How do I install the AI Search Optimization skill?

Run npx skillmds add tools-only/ai-search-optimization in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the AI Search Optimization skill do?

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies for AI-powered search visibility in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and other AI search platforms. Use when working with aeo, geo, ai search, chatgpt search, perplexity, ai overviews, generative search, llm visibility. It is listed under AI & ML on SkillMD.

Is AI Search Optimization safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: makes network calls. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with AI Search Optimization?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is AI Search Optimization free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published AI Search Optimization?

tools-only (@tools-only) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

AI Search Optimization by tools-only

Name: AI Search Optimization
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: tools-only

AI Search Optimization (AEO & GEO)

Scope: Optimizing content for AI-powered search engines and answer engines This skill covers strategies for visibility in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot, and other generative AI platforms.

1. Understanding AEO & GEO

What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?

Answer Engine Optimization focuses on structuring content to provide direct, concise answers to user queries through AI-powered platforms. Unlike traditional SEO which aims for link clicks, AEO optimizes for being cited as the answer source.

Target platforms:

Google AI Overviews (formerly SGE)
Perplexity AI
ChatGPT Search
Microsoft Copilot Search
Voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)

What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?

Generative Engine Optimization is the broader discipline of enhancing content visibility within AI-generated search results. It targets generative engines that synthesize answers from multiple sources rather than presenting traditional link lists.

Key differences from traditional SEO:

Aspect	Traditional SEO	AEO/GEO
Goal	Rank in SERPs	Be cited in AI answers
User behavior	Click through to site	Get answer directly
Content format	Keyword-optimized pages	Structured, citable content
Success metric	Click-through rate	Citation frequency
Query type	Short keywords	Conversational, long-tail

The AI Search Landscape (2025-2026)

Google AI Overviews: 2B+ monthly users across 200 countries (TechCrunch)
Google AI Mode: 100M+ monthly users in US and India
ChatGPT Search: Real-time web search with citations
Perplexity AI: Real-time citation engine, emphasis on freshness
Microsoft Copilot Search: Bing integration with generative AI
Zero-click searches: About 60% of global searches end without a click (neotype.ai)

2. Content Structure for AI Readability

Semantic HTML Structure

AI systems extract information more effectively from well-structured content:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Descriptive, Question-Answering Title</title>
</head>
<body>
    <article>
        <header>
            <h1>Primary Topic as Question or Clear Statement</h1>
            <p class="summary">Direct 2-3 sentence answer to the main question.</p>
        </header>
        
        <main>
            <section>
                <h2>Subtopic Heading</h2>
                <p>Detailed explanation with facts and data.</p>
                
                <ul>
                    <li>Key point 1 with specific information</li>
                    <li>Key point 2 with verifiable data</li>
                    <li>Key point 3 with actionable insight</li>
                </ul>
            </section>
        </main>
        
        <aside>
            <h3>Quick Facts</h3>
            <dl>
                <dt>Term</dt>
                <dd>Definition</dd>
            </dl>
        </aside>
    </article>
</body>
</html>

Heading Hierarchy Best Practices

# H1: Main Topic (contains primary question/keyword)
   └── ## H2: Major subtopic
          └── ### H3: Specific aspect
                 └── #### H4: Details (use sparingly)

Rules:

Single H1 per page
H1 should answer "What is this page about?"
Use question-format headings when appropriate
Include target keywords naturally

The Inverted Pyramid Pattern

Structure content for AI extraction:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│     DIRECT ANSWER (First 1-2       │ ← AI extracts this
│     sentences answer the query)     │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│     KEY FACTS & CONTEXT            │ ← Supporting evidence
│     (Bullet points, data, quotes)   │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│     DETAILED EXPLANATION           │ ← Comprehensive coverage
│     (Background, methodology,       │
│      examples, case studies)        │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│     RELATED TOPICS                 │ ← Topic authority signals
│     (Links to related content)      │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Lists and Tables for Extraction

AI engines prefer structured data formats:

<!-- Comparison Table -->
<table>
    <caption>Feature Comparison: Product A vs Product B</caption>
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th>Feature</th>
            <th>Product A</th>
            <th>Product B</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td>Price</td>
            <td>$99/month</td>
            <td>$149/month</td>
        </tr>
        <!-- More rows -->
    </tbody>
</table>

<!-- Definition List for Terms -->
<dl>
    <dt>AEO</dt>
    <dd>Answer Engine Optimization - optimizing content for direct answers</dd>
    
    <dt>GEO</dt>
    <dd>Generative Engine Optimization - visibility in AI-generated results</dd>
</dl>

<!-- Step-by-Step Process -->
<ol>
    <li>Step one with clear action</li>
    <li>Step two with measurable outcome</li>
    <li>Step three with verification method</li>
</ol>

3. Schema Markup for AI Understanding

Essential Schema Types

Research shows structured data significantly improves AI search visibility:

Pages with schema are up to 40% more likely to appear in Google AI Overviews (zarkx.com)
Organization schema: 2.8x increase in citation frequency
FAQPage schema: 2.5x rise in answer inclusion
Article schema: 2.2x boost in content citations
Sites with 15+ schema types see 2.4x higher citation rates (surgeboom.com)

FAQPage Schema

{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "@type": "Question",
            "name": "What is Answer Engine Optimization?",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "@type": "Answer",
                "text": "Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is a strategic approach to structuring content so AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews can easily extract and cite it as direct answers to user queries."
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Question",
            "name": "How is AEO different from SEO?",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "@type": "Answer",
                "text": "While SEO focuses on ranking in traditional search results for clicks, AEO optimizes content to be cited directly in AI-generated answers, often resulting in zero-click interactions where users get information without visiting the source."
            }
        }
    ]
}

HowTo Schema

{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "HowTo",
    "name": "How to Optimize Content for AI Search",
    "description": "Step-by-step guide to improving visibility in AI-powered search engines",
    "totalTime": "PT30M",
    "step": [
        {
            "@type": "HowToStep",
            "name": "Structure Content Semantically",
            "text": "Use proper HTML5 semantic elements like article, section, and aside",
            "position": 1
        },
        {
            "@type": "HowToStep",
            "name": "Implement Schema Markup",
            "text": "Add FAQPage, HowTo, and Article schema to your pages",
            "position": 2
        },
        {
            "@type": "HowToStep",
            "name": "Optimize for Conversational Queries",
            "text": "Write content that answers natural language questions",
            "position": 3
        }
    ]
}

Article Schema with Author

{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Article",
    "headline": "Complete Guide to AI Search Optimization",
    "description": "Learn how to optimize content for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews",
    "datePublished": "2025-01-15",
    "dateModified": "2025-01-15",
    "author": {
        "@type": "Person",
        "name": "Expert Name",
        "url": "https://example.com/about/expert-name",
        "jobTitle": "SEO Specialist",
        "sameAs": [
            "https://linkedin.com/in/expertname",
            "https://twitter.com/expertname"
        ]
    },
    "publisher": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "Company Name",
        "logo": {
            "@type": "ImageObject",
            "url": "https://example.com/logo.png"
        }
    }
}

Organization Schema

{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Company Name",
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "logo": "https://example.com/logo.png",
    "description": "Brief description of what the organization does",
    "foundingDate": "2010",
    "sameAs": [
        "https://www.linkedin.com/company/companyname",
        "https://twitter.com/companyname",
        "https://github.com/companyname"
    ],
    "contactPoint": {
        "@type": "ContactPoint",
        "telephone": "+1-555-123-4567",
        "contactType": "customer service",
        "availableLanguage": ["English", "German"]
    }
}

4. E-E-A-T Signals for AI Trust

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness

AI systems prioritize content from credible sources. Implement these signals:

Author Bios

<article>
    <!-- Content -->
    
    <footer class="author-bio">
        <img src="/authors/jane-doe.jpg" alt="Jane Doe" />
        <div class="author-info">
            <h4>About the Author</h4>
            <p class="author-name">Jane Doe, PhD</p>
            <p class="author-credentials">
                15 years of experience in digital marketing. 
                Former Head of SEO at Fortune 500 company.
                Published in Search Engine Journal, Moz, and Ahrefs Blog.
            </p>
            <ul class="author-links">
                <li><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/janedoe" rel="author">LinkedIn</a></li>
                <li><a href="https://twitter.com/janedoe" rel="author">Twitter</a></li>
            </ul>
        </div>
    </footer>
</article>

Trust Signals Checklist

Author expertise: Detailed bios with credentials and experience
Citations: Link to reputable sources (studies, official docs, experts)
Contact information: Clear "About Us" and "Contact" pages
HTTPS: Secure connection required
Privacy policy: Transparent data handling
Update dates: Visible "Last updated" timestamps
Original research: Proprietary data, case studies, expert quotes
Reviews/testimonials: Third-party validation where applicable

Building Domain Authority

Earn quality backlinks from reputable industry sites
Get mentioned in authoritative publications
Contribute guest posts to established platforms
Participate in industry forums and communities
Create original research that others cite

5. Content Freshness Strategy

Update Frequency by Platform

Platform	Freshness Preference	Recommended Update Cycle
Perplexity AI	Very high	Every 2-3 days for trending topics
ChatGPT Search	High	Weekly updates
Google AI Overviews	Moderate	Monthly refresh
Bing Copilot	Moderate	Monthly refresh

Content Refresh Protocol

## Content Freshness Checklist

### Weekly Tasks
- [ ] Update statistics with latest data
- [ ] Refresh screenshots and examples
- [ ] Add new developments or news
- [ ] Update "Last modified" timestamp

### Monthly Tasks
- [ ] Review and update all factual claims
- [ ] Add new sections for emerging topics
- [ ] Update broken links
- [ ] Refresh expert quotes

### Quarterly Tasks
- [ ] Comprehensive content audit
- [ ] Competitive analysis
- [ ] Restructure based on query trends
- [ ] Update all schema markup

Visible Timestamps

<article>
    <header>
        <h1>Article Title</h1>
        <div class="article-meta">
            <time datetime="2025-01-15" itemprop="datePublished">
                Published: January 15, 2025
            </time>
            <time datetime="2025-01-15" itemprop="dateModified">
                Last Updated: January 15, 2025
            </time>
        </div>
    </header>
    <!-- Content -->
</article>

6. Robots.txt for AI Crawlers

Allowing AI Bots

To be indexed by AI search engines, explicitly allow their crawlers:

# robots.txt - AI Search Optimization

# Standard search engines
User-agent: Googlebot
Allow: /

User-agent: Bingbot
Allow: /

# OpenAI (ChatGPT)
User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /

User-agent: ChatGPT-User
Allow: /

# Perplexity AI
User-agent: PerplexityBot
Allow: /

# Anthropic (Claude)
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Allow: /
User-agent: anthropic-ai
Allow: /

# Google AI (Gemini)
User-agent: Google-Extended
Allow: /

# Meta AI
User-agent: FacebookBot
Allow: /

# Common Crawl (used by many AI systems)
User-agent: CCBot
Allow: /

# Microsoft/Bing AI
User-agent: Applebot
Allow: /

# Default rule
User-agent: *
Allow: /
Disallow: /admin/
Disallow: /private/

# Sitemap
Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml

Blocking AI Training While Allowing AI Search (Optional)

Some organizations want to be cited in AI search results but don't want their content used to train AI models. Here's how:

Understanding the difference:

Bot	What it does	Block =
`GPTBot`	Crawls for training OpenAI models	Your content won't train future GPT versions
`ChatGPT-User`	Live browsing when users search	ChatGPT can't cite you in real-time answers
`Google-Extended`	Crawls for training Gemini AI	Your content won't train Gemini
`PerplexityBot`	Live search for Perplexity answers	Perplexity can't cite you
`CCBot`	Common Crawl - open training datasets	Your content won't be in public AI training data

Example: Block training, allow live search citations:

# BLOCK: AI model training (your content won't train future AI)
User-agent: GPTBot
Disallow: /

User-agent: Google-Extended
Disallow: /

User-agent: CCBot
Disallow: /

# ALLOW: Real-time AI search (AI can cite you in answers)
User-agent: ChatGPT-User
Allow: /

User-agent: PerplexityBot
Allow: /

Note: Most businesses focused on AI search visibility should allow all bots (Section 6 above). Only use this approach if you have specific concerns about AI training on your content.

AI Bot Reference

Bot Name	Company	Purpose
GPTBot	OpenAI	Training data & ChatGPT browsing
ChatGPT-User	OpenAI	ChatGPT web browsing
PerplexityBot	Perplexity	Real-time search & citations
ClaudeBot	Anthropic	Training & retrieval
anthropic-ai	Anthropic	Claude AI training
Google-Extended	Google	Gemini AI training
FacebookBot	Meta	Meta AI training
CCBot	Common Crawl	Open dataset for AI training

7. Conversational Query Optimization

Target Long-Tail, Question-Based Queries

AI search favors natural language:

Traditional keyword: "best project management software"

Conversational queries:

"What is the best project management software for small teams?"
"How do I choose project management software for remote work?"
"Which project management tool has the best free plan?"

Question-Answer Content Pattern

## What is [Topic]?

[Topic] is [direct definition in 1-2 sentences].

### Key characteristics:
- Characteristic 1
- Characteristic 2
- Characteristic 3

## How does [Topic] work?

[Clear explanation of process]

### Step-by-step breakdown:
1. First step
2. Second step
3. Third step

## Why is [Topic] important?

[2-3 sentences on significance]

### Benefits include:
- Benefit 1 with specific outcome
- Benefit 2 with measurable result
- Benefit 3 with real-world application

FAQ Section Template

<section class="faq">
    <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
    
    <details>
        <summary>What is Answer Engine Optimization?</summary>
        <p>Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of...</p>
    </details>
    
    <details>
        <summary>How is GEO different from traditional SEO?</summary>
        <p>While traditional SEO focuses on...</p>
    </details>
    
    <details>
        <summary>Which AI search platforms should I optimize for?</summary>
        <p>The main platforms to consider are...</p>
    </details>
</section>

8. Multimedia Optimization

Image Requirements

Perplexity and other AI engines prefer visual content:

<figure>
    <img 
        src="/images/ai-search-diagram.webp" 
        alt="Diagram showing how AI search engines process and cite content"
        width="800"
        height="450"
        loading="lazy"
    />
    <figcaption>
        How AI search engines extract and cite content sources
    </figcaption>
</figure>

Best practices:

Minimum 2 unique, relevant images per article
Descriptive alt text (not keyword stuffing)
WebP format for performance
Include diagrams, infographics, process flows
Add captions with context

Video Integration

<figure class="video-embed">
    <iframe 
        src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID"
        title="Detailed explanation of AI Search Optimization"
        allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media"
        allowfullscreen
    ></iframe>
    <figcaption>
        Video: Complete guide to optimizing for AI search engines
    </figcaption>
</figure>

Video Schema

{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "VideoObject",
    "name": "AI Search Optimization Tutorial",
    "description": "Learn how to optimize content for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://example.com/video-thumbnail.jpg",
    "uploadDate": "2025-01-15",
    "duration": "PT10M30S",
    "contentUrl": "https://example.com/videos/ai-search-tutorial.mp4"
}

9. Monitoring AI Search Visibility

AI Brand Monitoring Tools

Tool	Platforms Monitored	Key Features
Semrush AI Visibility	ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity	Free tier, mention tracking
Brand24	ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini	Multi-platform analysis
SE Ranking	Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini	Share of voice tracking
Keyword.com	Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity	Optimization suggestions
BrandBeacon.ai	ChatGPT, Perplexity	Competitor benchmarking
Sight AI	ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity	Sentiment analysis

Key Metrics to Track

Citation frequency: How often your content is cited
Brand mentions: Unprompted mentions in AI responses
Referral traffic: Visits from AI search click-throughs
Share of voice: Your visibility vs competitors
Sentiment: Positive/negative context of mentions

Manual Testing Protocol

## Monthly AI Visibility Audit

### Test Queries (adapt to your niche)
1. "What is [your product/service]?"
2. "Best [your category] in [year]"
3. "[Your brand] vs [competitor]"
4. "How to [task your product solves]"
5. "[Your expertise area] best practices"

### Platforms to Test
- [ ] ChatGPT (chat.openai.com)
- [ ] Perplexity (perplexity.ai)
- [ ] Google (check for AI Overviews)
- [ ] Microsoft Copilot (copilot.microsoft.com)
- [ ] Claude (claude.ai)

### Record for Each Query
- Were you cited? (Yes/No)
- Citation context (positive/neutral/negative)
- Competitors mentioned
- Information accuracy
- Suggested improvements

10. AI Search Optimization Checklist

Content Structure

Clear H1 with primary topic/question
Logical heading hierarchy (H1 > H2 > H3)
Direct answer in first 1-2 sentences
Bullet points and numbered lists
Comparison tables where applicable
Definition lists for terminology

Technical Implementation

Semantic HTML5 elements (article, section, aside)
FAQPage schema on Q&A content
HowTo schema on instructional content
Article schema with author info
Organization schema on about pages
robots.txt allows AI crawlers
XML sitemap updated and submitted

Authority Signals

Detailed author bios with credentials
Links to author social profiles
Citations to authoritative sources
Visible publication and update dates
HTTPS enabled
Contact information accessible
Privacy policy present

Content Quality

Original, expert-level content
Factual claims supported by sources
Regular updates (at least monthly)
Addresses conversational queries
Includes relevant images with alt text
Mobile-responsive design

Monitoring

AI visibility monitoring tool configured
Monthly manual query testing
Competitor citation tracking
Referral traffic analysis
Content refresh schedule maintained

11. Platform-Specific Optimization

Google AI Overviews

Pages with schema are up to 40% more likely to appear in AI Overviews
Focus on featured snippet optimization (still relevant)
Emphasize E-E-A-T signals
Target informational and comparison queries

Perplexity AI

Freshness is critical - update content every 2-3 days for trending topics
Real-time citations from current sources
Prefer authoritative domains
Include unique images and data

ChatGPT Search

Web browsing uses GPTBot and ChatGPT-User
Emphasizes recent, authoritative content
Good at following citations and references
Benefits from clear, structured content

Microsoft Copilot

Built on Bing index
Strong integration with Microsoft ecosystem
Emphasizes factual, well-sourced content
Benefits from Bing Webmaster Tools optimization

12. Future-Proofing Your AI Search Strategy

Emerging Trends

Multimodal search: AI understanding images, video, audio
Conversational commerce: AI-driven purchase decisions
Personalized AI responses: Context-aware answer customization
Agent-based search: AI agents completing tasks autonomously
Real-time fact-checking: AI validating claims before citation

Adaptation Strategy

## Quarterly Review Checklist

### AI Platform Updates
- [ ] Review new AI search features from major platforms
- [ ] Update robots.txt for new AI bot user agents
- [ ] Test visibility on new/emerging AI platforms

### Content Strategy
- [ ] Analyze which content types get most citations
- [ ] Identify gaps in AI coverage vs competitors
- [ ] Plan new content for underserved queries

### Technical Updates
- [ ] Review schema.org for new relevant types
- [ ] Update structured data implementation
- [ ] Test page speed and Core Web Vitals

13. TYPO3 Implementation Guide

Compatibility: TYPO3 v13.x and v14.x (v14 preferred) All configurations in this section work on both v13 and v14.

This section covers TYPO3-specific implementation of AEO/GEO strategies using TYPO3 extensions, configuration, and best practices.

Installation Mode: Composer vs Classic

⚠️ Composer Mode Highly Recommended

For AI search optimization, Composer-based TYPO3 installations are strongly recommended. All extensions in this guide are available via both Composer (Packagist) and TER (Classic Mode).

Why Composer Mode is Essential for Modern TYPO3

Aspect	Composer Mode	Classic Mode
Dependency Resolution	Automatic with version constraints	Manual, no transitive dependencies
Autoloading	PSR-4 optimized, production-ready	TYPO3 internal, less optimized
Security	Separate web root (`/public`)	All files in web root
Updates	Single command: `composer update`	Manual download/upload per extension
Reproducibility	`composer.lock` ensures identical installs	No version locking mechanism
TYPO3 v14 Future	Fully supported	Requires `composer.json` in all extensions

Technical Explanation

Composer Mode uses PHP's standard dependency manager to:

Resolve Dependencies Automatically: Extensions like brotkrueml/schema depend on psr/http-message and other packages. Composer resolves the entire dependency tree, ensuring compatible versions are installed.
Generate Optimized Autoloaders: Composer creates a PSR-4 compliant autoloader that loads classes on-demand, improving performance compared to TYPO3's legacy class loading.
Enforce Version Constraints: The composer.json constraint "typo3/cms-core": "^13.4 || ^14.0" guarantees only compatible versions are installed.
Enable Security Isolation: The recommended structure places vendor/, config/, and other sensitive directories outside the web-accessible /public folder.
Support Modern Workflows: CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment tools expect Composer-based projects.

TYPO3 v14 Breaking Change: In TYPO3 v14, even Classic Mode requires every extension to have a valid composer.json with proper type and extension-key definitions. Extensions without this file will not be detected.

// Required composer.json structure for all extensions (v14+)
{
    "name": "vendor/extension-key",
    "type": "typo3-cms-extension",
    "extra": {
        "typo3/cms": {
            "extension-key": "extension_key"
        }
    }
}

Extension Compatibility Matrix

Extension	TYPO3 v13	TYPO3 v14	PHP	Composer	TER	Purpose
`typo3/cms-seo`	✓	✓	8.2+	✓	✓	Core SEO (meta tags, sitemaps, canonicals)
`brotkrueml/schema`	✓ (v4.x)	✓ (v4.x)	8.2+	✓	✓	Schema.org structured data (JSON-LD)
`yoast-seo-for-typo3/yoast_seo`	✓	✗	8.1+	✓	✓	Content analysis, readability (v13 only)
`clickstorm/cs_seo`	✓ (v9.3+)	✓ (v9.3+)	8.2+	✓	✓	Extended SEO features, evaluations

13.1 Required Extensions Installation

Composer Mode (Recommended)

# Core SEO extension (meta tags, sitemaps, canonicals)
ddev composer require typo3/cms-seo

# Schema.org structured data (essential for AI search)
# Version constraint ensures v13/v14 compatibility
ddev composer require brotkrueml/schema:"^4.2"

# Optional: Extended SEO features (v13/v14 compatible)
ddev composer require clickstorm/cs_seo:"^9.3"

# In Composer mode, extensions are auto-activated
# Verify installation:
ddev typo3 extension:list | grep -E "seo|schema"

Version Constraints Explained:

{
    "require": {
        "typo3/cms-seo": "^13.4 || ^14.0",
        "brotkrueml/schema": "^4.2"
    }
}

^4.2 = Any version ≥4.2.0 and <5.0.0 (allows minor/patch updates)
^13.4 || ^14.0 = Supports both TYPO3 v13.4+ and v14.0+

Classic Mode (TER)

Note: Classic Mode is supported but not recommended. TYPO3 v14 requires all extensions to have a valid composer.json even in Classic Mode.

Download from TER:
- https://extensions.typo3.org/extension/seo
- https://extensions.typo3.org/extension/schema
Install via Extension Manager:
- Backend → Admin Tools → Extensions
- Click "Upload Extension" or use "Get Extensions" to search TER
- Activate each extension after upload
Verify Installation:
- Check Admin Tools → Extensions for active status
- Clear all caches after activation

13.2 Robots.txt Configuration for AI Bots

Configure robots.txt via TYPO3's static routes to allow AI crawlers:

# config/sites/main/config.yaml
routes:
  - route: robots.txt
    type: staticText
    content: |
      # Standard search engines
      User-agent: Googlebot
      Allow: /
      
      User-agent: Bingbot
      Allow: /
      
      # OpenAI (ChatGPT)
      User-agent: GPTBot
      Allow: /
      
      User-agent: ChatGPT-User
      Allow: /
      
      # Perplexity AI
      User-agent: PerplexityBot
      Allow: /
      
      # Anthropic (Claude)
      User-agent: ClaudeBot
      Allow: /
      
      User-agent: anthropic-ai
      Allow: /
      
      # Google AI (Gemini)
      User-agent: Google-Extended
      Allow: /
      
      # Meta AI
      User-agent: FacebookBot
      Allow: /
      
      # Common Crawl (used by many AI systems)
      User-agent: CCBot
      Allow: /
      
      # Default
      User-agent: *
      Allow: /
      Disallow: /typo3/
      Disallow: /typo3conf/
      Disallow: /typo3temp/
      
      Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml

13.3 Schema.org Implementation with EXT:schema

Installation and Setup

ddev composer require brotkrueml/schema:"^4.2"
ddev typo3 extension:activate schema

Include the static TypoScript template in your site package.

FAQPage Schema via Fluid ViewHelper

{namespace schema=Brotkrueml\Schema\ViewHelpers}

<schema:type.fAQPage>
    <f:for each="{faqItems}" as="faq">
        <schema:type.question -as="mainEntity" name="{faq.question}">
            <schema:type.answer -as="acceptedAnswer" text="{faq.answer}" />
        </schema:type.question>
    </f:for>
</schema:type.fAQPage>

Article Schema via Fluid ViewHelper

{namespace schema=Brotkrueml\Schema\ViewHelpers}

<schema:type.article
    -id="https://example.com/article/{article.uid}"
    headline="{article.title}"
    description="{article.teaser}"
    datePublished="{article.crdate -> f:format.date(format: 'c')}"
    dateModified="{article.tstamp -> f:format.date(format: 'c')}"
>
    <schema:type.person -as="author"
        name="{article.author.name}"
        url="{article.author.profileUrl}"
    >
        <schema:property -as="sameAs" value="{article.author.linkedIn}" />
        <schema:property -as="sameAs" value="{article.author.twitter}" />
    </schema:type.person>
    
    <schema:type.organization -as="publisher"
        name="{settings.siteName}"
        url="{settings.siteUrl}"
    >
        <schema:type.imageObject -as="logo" url="{settings.logoUrl}" />
    </schema:type.organization>
</schema:type.article>

HowTo Schema via Fluid ViewHelper

{namespace schema=Brotkrueml\Schema\ViewHelpers}

<schema:type.howTo
    name="How to Optimize Content for AI Search"
    description="Step-by-step guide to improving visibility in AI-powered search engines"
>
    <f:for each="{steps}" as="step" iteration="iter">
        <schema:type.howToStep -as="step"
            name="{step.title}"
            text="{step.description}"
            position="{iter.cycle}"
        />
    </f:for>
</schema:type.howTo>

Organization Schema via PHP API (PSR-14 Event)

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\SitePackage\EventListener;

use Brotkrueml\Schema\Event\RenderAdditionalTypesEvent;
use Brotkrueml\Schema\Type\TypeFactory;
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Attribute\AsEventListener;

#[AsEventListener(identifier: 'site-package/add-organization-schema')]
final readonly class AddOrganizationSchema
{
    public function __construct(
        private TypeFactory $typeFactory,
    ) {}

    public function __invoke(RenderAdditionalTypesEvent $event): void
    {
        $organization = $this->typeFactory->create('Organization')
            ->setProperty('name', 'Your Company Name')
            ->setProperty('url', 'https://example.com')
            ->setProperty('logo', 'https://example.com/logo.png')
            ->setProperty('description', 'Brief company description for AI understanding')
            ->setProperty('sameAs', [
                'https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourcompany',
                'https://twitter.com/yourcompany',
                'https://github.com/yourcompany',
            ]);

        $contactPoint = $this->typeFactory->create('ContactPoint')
            ->setProperty('telephone', '+43-1-234567')
            ->setProperty('contactType', 'customer service')
            ->setProperty('availableLanguage', ['German', 'English']);

        $organization->setProperty('contactPoint', $contactPoint);

        $event->addType($organization);
    }
}

Dynamic Article Schema via PSR-14 Event

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\SitePackage\EventListener;

use Brotkrueml\Schema\Event\RenderAdditionalTypesEvent;
use Brotkrueml\Schema\Type\TypeFactory;
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Attribute\AsEventListener;

#[AsEventListener(identifier: 'site-package/add-article-schema')]
final readonly class AddArticleSchema
{
    public function __construct(
        private TypeFactory $typeFactory,
    ) {}

    public function __invoke(RenderAdditionalTypesEvent $event): void
    {
        $request = $event->getRequest();
        $pageInformation = $request->getAttribute('frontend.page.information');
        $page = $pageInformation->getPageRecord();

        // Only add Article schema for specific doktypes (e.g., 1 = standard page)
        if ((int)$page['doktype'] !== 1) {
            return;
        }

        $article = $this->typeFactory->create('Article')
            ->setProperty('headline', $page['title'])
            ->setProperty('description', $page['description'] ?: $page['abstract'])
            ->setProperty('datePublished', date('c', $page['crdate']))
            ->setProperty('dateModified', date('c', $page['tstamp']));

        // Add author if available
        if (!empty($page['author'])) {
            $author = $this->typeFactory->create('Person')
                ->setProperty('name', $page['author']);
            $article->setProperty('author', $author);
        }

        $event->addType($article);
    }
}

13.4 Content Freshness with Last Modified Headers

TypoScript Configuration

# Expose last modified date in HTTP headers
config {
    sendCacheHeaders = 1
    additionalHeaders {
        10 {
            header = X-Content-Last-Modified
            value = TEXT
            value.data = page:SYS_LASTCHANGED
            value.strftime = %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z
        }
    }
}

# Display last updated date in content
lib.lastModified = TEXT
lib.lastModified {
    data = page:SYS_LASTCHANGED
    strftime = %B %d, %Y
    wrap = <time datetime="|" itemprop="dateModified">Last updated: |</time>
}

Fluid Template for Visible Timestamps

<article itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Article">
    <header>
        <h1 itemprop="headline">{page.title}</h1>
        <div class="article-meta">
            <time datetime="{page.crdate -> f:format.date(format: 'c')}" itemprop="datePublished">
                Published: <f:format.date format="F j, Y">{page.crdate}</f:format.date>
            </time>
            <time datetime="{page.SYS_LASTCHANGED -> f:format.date(format: 'c')}" itemprop="dateModified">
                Last Updated: <f:format.date format="F j, Y">{page.SYS_LASTCHANGED}</f:format.date>
            </time>
        </div>
    </header>
    
    <!-- Content -->
</article>

13.5 Author Bio Schema for E-E-A-T

TCA Extension for Author Fields

<?php
// Configuration/TCA/Overrides/pages.php

use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility;

$additionalColumns = [
    'tx_sitepackage_author_name' => [
        'label' => 'Author Name',
        'config' => [
            'type' => 'input',
            'size' => 50,
            'max' => 255,
        ],
    ],
    'tx_sitepackage_author_title' => [
        'label' => 'Author Title/Credentials',
        'config' => [
            'type' => 'input',
            'size' => 50,
            'max' => 255,
        ],
    ],
    'tx_sitepackage_author_bio' => [
        'label' => 'Author Bio',
        'config' => [
            'type' => 'text',
            'rows' => 5,
        ],
    ],
    'tx_sitepackage_author_linkedin' => [
        'label' => 'Author LinkedIn URL',
        'config' => [
            'type' => 'link',
            'allowedTypes' => ['url'],
        ],
    ],
];

ExtensionManagementUtility::addTCAcolumns('pages', $additionalColumns);
ExtensionManagementUtility::addToAllTCAtypes(
    'pages',
    '--div--;Author,tx_sitepackage_author_name,tx_sitepackage_author_title,tx_sitepackage_author_bio,tx_sitepackage_author_linkedin'
);

Author Schema PSR-14 Event Listener

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\SitePackage\EventListener;

use Brotkrueml\Schema\Event\RenderAdditionalTypesEvent;
use Brotkrueml\Schema\Type\TypeFactory;
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Attribute\AsEventListener;

#[AsEventListener(identifier: 'site-package/add-author-schema')]
final readonly class AddAuthorSchema
{
    public function __construct(
        private TypeFactory $typeFactory,
    ) {}

    public function __invoke(RenderAdditionalTypesEvent $event): void
    {
        $request = $event->getRequest();
        $pageInformation = $request->getAttribute('frontend.page.information');
        $page = $pageInformation->getPageRecord();

        if (empty($page['tx_sitepackage_author_name'])) {
            return;
        }

        $author = $this->typeFactory->create('Person')
            ->setProperty('name', $page['tx_sitepackage_author_name'])
            ->setProperty('jobTitle', $page['tx_sitepackage_author_title'] ?? '')
            ->setProperty('description', $page['tx_sitepackage_author_bio'] ?? '');

        if (!empty($page['tx_sitepackage_author_linkedin'])) {
            $author->setProperty('sameAs', [$page['tx_sitepackage_author_linkedin']]);
        }

        $event->addType($author);
    }
}

13.6 FAQ Content Element with Schema

Content Block Definition (EXT:content_blocks)

# ContentBlocks/ContentElements/faq-accordion/config.yaml
name: vendor/faq-accordion
typeName: faq_accordion
title: FAQ Accordion
description: FAQ with structured data for AI search
group: common

fields:
  - identifier: faq_items
    type: Collection
    labelField: question
    fields:
      - identifier: question
        type: Text
        required: true
      - identifier: answer
        type: Textarea
        enableRichtext: true
        required: true

Fluid Template with Schema

<!-- ContentBlocks/ContentElements/faq-accordion/Resources/Private/Frontend.html -->
{namespace schema=Brotkrueml\Schema\ViewHelpers}

<section class="faq-accordion">
    <schema:type.fAQPage>
        <f:for each="{data.faq_items}" as="item">
            <schema:type.question -as="mainEntity" name="{item.question}">
                <schema:type.answer -as="acceptedAnswer">
                    <schema:property -as="text" value="{item.answer -> f:format.stripTags()}" />
                </schema:type.answer>
            </schema:type.question>
            
            <details class="faq-item">
                <summary class="faq-question">{item.question}</summary>
                <div class="faq-answer">
                    <f:format.html>{item.answer}</f:format.html>
                </div>
            </details>
        </f:for>
    </schema:type.fAQPage>
</section>

13.7 Breadcrumb Schema

Fluid ViewHelper Implementation

{namespace schema=Brotkrueml\Schema\ViewHelpers}

<nav aria-label="Breadcrumb">
    <schema:type.breadcrumbList>
        <f:for each="{breadcrumbs}" as="crumb" iteration="iter">
            <schema:type.listItem -as="itemListElement" position="{iter.cycle}">
                <schema:property -as="name" value="{crumb.title}" />
                <schema:property -as="i

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