What is AEO (answer engine optimization)?

AEO, or answer engine optimization, is the work that helps your business get mentioned when people ask AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google's AI Overviews a question. It builds on SEO: clear answer-style pages, structured data, consistent business details and real reviews.

How it differs from SEO

SEO aims for a spot in a list of links. AEO aims to be the business an AI tool names in its answer. In practice they overlap: clear pages that answer real customer questions help with both. Google says no special markup or AI-only files are required.

What to do first

Write down the 10 questions customers ask you most
Answer each one on your site in plain words, answer first
Add structured data to your site
Keep your business details identical everywhere online

Written by Brayden Howard, Gofirstlight, Boise. Updated October 2026.

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