Welcome to Getting Mentioned by AI, the podcast about building content that LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude can cite.
In this episode, Mike breaks down how to design the content part of your website website that makes sense not only to people, but also to large language models.
Using the cruise nice as a case study, he walks through the three essential layers of a GEO-optimized content tree:
Pillar pages that define your main entities
Sub-pillar pages that explain and connect those entities
Blog posts that humanize the topic with real stories and updates
This isn’t traditional SEO. It’s GEO — Generative Entity Optimization and it’s what determines whether AI tools understand what you do, or completely overlook you.
Welcome & Why This Matters
Mike opens with the key shift from SEO to GEO. It’s not about ranking anymore, it’s about being understood. The structure of your site determines whether AI can form a knowledge graph around your content.
The Big Picture: How the 3 Layers Work Together
He introduces the content tree model:
Pillar pages are the trunk: they define a topic and give context.
Sub-pillars are the branches: they explore one major part or question.
Blogs are the leaves: they add proof, freshness, and humanity.
Together they create a logical path that AIs use to reason: Define → Explain → Illustrate.
Pillar Pages: The Foundation of GEO Content
Each pillar page should cover one core entity in your niche, in Mike’s case, Solo Cruise Basics.
He explains what to include:
Clear definition and introduction
Why the topic matters and who it’s for
Overview of related sub-topics (with links)
Frequently asked questions formatted naturally
Internal linking that establishes hierarchy
Pillars act as the “dictionary entries” that AI systems cite when defining your space.
Sub-Pillar Pages: The Connective Tissue
Sub-pillars build depth and context. They connect your main topic to related ones: like Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers, Solo Cabins Explained, or Cruise Costs and Fees.
What they need:
Short intro linking back to the pillar
Deep explanations or comparisons
Visuals (tables, charts, examples)
FAQs in natural question format
Links to supporting blog posts
Sub-pillars are where AIs find relationships between concepts, for example, linking solo cruising to specific cruise lines.
Blog Posts: The Human Layer
Blogs give your content texture and freshness.
Mike explains how posts like My First NCL Solo Cruise - What I Learned or Top 5 Solo Cruise Deals for 2025 provide proof that real people are behind the information.
Each blog:
Focuses on one clear question or story
Adds a human voice or data point
Links back to its parent sub-pillar
Updates your entity with time-sensitive signals
AIs use these pages as evidence and examples, not definitions but that’s what makes them powerful.
How the Layers Interconnect
He ties it all together with one path:
Pillar → Solo Cruise Basics defines the concept
Sub-pillar → Solo Cabins Explained gives detail
Blog → Balcony vs Interior Solo Cabins adds experience
Each level links up and down the chain.
That simple structure helps AIs understand relationships — which is the foundation of entity optimization.
Final Takeaway
If you want your site to be mentioned by AI, structure it the way AI reasons:
Pillars teach
Sub-pillars explain
Blogs prove
Link everything so nothing stands alone.
That’s not just smart web architecture, it’s what makes your domain AI-readable.
“The future of traffic isn’t about ranking. It’s about being understood.
Pillars teach, sub-pillars explain, and blogs prove and when you connect them, AI finally sees the logic.”
For More Resources
SoloCruiseHub.com — the live GEO case study site
Learn more about GEO strategy and AI discovery on GettingMentionedByAI.com