AEO – Answer Engine Optimization: Be the answer – not just one of ten blue links.
More and more questions are answered directly: in Google's AI Overviews, in "People also ask", by voice assistants and by ChatGPT. AEO is about being the source the answer comes from.
What my AEO services cover
What gives the most depends on which questions your customers ask – and who answers them today.
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The questions behind the searches
I find the questions your customers actually ask – on Google, in AI services and in your own customer service.
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Clear, short answers
Content where the answer comes first and the detail follows. That's how both Google and AIs pick answers.
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Structured data
FAQs, products, organisation and people marked up, so machines understand exactly what your page is about.
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Measurement
Impressions in AI Overviews and rich results in Search Console, traffic from AI services – and regular checks of who is used as a source.
AEO, GEO and SEO – what's the difference?
SEO is about ranking on Google. GEO is about being mentioned when an AI puts together an answer. AEO sits in between: being the specific answer to a specific question – whether it's Google, a voice assistant or an AI passing it on.
In practice they overlap a lot, and I work with them at the same time. They're not three products you have to buy – they're three angles on the same goal: being the best answer.
How I approach AEO
No fixed process – but three things I always stick to.
Questions before keywords
I start with the questions that lead to a sale or an enquiry – not with long keyword lists.
Answers that stand alone
Every answer should make sense even when it's lifted out of the page and shown somewhere else.
The foundation in place
A fast site, structured data and a good reputation elsewhere. Without them, even the best answers don't get used.
Questions I often get about AEO
What is AEO?
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. It is about being the source that is used when a question is answered directly – for example in Google AI Overviews, in "People also ask", by voice assistants or by ChatGPT.
What is the difference between AEO and GEO?
They overlap a lot. GEO is about being mentioned in AI-generated answers in general, while AEO is about being the specific answer to a specific question. I work with both at the same time.
Can AEO be measured?
Partly. Search Console shows impressions in rich results, and traffic from AI services can be seen in Analytics. It is not as precise as classic SEO yet – I will be honest about that.
What does it cost – and am I locked in?
My rate is €110 per hour excl. VAT, and there is no lock-in.
Are you the answer today?
Call or write, and I'll look at who answers your customers' questions right now. €110 per hour excl. VAT, no lock-in.
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