How many AEO pages do I need to get cited
Most advisors start seeing AI citations after publishing 15-25 well-structured answer pages on their main domain. Below 10 you're often invisible; above 25 the curve starts to compound because internal linking and topical authority kick in. The MVP is 20 pages, the threshold is 50, and the moat is 100+.
The three levels
- MVP (15-25 pages). Enough to start showing up for niche questions. First citations usually appear within 4-8 weeks.
- Threshold (50+ pages). Topical authority kicks in. AI engines start treating you as a source, not a one-off page.
- Moat (100+ pages). Hard for competitors to catch up without a 6-month effort. Citations become consistent.
Why volume matters
- More pages = more long-tail queries you can win.
- More internal links between pages = better topical authority.
- More chances for an external site to find one of your pages and link to it.
- More signal to crawlers that you're a serious source, not a one-off.
Why volume alone isn't enough
If you stamp out 100 thin pages with no structure or voice, you get penalized. Volume only works when each page is a real, structured, citation-worthy answer.
What we recommend
Start with 20 pages this month. Publish 5 more per week. By month 3 you have 60 pages and the curve starts to compound.
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