AEO PRO TIPS
Look, I’ve been in the SEO game for over a decade now, and I’ve got to tell you – things are changing faster than ever. Remember when we all obsessed over keyword density and backlink profiles? Those days feel like ancient history now.
Here’s the deal: while we’ve been busy optimizing for Google’s blue links, a whole new search paradigm has snuck up on us. I’m talking about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) – and if you’re not paying attention to it yet, you’re already behind the curve. I was skeptical at first too. But when I saw referral traffic from ChatGPT jump 145x since mid-2024 for one of my clients, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.
This isn’t just another buzzword; it’s a fundamental shift in how people find information online.
WHAT IS ANSWER ENGINE OPTIMIZATION, ANYWAY?
Simply put, AEO is about getting your content cited as a source when AI systems like ChatGPT or Perplexity answer user questions. Unlike traditional SEO where you’re fighting for those top 10 spots on Google, with AEO you’re aiming to be the reference that AI pulls from when generating answers. Think about it – when was the last time you actually scrolled past the first few results on Google?
Now imagine users not even seeing search results at all because they got their answer directly from an AI assistant. That’s already happening, and it’s only going to increase. The difference between SEO and AEO boils down to this: – With SEO, you want to rank at the top of search results – With AEO, you want to be cited within AI-generated answers When your content gets cited by an answer engine, you gain visibility with users who might never see traditional search results.
Plus, you establish yourself as an authority that even AI recognizes. Not a bad position to be in, right?
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT AEO?
New traffic opportunities (that your competitors are missing)
Last month, I was reviewing analytics for a tech client and noticed something interesting – their referral traffic from Perplexity had grown 71% in just three months. Meanwhile, their Google traffic had plateaued. The writing’s on the wall: answer engines are becoming significant traffic sources that most businesses aren’t even tracking yet.
Future-proofing your digital presence
Remember how mobile-friendly design went from “nice to have” to “absolutely essential” practically overnight? AEO is on the same trajectory. With ChatGPT expected to grab 1% of the search market this year (which is huge for a newcomer) and Perplexity growing to over 15 million users, the trend is clear. The businesses that adapt now will have a massive head start.
It works alongside your existing SEO efforts
Here’s the good news – you don’t have to throw out your SEO playbook. Many of the same principles that make content rank well in search engines also make it attractive for citation by answer engines. The key difference is in how you structure and present that information.
Solving the zero-click search problem
I’ve been frustrated watching featured snippets and knowledge panels steal more and more clicks from organic results. AEO gives us a way to maintain visibility even when users don’t click through to websites. If they’re going to get answers without visiting sites anyway, wouldn’t you rather be the source of those answers?
WHEN SHOULD YOU PRIORITIZE AEO?
You should definitely consider AEO if:
- Your traffic growth has hit a wall despite solid SEO efforts
- Your business strategy involves thought leadership or educational content
- You’re in a super competitive industry where ranking for valuable keywords feels impossible
- Your target audience includes younger users who are increasingly turning to platforms like Tik Tok and answer engines instead of Google
I recently worked with a financial advisor who was struggling to rank for competitive terms like “retirement planning strategies.” We shifted focus to creating deeply informative content structured specifically for answer engines. Within two months, their content was being cited in ChatGPT responses, driving new consultation requests from prospects who had never seen their website in traditional search.
HOW TO OPTIMIZE FOR ANSWER ENGINES
Create content that deserves to be cited
This might sound obvious, but it’s worth emphasizing – answer engines want to cite authoritative, trustworthy sources. Focus on:
- Answering specific questions clearly and directly
- Including unique data or insights that can’t be found everywhere
- Sharing first-hand expertise (I’ve found that adding personal experiences significantly increases citation rates)
- Using a logical structure with descriptive headings
- Keeping information updated and accurate
Structure content around questions
I’ve tested this extensively, and content that directly addresses specific questions performs dramatically better for AEO. Try:
- Researching the exact questions your audience is asking
- Creating comprehensive FAQ sections
- Using question-based headings throughout your content
- Providing concise answers followed by supporting details
Optimize for featured snippets
There’s a strong correlation between content that appears in Google’s featured snippets and content that gets cited by answer engines. Both prioritize clear, concise answers to specific questions. Make sure you:
- Place direct answers near the top of your content
- Use bullet points and numbered lists where appropriate
- Include well-structured tables for comparative data
- Define terms clearly and concisely
Implement structured data
This is a technical aspect that many overlook, but it makes a huge difference. Structured data helps answer engines understand and interpret your content more effectively. Focus on:
- FAQ schema for question-based content
- How-to schema for instructional content
- Article schema with detailed metadata
- Author schema to establish expertise
MEASURING YOUR AEO SUCCESS
Unlike traditional SEO with its established metrics, measuring AEO success requires different approaches:
- Track referral traffic from answer engines in your analytics
- Monitor when your brand or content is cited in AI responses
- Evaluate how prominently your citations appear (top citations carry more weight)
- Measure click-through rates from citations to your website
- Compare your citation frequency to competitors for similar queries
I’ve started creating monthly “AEO Reports” for clients alongside traditional SEO reports, tracking these metrics to show the growing impact of answer engine visibility.
WE CAN HELP OPTIMIZE YOUR CONTENT FOR ANSWER ENGINES!
The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead of trends like Answer Engine Optimization is essential for maintaining visibility. At JoseOne, we’ve been pioneering AEO strategies since early 2024, helping businesses adapt to this new frontier of search. Our team can implement effective AEO strategies that complement your existing SEO efforts, ensuring your content gets cited by leading answer engines and drives valuable traffic to your website. Don’t get left behind as search continues to evolve. Reach out today to learn how we can help you master Answer Engine Optimization and secure your digital presence for 2025 and beyond. The search landscape has fundamentally changed. What started as ten blue links has become a complex ecosystem where AI-powered answers increasingly dominate. By implementing AEO strategies now, you position yourself at the forefront of this evolution. I’ve seen businesses transform their digital presence by embracing this approach early. Will yours be one of them?
