What Is Query Fan-Out?
Query fan-out is a process used by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity. Instead of running a single search based on a user's query, these AI tools expand the original query into a network of related sub-queries. This involves rewording, expanding, and narrowing the scope to decide what content to pull from.
Example
- User Query: "What are the best vegetables to grow in Utah?"
- LLM Expanded Queries:
- "Best vegetables for high-altitude gardening"
- "Vegetables that grow well in cold climates"
- "Short-season vegetable planting guide"
- "Frost-tolerant vegetables"
If your content only targets the exact phrase "best vegetables to grow in Utah" but ignores related subtopics, you might be invisible to the AI's broader retrieval network.
Why Query Fan-Out Matters for AI Visibility
Traditional SEO focuses on optimizing for a single, significant keyword. However, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) requires a different approach: optimizing for the entire conversation surrounding your topic. This is because LLMs query a network of related sub-questions when building an answer.
You don't need a larger PR budget or advanced schema implementations; instead, you need content that aligns with the real question network that an LLM explores.
How aeo.press Helps Optimize for Query Fan-Out
Map the Fan-Out Network
- Identify Key Questions: Your website chatbot can identify not just keywords, but also the questions LLMs are likely to generate from them.
Highlight Content Gaps
- Reveal Missing Angles: aeo.press points out where you've effectively covered the primary query but missed critical supporting subtopics.
Optimize for AI-Friendly Structure
- Content Structuring: aeo.press ensures your content is structured in a way that LLMs can easily extract, connect, and trust your answers across the fan-out spectrum.
Track AI Visibility Over Time
- Monitor Updates: Determine if your content updates increase your presence in LLM-generated answers, not just in traditional search rankings.
The Bottom Line
Visibility in AI-generated answers is not about having the most elaborate schema. It comes from being present across the AI's query fan-out network. If you're solely focusing on your core keyword, you're missing out on AI optimization. With aeo.press, you can understand your customer's question network and effectively own it.
For more information on Query Fan-Out, you can read the white paper from Primary Position.