The 5-Step AEO Strategy
From Zero to AI SEO Hero
Target Real User Questions
- Research natural language, conversational queries your audience asks.
- Pull data from Google Search Console, People Also Ask (PAA), community forums, and AI prompt analysis tools.
- Mirror the exact phrasing of these questions in your content headings, subheadings, and FAQs.
- Consider voice search behaviour—questions often start with how, what, when, where, why.
Optimise for Snippets
- Lead with a 40-50 word direct answer before expanding into detail.
- Add FAQ sections to capture multiple related queries in one place.
- Structure content with H2/H3 headings, bullet points, and tables.
- Use schema markup to make snippets machine-readable.
What is AEO?
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is structuring content so AI and search engines extract clean answers. It uses concise definitions, schema markup, and FAQs to boost visibility in snippets, AI Overviews, and voice search.
Win PAA Boxes
- Track recurring questions in your niche.
- Answer in 2-4 authoritative sentences.
- Cited trusted sources.
AEO is the practice of structuring content for AI and search engines so your answers appear directly in snippets and AI Overviews. (Source: Search Engine Journal)
Keep it concise. Cite a source.
Create FAQ Pages
- Create dedicated FAQ pages for each core topic your audience searches for.
- Use JSON-LD FAQ schema to mark up each question and answer pair.
- Include verifiable statistics, real examples, and references.
- Keep answers concise but information-rich for AI parsing.
QUESTIONS
SCHEMA
WITH PROOF
THE ANSWER
Earn Topic Authority
- Cover your core topic and its related subtopics in-depth (topic clusters).
- Publish on reputable domains AI assistants frequently cite.
- Maintain a consistent publishing cadence and content refreshes.
- Follow E-E-A-T principles:
The CITE Framework™
Apply our proprietary framework to accelerate your AEO results:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "55% show AI Overviews" mean for AEO?
55% of Google searches globally now show AI Overviews—meaning over half of all searches display AI-generated summaries instead of just blue links. Traditional rankings are no longer sufficient; you need to be cited in these AI-generated answers. This 5-step strategy prepares your content to be extracted and featured in these AI summaries across Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.
Why is the 40-50 word answer length so important?
Research shows 40-50 words is the optimal length for featured snippets and AI extraction. Too short lacks substance; too long gets truncated. Lead with this direct answer, then expand with supporting detail. AI systems often pull just the first paragraph that directly answers the question—don't bury your answer in lengthy introductions.
How does the 67% top-ranking correlation affect my strategy?
67% of AI Overview content comes from top-ranking Google pages. This means AEO doesn't replace SEO—it builds on it. First, rank well through traditional SEO fundamentals. Then, structure your content for AI extraction (direct answers, FAQs, lists). Strong rankings plus AEO-optimized structure maximizes your citation potential.
Why are 32.5% of AI citations listicles?
Listicles and comparisons account for 32.5% of all AI citations across platforms—the highest of any content format. AI systems prefer structured, scannable content that can be easily extracted. Create "Top 10" lists, "X vs Y" comparisons, and "Best [category]" roundups. Structure each section with clear headers, bullet points, and direct statements.
How does E-E-A-T impact each of the 5 steps?
E-E-A-T signals help AI systems determine which sources to cite. Step 1 (Questions): Show you understand your audience's real problems. Step 2 (Snippets): Demonstrate expertise with clear, authoritative answers. Step 3 (PAA): Cite trusted sources to build authority. Step 4 (FAQs): Include verifiable data for trustworthiness. Step 5 (Topic Authority): Comprehensive coverage proves expertise. Build E-E-A-T into every step.
How quickly can I see results from this AEO strategy?
Featured snippet gains can appear within 2-4 weeks of optimization. AI citation improvements take longer—AI models update training data periodically. Monitor AI citations monthly using tools like Profound or Semrush AI Tracking. Track indirect signals like branded search volume increases and chatgpt.com referral traffic in GA4. Consistency matters more than speed.
Ready to Dominate AI Search Results?
Our SEO agency specializes in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies that get your brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. We combine traditional SEO expertise with cutting-edge AI visibility tactics.