SameAs links: how to prove your digital identity to AI

What is sameAs and why is it essential?

In the physical world you prove your identity with a passport or driver's license. On the web you need a different mechanism: sameAs links. The sameAs property in Schema.org tells AI models and search engines that your website represents the same entity as profiles on other platforms. It is the digital thread that connects your LinkedIn page, Wikipedia article, Wikidata entry and social media profiles into a coherent whole.

For AI models, sameAs is particularly valuable. When a language model gathers information about an organization or person, it looks for confirmation from multiple sources. If your Schema.org markup contains explicit sameAs links pointing to authoritative platforms, the model can more confidently determine who you are, what you do and whether you are a reliable source.

The role of sameAs in the knowledge graph

Google's Knowledge Graph, Wikidata and other knowledge bases use sameAs (or similar concepts) as the primary method to connect entities. When you mark your organization in Schema.org with sameAs links to Wikipedia and Wikidata, you help these systems unambiguously identify your organization. This process is called entity reconciliation and it is crucial for how AI models aggregate information about your brand.

Without sameAs links, you risk AI models not connecting different mentions of your company across the web. Your LinkedIn page, your Google Business Profile and your website are then seen as three separate entities instead of facets of the same organization. The result is a fragmented picture that undermines your authority. This is one of the foundations of a strong E-E-A-T strategy.

Implementing Organization schema with sameAs

The implementation of sameAs is technically straightforward but requires care in choosing links. Below you will find a complete example of Organization schema with an extensive sameAs array.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Kobalt Digital",
  "url": "https://www.kobaltdigital.nl",
  "logo": "https://www.kobaltdigital.nl/images/logo.png",
  "description": "AEO and SEO consultancy specialized in AI visibility",
  "foundingDate": "2018",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/company/kobalt-digital",
    "https://twitter.com/kobaltdigital",
    "https://www.facebook.com/kobaltdigital",
    "https://www.instagram.com/kobaltdigital",
    "https://github.com/kobalt-digital",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobalt_Digital",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456789",
    "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kobalt-digital",
    "https://www.kvk.nl/orderstraat/product-702/?kvknummer=12345678"
  ]
}
</script>

Which platforms to include in sameAs

Not all links are equal. AI models assign more weight to certain platforms than to others. Prioritize the following sources in your sameAs array.

1. Wikipedia: the gold standard for entity verification. A Wikipedia article about your organization is the strongest sameAs signal you can have.
2. Wikidata: the structured data layer behind Wikipedia. AI models use Wikidata extensively for entity reconciliation.
3. LinkedIn company page: important for B2B authority and professional validation.
4. Google Business Profile: strengthens local visibility and connects you to Google's Knowledge Graph.
5. Industry registrations: Chamber of Commerce, Crunchbase or industry-specific registers demonstrate legitimacy.
6. Social media: Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for brand recognition.
7. GitHub: for technical organizations, a GitHub profile is a signal of expertise.

Combining sameAs with ContactPoint

The power of sameAs increases significantly when you combine it with ContactPoint schema. An organization that offers both a unified digital identity (via sameAs) and structured contact information (via ContactPoint) gives AI models the strongest possible trust signal. One proves who you are, the other that you are reachable.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Kobalt Digital",
  "url": "https://www.kobaltdigital.nl",
  "logo": "https://www.kobaltdigital.nl/images/logo.png",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/company/kobalt-digital",
    "https://twitter.com/kobaltdigital",
    "https://github.com/kobalt-digital"
  ],
  "contactPoint": {
    "@type": "ContactPoint",
    "telephone": "+31-20-123-4567",
    "contactType": "customer service",
    "email": "info@kobaltdigital.nl",
    "availableLanguage": ["Dutch", "English"]
  }
}
</script>

sameAs for persons

Besides organizations, sameAs is also essential for persons, especially for thought leaders, authors and experts whose E-E-A-T signals directly influence content credibility.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Jan de Vries",
  "jobTitle": "AEO Consultant",
  "worksFor": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Kobalt Digital"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jandevries",
    "https://twitter.com/jandevries",
    "https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ABC123",
    "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1234-5678",
    "https://www.kobaltdigital.nl/team/jan-de-vries"
  ]
}
</script>

For persons, academic profiles like Google Scholar and ORCID are particularly valuable. They serve as proof of expertise and are actively used by AI models when evaluating author authority.

Author markup with sameAs on article pages

A practical application of sameAs for persons is linking author information to individual blog posts or articles. By enriching your Article schema with an author property containing sameAs, you connect every publication to the author's full authority profile.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "SameAs links: how to prove your digital identity to AI",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Jan de Vries",
    "url": "https://www.kobaltdigital.nl/team/jan-de-vries",
    "sameAs": [
      "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jandevries",
      "https://twitter.com/jandevries"
    ]
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "AEO Expert",
    "sameAs": [
      "https://www.linkedin.com/company/kobalt-digital",
      "https://github.com/kobalt-digital"
    ]
  },
  "datePublished": "2026-04-23",
  "dateModified": "2026-04-23"
}
</script>

Common mistakes with sameAs

Although the implementation seems simple, many websites make mistakes that undermine the effectiveness of sameAs.

• Dead links: a sameAs link to a non-existent page damages your credibility. Regularly check that all links still work.
• Wrong entity: ensure that sameAs links actually point to profiles of the same organization or person. A common mistake is linking to a personal LinkedIn profile from Organization schema.
• Missing reciprocity: the profiles you link to should ideally also link back to your website. This strengthens bidirectional verification.
• Non-authoritative sources: avoid sameAs links to obscure platforms that carry no authority. Focus on well-known, trusted platforms.
• Too few links: a single sameAs link is better than none, but three to seven links give AI models significantly more confidence in your identity.

Validating and monitoring sameAs

After implementation you want to be sure that your sameAs markup is correct and recognized by AI models.

1. Use Google's Rich Results Test to validate your JSON-LD for syntax errors.
2. Check in Google Search Console whether your Organization schema is correctly recognized.
3. Test your markup with the Schema.org validator at validator.schema.org.
4. Use our AEO scanner to see how your sameAs links contribute to your identity and authority score.
5. Set up a quarterly check to verify that all sameAs links are still active and correct.

sameAs links, together with other structured data, paint a complete picture for AI models. Make sure your Open Graph tags are in order too, and consider evaluating your entire AEO strategy for maximum AI visibility.

Key takeaways

• sameAs links in Schema.org connect all your digital profiles into a unified identity that AI models can verify.
• Wikipedia and Wikidata are the strongest sameAs signals; LinkedIn, Google Business Profile and industry registrations follow.
• Combine Organization sameAs with Person sameAs for authors to maximize E-E-A-T signals.
• Regularly check for dead links and ensure reciprocity: have your profiles link back to your website.
• Three to seven sameAs links per entity is the sweet spot for optimal AI trust.

Frequently asked questions

In a world where AI models evaluate millions of sources, a unified digital identity is your business card. sameAs links are the glue that holds all your online profiles together.