---
name: aeo_query_research
description: Discover conversational and answer-driven query opportunities for a topic, service, page target, or keyword set. Output ONLY question-group discovery for AEO/zero-click use. DO NOT do keyword research, SERP intent mapping, outlines, schema, or implementation.
---

# AEO Query Research

## PURPOSE

Use this skill to discover:

- what people ask
- what symptom/problem questions appear
- what decision/comparison questions appear
- what review/reputation questions appear
- what answer-visibility opportunity categories exist

This skill is for query discovery only.

IMPORTANT:
This skill does NOT choose the target keyword family.
This skill does NOT decide page ownership.
This skill does NOT build outlines.
This skill does NOT recommend schema.
This skill does NOT produce implementation steps.

## USE THIS SKILL FOR

Use this skill when the task is about:

- conversational query discovery
- answer-driven query discovery
- FAQ-style discovery
- symptom/problem query discovery
- decision/comparison query discovery
- review/reputation query discovery
- zero-click / answer-surface opportunity discovery

## DO NOT USE THIS SKILL FOR

DO NOT use this skill for:

- keyword research
- keyword clustering
- local modifier extraction
- semantic/entity extraction
- SERP intent mapping
- split/consolidate decisions
- cannibalization analysis
- content briefs
- page outlines
- titles / metas / headings
- schema recommendations
- implementation planning

## OUTPUT FORMAT

Use EXACTLY these sections and NO others:

## Objective
[one sentence]

## Core Conversational Queries
- [question]
- [question]
- [question]
- [If none, write: none significant]

## Problem / Symptom Queries
- [question]
- [question]
- [question]
- [If none, write: none significant]

## Decision / Comparison Queries
- [question]
- [question]
- [question]
- [If none, write: none significant]

## Review / Reputation Queries
- [question]
- [question]
- [question]
- [If none, write: none significant]

## Answer Visibility Opportunities
- [opportunity category]
- [opportunity category]
- [opportunity category]
- [If none, write: none significant]

## Risks / Notes
- [diagnostic ambiguity or uncertainty grounded in the input]
- [diagnostic ambiguity or uncertainty grounded in the input]
- [If none, write: none significant]

IMPORTANT:
DO NOT add any other sections.

## SECTION RULES

### Core Conversational Queries
Use broad help-seeking or expectation-setting questions.

Allowed examples:
- when should I call a professional
- what should I check before calling
- how long does an AC repair usually take
- what information should I have ready
- what are the first signs my AC needs professional attention

DO NOT include:
- symptom/fault questions
- troubleshooting/cause questions
- estimate-shopping questions
- quote-shopping questions
- provider-comparison questions
- decision-stage evaluation questions
- provider-process questions that are mainly about quoting, pricing method, or sales handling

Examples that DO NOT belong here:
- why is my AC blowing warm air
- what causes loud AC noises
- should I get multiple estimates
- can I get an estimate over the phone
- should I repair or replace

### Problem / Symptom Queries
Use symptom/fault/malfunction questions only.

Examples:
- why is my AC blowing warm air
- why is my AC leaking water
- why does my AC short cycle

### Decision / Comparison Queries
Use real user choice/tradeoff questions only.

Allowed:
- repair vs replace
- same-day vs regular appointment
- repair vs maintenance
- multiple estimates vs single estimate
- local company vs national chain

DO NOT include:
- part taxonomy
- repair subtype explanations
- provider-tier pricing comparisons
- licensed technician vs handyman pricing
- credential-tier cost comparisons

### Review / Reputation Queries
Use trust/reassurance questions only.

Examples:
- best reviewed companies
- how to verify license/insurance
- what warranties to expect
- what red flags to look for

## ANSWER VISIBILITY OPPORTUNITIES

Use ONLY category labels.

Allowed examples:
- local cost-answer coverage
- concise answer-first coverage
- symptom-to-cause answer coverage
- urgency-answer coverage
- comparison-answer coverage
- trust/reassurance answer coverage
- follow-up question coverage
- review/reputation answer visibility
- local reassurance coverage

DO NOT include:
- high / medium / low
- snippet potential language
- formatting advice
- content devices
- implementation ideas

## RISKS / NOTES

Use ONLY material diagnostic ambiguity grounded in the input.

Allowed:
- ambiguity between informational and commercial intent
- cost uncertainty due to missing unit condition/details
- repair-vs-replace uncertainty due to missing age/condition details
- time-sensitive answer conditions ONLY if urgency is explicitly in the input

DO NOT include:
- generic local competition filler
- generic locality commentary
- generic seasonality commentary
- tactical ranking language
- implementation language
- invented details not present in the input

IMPORTANT:
Prefer 1–2 strong risks over filler.

## STYLE

- concise
- dry
- direct
- operational
- no fluff

DO NOT offer next steps.
DO NOT say “If you want, I can...”
DO NOT reuse formatting from other skills.

## FINAL RULE

This skill discovers query groups only.

It does NOT do keyword research.
It does NOT do intent mapping.
It does NOT do outlines.
It does NOT do schema.
It does NOT do implementation.