What is Answer Engine Optimisation?AEO
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the practice of structuring content so that AI answer engines — Perplexity, ChatGPT Search, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Bing Copilot — cite it directly when responding to user queries.
AEO sits next to traditional SEO but optimises for a different surface: the AI-generated answer rather than the ranked link. Where SEO wins on link equity and technical UX, AEO wins on retrievable structure — schema markup, definitional openings, FAQ formatting, freshness signals, and entity-clear writing. The goal is no longer just to rank a page, but to be the source the AI cites when it composes its answer. By 2026 a meaningful share of buyer research happens inside AI assistants before any click ever reaches a search results page, so brands that ignore AEO leave 30–60% of decision-maker queries on the table.
What it includes
- Schema markup (FAQPage, Article, Speakable, DefinedTerm)
- Definitive answer paragraphs at the top of every important section
- FAQ blocks with question text matching real search queries
- `dateModified` and visible "Last updated" freshness signals
- Entity-clear writing (named brands, products, methods)
- Content depth that matches the question being asked
How it works
Audit the AI surface
Manually run 20–30 target queries through Perplexity, ChatGPT Search, Google AI Overviews, and Gemini. Record who gets cited.
Add structured data
Wire FAQPage, Article + Speakable, and DefinedTerm schema to every important page using JSON-LD.
Rewrite for citation
Open each section with a one-sentence direct answer. Use the entity name. Avoid pronouns at section starts.
Publish first-party data
Original surveys, pricing benchmarks, and outcome data outrank derivative think-pieces in AI citation rates.
Monitor monthly
Re-run the same query set every 30 days. Track citations gained, lost, and never won. Iterate.
Frequently asked
Is AEO different from SEO?
Yes. SEO optimises for blue-link rankings on Google. AEO optimises for citation in AI-generated answers. They share foundations (technical health, entity clarity, content quality) but diverge on schema density, definitional formatting, and the surfaces being measured.
How do I measure AEO?
Run a fixed query set across major AI engines monthly and count citations. There is no central dashboard yet — manual audit plus tools like Profound or Otterly are the current stack.
How long does AEO take to work?
AI engines re-index frequently. Expect first citations on long-tail queries in 4–8 weeks of disciplined publishing, with steady compounding from month 3 onward.