Comparison
Structured data describes content to machines in an explicit, unambiguous format. Clear writing makes the content itself extractable. Schema amplifies a good answer and does nothing for a missing one, so sequence matters more than the choice.
When the first option wins
Structured data wins where classification is genuinely ambiguous — events, products, recipes, local businesses — and where rich results are available in the SERP. It is also cheap once templated.
When the second option wins
Clear content wins almost everywhere else, and always wins when the two compete for budget. Google has confirmed structured data is not required for generative features.
Verdict
Write the answer first, mark it up second. An agency selling schema as an AI visibility solution is overselling a useful technical detail, and you can test this by asking what happens to a well-marked-up page that answers nothing.
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