What AEO means
AEO stands for answer engine optimisation. Tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and the AI answers at the top of Google reply to questions directly. AEO is about giving these tools clear, accurate information about your business so that they can describe it correctly and include it when it is relevant.
It is not a replacement for SEO. The two work together: much of what helps you on Google also helps AI tools, because many of them draw on the same search indexes.
How AI tools learn about a business
AI assistants build their answers from information they can find and trust. That includes your website, search engine indexes such as Google and Bing, business listings, reviews and what other websites say about you. If that information is thin, unclear or contradictory, the tools have little to work with.
Practical steps that help
- Say clearly what you do. Give each service its own page that explains what it is, who it is for and how it works, in plain words.
- Answer common questions. A frequently asked questions section with short, direct answers is easy for AI tools to read and quote.
- Add structured data. This is hidden code that labels your business name, services and questions so that machines can read them reliably.
- Be listed on Google and Bing. Set up Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and keep your Google Business Profile complete.
- Keep your details consistent. The same name, phone number and website everywhere you appear online.
- Earn genuine reviews and mentions. Real customer reviews and links from trusted websites add weight to what you say about yourself.
How to tell if it is working
AI answers change from one question to the next, so there is no single ranking to check. Ask the main AI assistants the questions your customers would ask, and see whether your business appears and is described correctly. Watch your search reports too, because better search visibility usually comes first.
As with SEO, nobody can guarantee that an AI tool will mention your business. What you can control is how clear, accurate and easy to find your information is.
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