What is [Term]?
[Term] is [1-sentence definition]. [Key characteristics]. [Why it matters].
```

## Step-by-Step

```markdown
## How to [Action/Goal]
[1-sentence overview]
1. **[Step]**: [Action in 1-2 sentences]
2. **[Step]**: [Action in 1-2 sentences]
3. **[Step]**: [Action in 1-2 sentences]
```

## Comparison Table

```markdown
## [Option A] vs [Option B]: [Descriptor]
| Feature | [Option A] | [Option B] |
|---------|------------|------------|
| [Criteria] | [Value] | [Value] |
| Best For | [Use case] | [Use case] |
**Bottom line**: [1-2 sentence recommendation]
```

## Pros/Cons

```markdown
## Advantages and Disadvantages of [Topic]
**Pros**: **[Benefit]**: [Explanation]
**Cons**: **[Drawback]**: [Explanation]
**Verdict**: [Balanced conclusion with recommendation]
```

## FAQ

```markdown
<!-- Phrase questions the way users search; match "People Also Ask" wording; keep answers 50-100 words; direct answer first -->
### [Question phrased as users search]?
[Direct answer first sentence]. [Supporting context in 2-3 sentences].
```

## Listicle

```markdown
## [Number] Best [Items] for [Goal/Purpose]
[1-2 sentence intro with selection criteria]
### 1. [Item Name]
[Why included -- 2-3 sentences with specific benefits]
```

## Voice Search

```markdown
<!-- Target: "What is...", "How do I...", "Where can I find...", "Why does...", "When should I...?" -->
<!-- Answer in under 30 words; natural language; avoid jargon unless expert audience; add local context when useful -->
[Direct conversational answer in under 30 words].
```
