Guide
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the practice of optimising content so AI platforms can extract, summarise, and cite it when answering user questions. It is closely related to GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AI SEO — all three terms describe the same fundamental challenge.
The distinction: AEO focuses specifically on structured answers. It is about making your content the answer that AI platforms select, not just content they can find.
How AEO Differs from SEO
SEO optimises for search engine rankings. AEO optimises for AI-generated answers. In SEO, you aim for page 1. In AEO, you aim to be the answer itself — the business that gets named when someone asks AI a question.
Core AEO Principles
Answer the question directly
Structure content around clear questions and provide clear, concise answers in the first 150 words.
Build entity authority
AI platforms recommend entities they trust. Trust comes from consistent presence across multiple independent sources.
Use structured data
FAQ schema, How-To schema, and Organisation schema help AI platforms extract and attribute your answers correctly.