AI search · Glossary
What is AEO (answer engine optimization)?
AEO, or answer engine optimization, is structuring content so it can be selected as the direct answer to a question: in featured snippets, voice assistants, People Also Ask and AI-generated answers.
Written by Noor KhanWhy AEO matters
More queries end with an answer on the results page or in an assistant. If your content provides that answer, you win visibility and authority even when there's no click, and you're positioned for the queries that do click.
How AEO works
- Answer engines extract a concise passage that directly answers the query.
- Clear question headings and answer-first paragraphs are easiest to extract.
- Lists, steps and tables are preferred for process and comparison queries.
How to apply it
- Use real questions as headings and answer each in the first one or two sentences.
- Keep definitions to 40-60 words before expanding.
- Add FAQ sections with FAQPage schema where they genuinely help.
- Format steps as numbered lists and comparisons as tables.
Example
A page with the heading 'How long does SEO take?' followed immediately by 'Most sites see leading indicators within two to three months…' is a strong answer candidate.
Common mistake
Writing a long introduction before the answer. Answer engines skip preamble and take the passage that answers first.
Not sure how AEO applies to your site? Book a strategy call, request a free gap snapshot, or ask the assistant.