Glossary
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing content to appear as the direct answer in AI-powered search engines and answer engines — including Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Bing Copilot. Unlike traditional SEO, which targets ranked blue links on a SERP, AEO focuses on being the source an AI cites when synthesizing an answer, often without sending traffic to the source page. Core AEO tactics include structured data markup, entity-optimized content with clear definitions, authoritative authorship signals, FAQ-format content that mirrors how users ask questions, and maintaining fresh, citation-worthy claims. AEO has emerged as a distinct discipline alongside SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) as generative AI reshapes search behavior. Brands that optimize for answer engines position themselves to capture visibility in a search landscape where users increasingly receive answers directly rather than clicking through to websites.