Answer Engine Optimization
Be the source AI quotes.
When a customer asks ChatGPT or Perplexity for a recommendation, you want your business named in the answer. We make that happen.
The problem
What's breaking right now
Hundreds of millions of people now ask AI assistants questions they used to type into Google — 'best plumber in Houston,' 'what's the difference between X and Y,' 'who should I hire for…'
Most websites are invisible to these AI engines because they lack the structured data, llms.txt files, and direct-answer formatting that AI crawlers rely on.
Being cited in an AI answer is the new top organic result. The businesses that get there first will own their categories for years.
Our approach
How we work with AEO clients
The exact methodology we use for every engagement.
STEP 01
AI visibility audit
We test how ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude currently describe your business and your category. Then we identify the gap between where you are and where you should be.
STEP 02
Structured data layer
JSON-LD schema for Organization, LocalBusiness, Service, FAQPage, Article, and BreadcrumbList — the structured signals AI engines use to extract citable facts.
STEP 03
llms.txt + AI-friendly architecture
Implement the emerging llms.txt standard, expose clean plain-text versions of key pages, and ensure your site's HTML is fully server-rendered (not client-only JavaScript that AI bots can't read).
STEP 04
Citation-friendly content
Rewrite key pages and produce new content using question-format headings, direct-answer opening sentences, and TL;DR boxes — the patterns AI engines preferentially extract.
STEP 05
Authority signals (E-E-A-T)
Author bios, credentials, case studies, third-party mentions, and local trust signals that prove the expertise AI engines weigh heavily.
STEP 06
Citation tracking
Monthly monitoring of how often you're cited by name in ChatGPT search, Perplexity, and Google AI Overview results.
Deliverables
What you get
- AI visibility baseline report across 4+ engines
- Complete JSON-LD schema implementation
- llms.txt and llms-full.txt files
- Rewrites of priority pages for AEO formatting
- E-E-A-T audit and author/credential setup
- Monthly AI citation tracking report
Timeline
What to expect
Initial AI citations often appear within 4–8 weeks because AI engines re-crawl sources more frequently than Google updates rankings.
Note: SEO and AEO results compound — early gains are followed by exponential growth as your authority accrues.
FAQ
AEO questions, answered
Is AEO actually a real thing or just buzzwords?
It's real and accelerating fast. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews now answer billions of queries per month. Each of them cites sources. Optimizing to be one of those sources is a measurable, repeatable practice — and most of your competitors aren't doing it yet.
Will AEO replace SEO?
No — they're complementary. AI engines pull heavily from the same signals that drive Google rankings: authoritative content, structured data, technical health, links from trusted sources. Good SEO is a prerequisite for AEO. We usually do both.
Can you guarantee I'll be cited by ChatGPT?
No one can — AI engines change weekly and citation logic is private. What we guarantee is that we implement every known best practice: schema, llms.txt, server-rendered HTML, citation-friendly content, and authority signals. Most clients see citation appearances within 2 months.
Ready to start with AEO?
Free, no-obligation audit. We'll show you where you stand and what to do next.