Entity SEO: How to Build the Signals That Get Your Brand Cited by AI

AI engines don't cite strings — they cite entities. The difference between a brand getting quoted by ChatGPT and one being ignored is almost always entity strength: how well the model can disambiguate, verify, and trust who you are.

What is an entity in the context of AEO?

An entity is a uniquely identifiable thing — a person, company, product, or concept — that an AI model can resolve to a single, stable identifier across the web. Strong entities have Wikipedia pages, Wikidata IDs, consistent NAP (name, address, phone), and a dense web of sameAs links connecting their official profiles.

The 5 entity signals that move the needle

1. Wikidata entry — the single highest-leverage signal. Claim it, fill it out, link to your authoritative sources. 2. Wikipedia presence (for brands that qualify). 3. sameAs cluster — LinkedIn, Crunchbase, GitHub, X, YouTube, official blog, Google Business Profile, all linked from your Organization and Person schema. 4. Consistent NAP across every directory and listing. 5. Third-party citations from sources LLMs already trust — Reddit threads, news outlets, top-tier industry blogs, podcast show notes.

How to audit your entity footprint in 30 minutes

Search your brand name on Google and check the knowledge panel. Search Wikidata directly. Run a brand-name query in ChatGPT and Perplexity and read what they say about you — gaps, errors, and outdated facts are your work list. Cross-reference against Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and your own About page for consistency.

Tying it back to the AEO program

Entity signals are the half of AEO that compounds slowest but pays back longest. Schema and content can ship in a week; a robust entity footprint takes 3–6 months. Start now. The full sequencing is in the pillar guide "What is AEO? How to Get Cited by ChatGPT in 2026" and the AEO Implementation Checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Wikipedia page to be cited by AI?

No, but it helps. Wikidata is more accessible and almost as valuable. A clean Wikidata entry plus a strong sameAs cluster across your official profiles is enough for most B2B brands to be recognized as a distinct entity.

How long does it take to build entity authority?

3–6 months for a brand starting from scratch. Faster if you already have media coverage, an active founder profile, and a presence on Crunchbase/LinkedIn.

What's the single biggest entity mistake?

Inconsistent brand naming. "Acme" on the website, "Acme Inc." on LinkedIn, "Acme Corporation" on Crunchbase — that's three entities to an LLM, not one. Pick a canonical form and use it everywhere.