Your customers are getting their information in a different way than just a couple years ago. Now, chatbots, LLMs, answer engines, and similar AI-driven platforms are answering their questions and pointing them to resources.
All of this means the old SEO playbook isn’t enough, and is dying fast. Your brand, your products and your company need to meet the demands of the new reality of ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Search, and all the rest. You need an answer engine optimization (AEO) strategy.
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What is AEO? And what is an AEO strategy?
We’ve covered answer engine optimization in other posts, but basically, at its core, AEO is about making your content discoverable and trustworthy for AI systems and answer-driven platforms. Traditional SEO is about getting your page to rank in search results. AEO goes further: it positions your brand as the recommendation AI tools turn to when users ask questions. With more people relying on AI for answers, an AEO strategy ensures your brand is not only seen but also trusted.
Also, if your company is looking for an answer engine optimization agency, On Marketing was built from the ground up as an AI marketing agency with a specialty in GEO, generative AI SEO, AEO, AI search, and the new world of LLMs.
How to build an AEO strategy
Here are the most fundamental steps to building an AEO strategy to improve your visibility in AI search results.
1. Focus on clear, expert content
Start by focusing on content that AI can easily interpret. Clear headings, structured tables, and organized bullet points help. But what really matters is substance. You need content that offers expert insight, proprietary data, or guidance for decision-making. All of these have value that AI summaries can’t replace. Tutorials, case studies, and comparison guides are all strong assets also.
2. Earn citations and backlinks
Not surprisingly, authority matters, too. Brands that are referenced in industry resources (the more respected the better), review sites, or comparison lists are more likely to show up in AI recommendations. Producing thorough, credible content that earns citations will position your company as a trusted resource.
3. Understand audience intent
Last, you’re going to want to think about intent. Creating pages tailored to specific audiences or decision-stage queries ensures that traffic coming from AI-driven search converts. There’s a lot of dynamism in how AI systems display results and you need to be ready to adapt content to maintain visibility. Landing pages should be clear, actionable, and easy for users to engage with.
Measuring AEO success
To measure the success of an answer engine optimization strategy, track:
- Share of AI chatbot recommendations on platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot
- Rankings for high-value keywords in traditional search
- Engagement from AI-driven traffic, including click-through rates and time on page
- Citation frequency in AI-generated summaries and answers
- Conversions and revenue from high-intent content
Also, I’ve got a pretty good GEO KPIs post that can give you more info here.
Get on top of AEO sooner, rather than later
Brands that start implementing AEO strategies today are the ones that will lead tomorrow. Early adoption builds authority and makes your brand a trusted source for AI systems. Structured, clear, and user-focused content helps maintain visibility even as AI tools change the way people search and decide.
10 AEO best practices
Answer engine optimization isn’t a futuristic concept. It’s a practical strategy for staying relevant. By creating content AI can understand, building authority, and targeting high-value traffic, your brand can secure long-term visibility, engagement, and growth in both AI-driven and traditional search. Here are 10 key takeaways:
- Have structured, authoritative content
AI and answer engines reward clarity and organization. When your content is well-structured, thoughtfully explained, and backed by credible sources, it tells us it’s trustworthy. Basically this means your pages are more likely to be cited not because of clever tricks, but because they make sense to readers and algorithms. - Early adoption is important
Getting in early matters. Brands that embrace AEO strategies today are getting in before competitors catch up. The advantage is not hype, it’s positioning yourself as that trusted voice. - You need intent-driven, decision-stage content
Content aimed at real user intentions–like people ready to buy, compare, or solve a problem–holds up even as AI reshapes search results. Generic content drifts, while content that meets someone’s needs at a decisive moment continues to attract attention and convert. - Authority signals enhance visibility
It is not enough to exist online. Your content must be recognized as credible. Appear in respected comparison lists, earn links from reputable resources, and make authorship clear. Structured FAQs, expert commentary, and thoughtful citations all reinforce authority. - Continuous monitoring and adaptation are essential
Search results no longer remain static. AI-driven answers evolve constantly. Brands that monitor results, watch AI summaries, and adjust quickly maintain their visibility. Staying in the game requires a commitment to observation and responsiveness. - Measure conversions and engagement across channels
Success is not just clicks. Track engagement, conversions, revenue, and AI-driven citations together. Understanding the full picture, how your content performs across traditional search and AI-driven platforms, allows you to gauge what truly works. - High-quality, shareable resources attract backlinks
When you create detailed guides, tutorials, or comparison resources, two things happen: humans link to your content and AI recognizes it as authoritative. Depth and utility are the twin engines of visibility and influence. - Visuals and multimedia enhance AI comprehension
Charts, videos, and graphics are not just decoration. They clarify ideas for readers and give AI more ways to understand and reference your content. Well-designed visuals are a bridge between human comprehension and algorithmic recognition. - AEO complements, not replaces, SEO
Optimizing for AI-driven answers is not about abandoning traditional search. It is about extending your reach. By covering both bases, your brand remains the default reference across the evolving landscape. - Trust and transparency drive recognition
AI systems favor reliability. Content that is factual, transparent, and genuinely useful earns consistent references. In the long run, credibility, not clever manipulation, builds authority and lasting recognition.
Take the next step in your AEO journey
Reach out to On Marketing and learn how we can help elevate your company, brand, and products on LLMs and AI search.