Glossary
What is answer engine optimization (AEO)?
Answer engine optimization (AEO) is optimising content to be picked as the direct answer to a question by search features and AI assistants: featured snippets, voice assistants, AI Overviews and chatbots. It focuses on short, clear, self-contained answers placed where machines can extract them.
SEO vs AEO vs GEO
| SEO | AEO | GEO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank in results | Be the direct answer | Be cited or recommended by AI |
| Unit | Page | Passage | Brand and passage |
| Surfaces | Blue links | Snippets, voice, AI answers | ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews |
What answer engines extract
- A one or two-sentence answer right under a question heading.
- Definitions that start "X is...".
- Short numbered steps for how-to questions.
- Tables for comparisons.
- FAQ sections with direct answers.
Every page in this glossary follows that pattern: the definition sits in the first 50 words, so an engine can quote it without the rest of the page.
How to start
List the questions your buyers ask (support tickets, sales calls, People Also Ask, Search Console queries). Give each a page or a section with the answer first. Keep answers factual and consistent with your other pages.
Example
A founder rewrites a pricing FAQ so each answer starts with the direct answer ("Yes, there's a free plan for up to 3 projects."). Within weeks, Google shows one of them as a featured snippet and an AI assistant quotes it when asked about the product's pricing.
FAQ
Is AEO still relevant with AI search?
More than before. AI answers extract passages the same way.
What does AEO stand for besides answer engine optimization?
A few people use it for agent experience optimization, but answer engine optimization is the common meaning.
Do I need schema for AEO?
It helps machines understand pages but isn't required; clear writing matters most.