Someone asks ChatGPT "what CRM should I use for my consulting business?" and it recommends three tools. One of them is yours. That's AEO working.
AEO in plain terms
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. It's basically the same concept as GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), just a different name that's caught on in some circles.
The idea is simple: people are increasingly asking AI tools for recommendations instead of Googling and clicking through results. These AI tools don't show you a list of 10 blue links. They give you an answer. A recommendation. Sometimes with reasoning.
AEO is about making sure you're part of that answer.
Why "answer engine" and not "search engine"
Traditional search engines retrieve results. You search, you get a list, you pick.
Answer engines generate responses. You ask, you get an answer. Maybe some sources attached, but the AI has already done the comparison and synthesis for you.
This is a fundamentally different dynamic. In traditional search, ranking #3 still gets you clicks. In answer engines, if you're not mentioned, you're invisible. There's no "page 2" to scroll to.
How it connects to what you already know
If you've done any SEO work, the transition isn't as scary as it sounds. A lot of the fundamentals carry over:
- Clear, helpful content still wins
- Authority and trust signals still matter
- Technical basics (fast site, proper structure) are still important
What changes is the output you're optimizing for. Instead of "rank higher in Google," you're aiming for "get mentioned by AI when someone asks about my category."
The practical difference
Here's what shifts when you think in AEO terms:
Your homepage tagline matters more. AI tools need to quickly understand what you are and who you help. Vague positioning gets you ignored.
Comparison content becomes valuable. When AI answers "what's the best X for Y," it's often pulling from pages that directly compare options. If you have a page comparing yourself to alternatives, AI might cite it.
FAQ sections pull their weight. Questions and direct answers are exactly what answer engines are built to extract and use.
AEO vs GEO vs LLMO
Honestly? These terms all describe roughly the same thing. The SEO industry hasn't settled on one name yet.
- AEO emphasizes the "answer" aspect
- GEO emphasizes the "generative" AI technology
- LLMO emphasizes the "large language model" behind it
Pick whichever makes sense to you. The strategies are identical: get AI to understand, trust, and recommend you.
