What is AEO?

What is AEO?

AEO is the optimisation of content for answer engines - ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Gemini and voice assistants - so your information is the most direct, complete and trustworthy response to a user’s question. Where SEO targets ranked pages and blue links, AEO targets answers and the underlying data (entities, facts, and intent) these systems use to assemble responses.

Why AEO matters now

• User behaviour is shifting: More queries are conversational and task-based (“What’s the best…”, “How do I…”).

• Zero-click results are rising: AI answers appear without a click; you must win the in-answer citation or extraction.

• Entity-first indexing: Modern engines build knowledge from entities, relationships, and verified sources—not just keywords.

How AEO Works (in plan English)

1) Understand intent: Map the exact questions your audience asks and classify them (informational, transactional, navigational, troubleshooting).

2) Structure for machines: Present concise, verifiable answers up top; expand with scannable sections, lists, steps, tables and FAQs.

3) Ground in entities: Name the people, products, places, organisations and categories involved, and explain how they relate.

4) Prove credibility: Demonstrate real-world signals—authorship, expertise, citations, reviews, data sources, dates, and policy compliance.

5) Make it extractable: Use clear headings, definition lines, bullets, and schema-friendly phrasing so systems can quote you verbatim.

6)Close loops: Offer next actions (calculators, checklists, comparison tables, how-to steps) that answer follow-up intents.

AEO v SEO (at a glance)

Core AEO Building Blocks

• Definition line: Start pages with a one-sentence answer (like this post).

• Intent clusters: Group content by question families (“what,” “how,” “cost,” “alternatives,” “vs”).

• Scannable structure: H2/H3 headings, short paragraphs, bullets, numbered steps.

• Entities & relationships: Explicitly name products, versions, industries, standards, locations.

• Evidence & recency: Cite sources, publish dates, authors, and where data comes from.

• Structured data (where relevant): FAQPage, HowTo, Product, Organisation, Article, Review.

• Compliance & safety: Clear disclaimers for legal/medical/financial topics, privacy and accessibility notes.

A Simple AEO Content Template

• Direct answer (1–2 sentences).

• Context & why it matters.

• Step-by-step or checklist.

• Comparisons / alternatives.

• FAQ with exact phrasings.

• Sources, dates, and who wrote it.

• Next action (tool, form, contact, download).

On-page Checklist (quick wins)

• Page title includes the exact question (“What is AEO?”).

• Opening sentence = definitive answer.

• One idea per paragraph; bullets where possible.

• Add an FAQ block with 4–8 real questions from users.

• Include a comparison table or step list.

• Name entities (brand, product, industry, region).

• Show author bio/credentials and last-updated date.

• Add relevant schema (FAQPage/HowTo/Product).

• Link to primary sources and internal deep-dives.

Measuring AEO Success

• AI citation share: % of featured references in AI answers mentioning/quoting your brand.

• Zero-click impact: Assisted conversions, brand searches, and direct traffic after AI answer exposure.

• Query coverage: Number of priority intents with a definitive on-site answer.

• Evidence completeness: Pages with authorship, dates, sources and schema.

• Engagement with assistants: Chat widget logs, prompt completions, tool usage.

FAQ's

What does AEO stand for?
Answer Engine Optimisation.

How is AEO different from SEO?
SEO focuses on ranking web pages; AEO focuses on being the source AI systems choose to answer the query, using entity-rich, verifiable content.

Do I need structured data for AEO?
It helps but isn’t mandatory. The primary goal is clearly formatted, evidence-backed answers; schema enhances machine readability.

What content types work best for AEO?
Definitions, how-tos, troubleshooting guides, pricing pages, comparisons (“X vs Y”), FAQs, checklists, and short data summaries.

How do I research AEO intents?
Use search autosuggest, People Also Ask, internal search logs, support tickets, and sales FAQs to collect exact question phrasing.

Can small sites win at AEO?
Yes - specialist expertise with clear answers and visible credentials often outperforms generic content.