Balancing AEO and Click-Through: The Art of Being Seen and Clicked

Don’t get stuck at Zero Click Junction

At RedFig, we often see brands trapped in the AEO paradox: you create a perfect answer, Google features it as a snippet or AI Overview, but your traffic stalls because users get what they need right on the SERP.

Here’s the kicker: the snippet actually nudges users back to your site. Why? Because every featured snippet or AI Overview must include a clear “Source: YourDomain.com” link below the answer. Your branded title and URL appear prominently, building trust and authority. This branded link becomes the prime, trusted path for users wanting more—like exclusive templates or case studies. Data from Ahrefs shows snippet winners enjoy an 18% higher click-through rate on that source link than similar non-snippet pages.

The trick is to win snippets and build enough curiosity so users click your source link. Here’s how we do it, with fresh examples:

1. Lead with a Clear, Extractable Answer

Give Google a 40-60 word factual nugget perfect for featured snippets. Mark this with FAQ or Q&A schema.

Example: HubSpot’s post on voice search optimization leads with:
"Use conversational keywords and schema for natural questions."
This clean, direct answer wins the snippet space.

2. Follow With a Hook That Sparks Curiosity

Just after the snippet-worthy answer, tease deeper value users get only from your site—exclusive audits, proprietary tools, or real-world results. Keep hooks outside schema markup so answer engines won’t pull them in.

Example: HubSpot adds:
"But what most teams miss: our proprietary 5-minute audit tool to test ranking in Siri and Alexa. Discover how ecommerce vs. B2B businesses fare with real data."
The snippet includes the direct answer, but the audit tool and data entice visitors to click the Source: hubspot.com link for exclusive insight.

3. Optimize Bite-Sized FAQ Blocks, But Keep Proprietary Depth On-Site

Mark concise, question-based answers with schema to fuel featured snippets, but surround those with richer content like case studies and benchmarks AI won’t extract fully.

Example: Mangools’ SEO keyword research guide offers a snippet-friendly answer like:
"Start keyword research by entering a seed keyword, then expand with question, preposition, and comparison-based phrases."

This clear method secures snippet placement. Behind the branded link on mangools.com, they offer detailed insights including:

• How their KWFinder tool analyzes keyword difficulty and competition density;

• Step-by-step tutorials for competitor keyword analysis;

• Tips on SERP checking for assessing snippet viability.

These deeper insights drive clicks from users wanting more than the quick answer, via the snippet’s Source: mangools.com link.

4. Design for Curiosity and Next Steps

End snippets with questions or promises AI summaries won’t reproduce perfectly. Use calls to action for content or tools users can’t get just from the snippet.

Example: Ahrefs on their blog snippet says:
"Backlinks remain a critical ranking factor."
On-site, they add:
"See how our Link Intersect tool helped a SaaS client gain 200 high-authority backlinks in 3 months—download the full case study and outreach templates here."

This contrast turns the snippet into a teaser, encouraging users to click the Source: ahrefs.com link for the exclusive content.

The User Journey Simplified

1. Google shows your branded snippet with a clear, concise answer.

2. The snippet piques curiosity but leaves gaps, like “how-to’s” or proof points.

3. The user clicks “Source: YourDomain” to find hooks, tools, and proprietary insights only on your page.

4. You convert curiosity into high-intent visits and engagement.

At RedFig, this layered content strategy balances zero-click visibility with actual traffic growth—ensuring our clients win in AI-driven search and business impact.