How To Win At AEO In 60 Seconds
9 actionable strategies for Answer Engine Optimisation in 2025
-
1
Focus on being mentioned everywhere, not just ranking first.
-
2
Build content that earns citations inside AI answers.
-
3
Prioritise LLM traffic — it converts up to 6x higher than Google.
-
4
If you're an early-stage startup, act fast. AI doesn't care about domain age.
-
5
Target the long-tail questions that no one is optimising for.
-
6
Show up on Reddit with real, helpful answers under your name.
-
7
Create YouTube videos around overlooked B2B topics.
-
8
Optimise your help centre so AI assistants can pull direct answers from it.
-
9
Think less about keywords, and more about engineering answers.
The CITE Framework™ for AEO
Win at Answer Engine Optimisation using our proprietary methodology:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?
AEO is optimising content to appear as direct answers in AI-powered systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews. AI Overviews now appear on 55%+ of informational queries. Unlike traditional SEO which focuses on rankings, AEO focuses on getting cited as the source of AI-generated answers—being the answer, not just being ranked.
How is AEO different from traditional SEO?
Traditional SEO: optimise for ranking position and click-through. AEO: optimise for extraction and citation. With AEO, you're creating content AI can easily parse and quote—direct answers in 40-60 words, FAQ schema, clear question-based headers. seoClarity found 97% of AI Overviews cite top-20 organic pages, so SEO and AEO overlap significantly, but AEO adds extractability.
Why does LLM traffic convert 6x higher than Google?
Users interacting with AI assistants have higher intent—they're asking specific, considered questions. When ChatGPT or Perplexity recommends your brand with attribution, it carries an implicit endorsement. Users arriving via AI citations have been "pre-sold" on your relevance. The conversational format means users have refined their needs before clicking, resulting in more qualified traffic.
How can startups compete with established domains in AI search?
AI systems evaluate content quality and relevance, not just domain age. ChatGPT weighs readability (Flesch Score) heavily; Perplexity prioritises academic and news sources. Startups with well-structured, expert content can earn citations alongside enterprise competitors. Focus on unique insights, original research, and answers that established competitors haven't published yet.
Why does Reddit appear in 46.7% of AI citations?
AI systems value authentic, first-hand perspectives. Reddit provides real user experiences, honest product reviews, and practical advice that corporate content often lacks. Participating authentically (not marketing) under your name builds visibility in AI responses. Create genuinely helpful answers to questions in your industry's subreddits.
What are long-tail questions and why target them?
Long-tail questions are specific, detailed queries with lower competition (e.g., "best CRM for 5-person real estate teams"). AI systems actively seek comprehensive answers to these niche questions. With query fanout, AI breaks broad questions into 2-11 sub-queries—targeting long-tail means you can capture these sub-queries where established competitors haven't created content.
How do I optimise my help centre for AI assistants?
Structure your help centre with clear question-based titles (H1/H2) and direct answers in the first paragraph of each article. Use FAQ schema markup on support pages. Keep answers concise but complete—AI assistants prefer extracting 40-60 word answers they can quote directly. Include step-by-step instructions with numbered lists where applicable. Update content regularly as AI systems favour fresh, recently-updated support documentation.
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.