AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
What is AEO?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) describes the optimization of content so that it is displayed visibly and correctly in answers from AI systems.
These systems — so-called Large Language Models (LLMs) — do not search the web in real time, but rely on pre-trained or indexed data.
AEO ensures that content from companies textured, understandable and Machine-readable are — so that they are included in generated answers.
How does AEO differ from classic SEO?
While SEO aims at organic rankings in search engines, AEO focuses on the response quality of AI systems. Instead of placements on Google, it's about Presence in generated texts — i.e. whether and how a brand appears in the answers from chatbots or AI assistants.
Important factors include:
- Comprehensible, fact-based content
- structured data (Schema.org, JSON-LD)
- Clear authorship and brand reference
- Timeliness and trustworthiness
Why is AEO important?
With the increasing use of AI search systems such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Copilot, the search for information is shifting.
Users ask questions — and receive directly formulated answers instead of lists with links. Anyone who is visible here at an early stage benefits from a new form of digital brand presence. AEO helps to build and measure this visibility in a targeted manner.
How can you measure AEO?
Tools such as Promptwatch or Peek.ai Analyze how often and in which context a brand appears in AI responses. This makes it possible to see What content from LLMs cites become and where optimization potential consists — for example by better structuring, clear sources, or precise wording.
TL; DR
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) optimizes content for AI systems such as ChatGPT or Perplexity.
The aim is for brands to be represented visibly and correctly in generated answers — similar to SEO for search engines, but with a focus on AI response logic.
How visible is your company in ChatGPT & Co.?
If ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini only name two to three providers — will your company show up? This is where it will be decided who will be shortlisted in the future.
With our AEO monitoring Find out how AI systems talk about your brand — and how you can improve your visibility step by step.
Learn more about AEO monitoring
