What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

Answer Engine Optimization is the practice of optimizing your brand's digital presence to be understood and cited by AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews. Unlike traditional SEO which focuses on ranking in search results, AEO focuses on being the source of AI-generated answers.

How is AEO different from SEO?

While SEO focuses on ranking in search engine results pages and driving clicks, AEO focuses on being cited as the authoritative source in AI-generated answers. SEO targets search engines, while AEO targets AI systems. The goal of SEO is click-through rate, while AEO aims for AI mentions and citations.

Why does AEO matter for businesses?

With over 1 billion weekly active users on ChatGPT alone and 40% of Gen Z preferring AI tools over traditional search, AEO is critical for brand visibility. AI gives answers directly without requiring clicks, so your brand either is or isn't mentioned in responses to relevant queries.

Answer Engine
Optimization

The landscape is shifting. AI-powered answer engines are changing how people find information—and your brand needs to be ready.

What is AEO?

Answer Engine Optimization is the practice of optimizing your brand's digital presence to be understood and cited by AI systems—ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews, and the growing ecosystem of AI-powered search tools.

When someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google's AI Overview about your industry, your products, or your competitors—will your brand be mentioned? AEO is how you ensure the answer is yes.

AI_VISIBILITY_SCAN

Knowledge Graph

Entity Recognition

Active

Schema Markup

Structured Data

12 Types

AI Citations

Last 30 Days

847

Why AEO Matters Now

The shift to AI-powered search is accelerating. Brands that optimize now will dominate. Those that wait will become invisible.

40%

of Gen Z prefers TikTok and AI tools over Google for search queries.

1B+

weekly active users on ChatGPT alone, asking questions about brands like yours.

Zero

clicks needed. AI gives the answer directly—your brand either is or isn't mentioned.

The AEO Framework

Our approach to AEO covers the three pillars that determine how AI systems understand and represent your brand.

Entity Optimization

Establishing your brand as a recognized entity in Google's Knowledge Graph and other knowledge bases that AI systems reference.

• Knowledge Graph optimization
• Wikipedia & Wikidata presence
• Entity disambiguation
• Brand authority signals

Structured Data

Implementing comprehensive schema markup that helps AI systems understand your content, products, services, and expertise.

• Organization schema
• Product & service markup
• FAQ & How-to schema
• Author & expertise signals

Content Authority

Creating and optimizing content that AI systems identify as authoritative, trustworthy, and citation-worthy.

• Topical authority building
• E-E-A-T optimization
• Citation-worthy content
• Cross-platform consistency

SEO vs AEO

AEO doesn't replace SEO—it extends it. Here's how the strategies differ and complement each other.

Feature

Traditional SEO

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

Goal

Drive traffic to website

Be the cited source

Target

Search Algorithms

Answer Engines (AI & Voice)

Metric

Rankings & Organic Sessions

Citations & Visibility

Focus

Keywords, Backlinks & Technical

Entities, Schema & Authority

Output

Ten Blue Links

Direct Answers

Is Your Brand AI-Visible?

Get an AEO audit to understand how AI systems currently see your brand—and what you can do to improve your visibility.

Request AEO Audit