The 3-Block Blueprint: How to Structure Pages for AI Mode (Using Backyard My Christmas Lights as an Example)

By Kevin Roy, GreenBanana SEO

Here is the hard truth about the new search landscape: AI Mode isn’t picking the “best website.” It’s picking the “best next click.”

And it is making that decision at unparalleled speed.

Traditional search ranked pages based on keywords and backlinks. AI Mode is different. It assembles an answer by reading the web, and then it chooses a few sources to feature as in-line links.

If your page makes it easy for AI to quote a clean answer… and then guides the user to the next step… you get picked.

In this post (and the video below), I’m going to show you a simple, Christmas-themed page structure that is built specifically for AI Mode. We’ll use my own backyard decorations as the example.

One example. One topic. And you’ll leave with a blueprint you can reuse on any page.

Watch the Breakdown:

The Goal: Be Easy to Quote

Your job is no longer just “rank.” Your job is to:

1. Be easy to quote.

2. Be easy to verify.

3. Be the obvious next step.

Most pages fail because they are unstructured walls of text. To fix this, think of your content in 3 Blocks:

• Answer Block (2–5 sentences)

• Proof Block (Checklists, steps, budget breakdown)

• Pathway Block (Next actions + internal links)

Most pages skip the last two blocks. That’s why they don’t get cited.

The Example: My Backyard “Christmas Wonderland”

To illustrate this, let’s look at a picture of the Christmas lights in my backyard.

It looks complicated, right? But it’s really just a bunch of 2-dimensional 2x4s and scrap wood strung up with simple lights. We started with just one tree, and each year someone in my family helps build another. 12 years later, it looks like a wonderland.

Now, a quick side note: I actually don’t want this specific page to rank on the GreenBanana site. Why? Because it might confuse the engines into thinking I’m selling Christmas lighting tips instead of SEO services (we can talk more about “content pruning” later).

So, instead of putting this live on my site, I’m dropping the cheat sheet in my Google Drive for you. But if I were trying to rank this page in AI Mode, here is exactly how I would structure it.

The Technical Setup: The H1 Rule

Before we get to the blocks, we have to talk about the H1 tag.

You ONLY need one H1.

If you add two, it will confuse the crawlers and screw up your rankings. The H1 represents the entire page intent.

• It is not “Now for the Task at Hand.”

• It is not “Block 1.”

• It appears once, at the very top.

H1 for this page: How to Build a Backyard Christmas Wonderland on the Cheap

The 3 Blocks AI Engines Look For

AI engines don’t read pages the way humans do. They scan for structured meaning. The most reliable way to make your page usable inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity is to organize it into these three predictable blocks.

Block 1: The Answer Block

This is what AI extracts first. Keep it short (2-5 sentences) and direct.

H2: What Is the Fastest Way to Build a Backyard Christmas Display on a Budget?

You can build a backyard Christmas light display cheaply by creating simple wooden tree frames using a single 2×4, inexpensive wood strapping, and standard string lights. These trees are lightweight, easy to assemble, and can be spaced across a yard to create a dramatic nighttime effect. The entire setup can be built with basic tools and minimal materials.

Block 2: The Proof Block

This is where you prove the Answer Block is real. Use checklists, steps, and cost reality. AI loves this because it is structured and verifiable.

H2: The Materials Checklist

• One 2×4 used as both base and vertical trunk.

• Thin wood strapping for branches.

• Wood screws.

• Outdoor-rated string lights.

• A long outdoor extension cord.

H2: A Step-by-Step Build Process

1. Step one: Attach the vertical 2×4 to a flat base for stability.

2. Step two: Screw strapping horizontally into the trunk, widest at the bottom.

3. Step three: Narrow the branches toward the top to form the tree shape.

4. Step four: Wrap string lights around the trunk and branches.

5. Step five: Place the trees in the yard and connect power.

H2: Cost Reality

Lumber is scrap or low-cost. Lights are standard strand lights. Tools are basic household tools. No specialty materials required.

Block 3: The Pathway Block

This is the part most websites miss. This tells AI what the user should do next—and it’s where your internal links belong.

H2: What Should You Do Next?

If you want to scale this display, repeat the same tree structure across larger areas using consistent spacing and color patterns.

Why This Structure Works

Here is the secret: Headings aren’t decorative—they’re instructional.

• H1 defines the page’s purpose.

• H2s define the conceptual blocks.

• H3s define extractable units (questions, lists, and steps).

AI systems use these relationships to identify the answer, validate the proof, and decide whether to cite or summarize the page.

If your page clearly presents a direct answer, supporting proof, and a logical next step—and the headings make those relationships obvious—AI engines don’t just understand the page… they reuse it.

Here is a link to the completed 3 Block Page-  https://sites.google.com/greenbananaseo.com/backyardchristmaswonderland?usp=sharing

Coming Up Next: In our next video, I will show you “How to build micro-intent clusters AI Mode keeps linking to.”