What Is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the process of optimising your website and content so that your brand, products, or services are cited, summarised, or recommended by AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity.
Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on ranking in search results, AEO targets the new wave of AI-driven answers that are transforming how people discover and trust information online.
Key Questions About AEO
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is AEO? | AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimisation. It involves creating content designed to be referenced by AI models and answer engines. |
| Why does AEO matter? | AI-driven answers are rapidly becoming the default source for information. Brands that aren’t cited in these answers risk losing visibility. |
| How does AEO differ from SEO? | SEO aims for rankings in traditional search results. AEO is about being surfaced or cited directly in AI answers and summaries. |
| How do I optimise for AEO? | Use structured Q&A content, factual and neutral language, implement schema markup, and build authority in your niche. |
| Which engines use AEO signals? | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, Bing Copilot, and other emerging LLM-powered platforms. |
What Makes Content AEO-Friendly?
- Structured Q&A: Organise content around clear questions and answers.
- Factual & Neutral: Write in an objective, reference-style tone.
- Original Data: Share unique insights, statistics, or research when possible.
- Schema Markup: Use FAQ, HowTo, and Article schema to help engines understand your content.
- Accessible: Avoid paywalls and ensure your content is crawlable and easy to extract.
What Is the Difference Between SEO and AEO?
SEO is about ranking your site in Google’s organic results.
AEO is about ensuring your site or brand is cited or summarised by AI tools, which may bypass traditional search results entirely.
Why Is AEO Critical in 2025?
With AI answer engines now serving millions of users every day, consumers increasingly get their answers directly from chatbots or voice assistants. If your brand is not being referenced in these answers, you could be invisible to a growing segment of your market.
FAQs
What is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the process of structuring and optimising content so it is cited and summarised by AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
How is AEO different from SEO?
SEO focuses on ranking web pages in search results, while AEO is about being referenced or cited directly in AI-generated answers.
How do I know if my site appears in AI answers?
You can use tools like Ahrefs BrandRadar or SparkToro to monitor AI citations and mentions of your brand.
Does AEO replace SEO?
No—AEO complements SEO. Both are necessary for future visibility.
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