Why is schema markup critical for AEO?

Schema markup (JSON-LD) tells AI crawlers exactly what your content contains without requiring them to parse and guess from raw HTML. It's the difference between handing a machine a labeled filing cabinet versus a pile of loose papers. For AEO, the most relevant schema types are FAQPage, Article, HowTo, Product, and Organization. When implemented correctly, AI platforms can map relationships between your data points directly, increasing the chance your content appears in citation-heavy results.