AEO

Stands for "Answer Engine Optimization."

AEO is the process of tailoring webpage content so it can be easily processed by AI-powered "answer engines" and cited in AI search results. It focuses on helping these systems deliver concise, accurate responses from website information rather than getting a URL to rank highly in a list of organic search results.

AEO vs SEO

AEO is similar to SEO, but instead of optimizing pages mainly for keyword-based search results, it optimizes specific pieces of content so that AI systems can use the information in generated answers. Examples include short explanations, FAQs, and structured data. It involves organizing information clearly, using descriptive headings, and adding markup that helps AI crawlers interpret the content.

Webmasters often target answer engine optimization at AI Overviews (shown above), which are summarized answers at the top of search results. Similar strategies work for AI platforms like Perplexity and ChatGPT. AEO aims to increase how often a source is referenced or linked in these AI-generated responses, improving brand or site visibility even when users never click through to traditional search listings.