What is AEO? A Beginner's Guide
- Write Southland
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
If you thought search engines couldn't get any more complicated, think again. There's a new player to the game: AEO - answer engine optimisation. Class is in session, so let's get familiar with AEO and what it could mean for your business.
What is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
AEO is the art of formatting website content so that AI tools and voice assistants can read it, extract it, and cite it as an answer. Rather than trying to rank in a list of websites as you strive to do within search engine optimisation (SEO), you're trying to be the source selected by platforms like Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and ChatGPT.
But what does that look like? AEO vs. SEO
In terms of keyword strategy, the two content types are like chalk and cheese, but they both remain important:
SEO: Targeting a keyword phrase like "best content writer in NZ" with a 1,500-word instruction guide with the intention of ranking on the first page of Google and other search engines.
AEO: Targeting a conversational keyword phrase, such as: "What is the best type of content for a website?" by placing a precise 40-50-word summary under an H2 heading. Look above, under the H2 'What is Answer Engine Optimisation?' and you'll see it in the first sentence.
Even in terms of formatting, AEO and SEO differ significantly in content and strategies. An SEO article would be a long narrative building up to the main point, whereas AEO is bullet points, Q&A blocks, and schema markup.
Do You Still Need SEO?
Yes, SEO is still an important factor in a business's overall marketing strategy. AEO won't replace SEO because the fundamentals of SEO are the foundation of AEO. They complement each other rather than compete.
SEO remains essential for:
Crawlability and indexing: Answer engines and AI models can't cite your web pages if search bots can't read, load, or index your website, which relies on SEO.
Authority and trust: Backlinks, domain expertise, and topical depth all determine whether AI tools use your brand as a credible source.
Conversion pathways: The answers sourced from your website may not require a click, but sales, customer conversions, and filling out forms all happen on your optimised landing pages.
Key Strategies for AEO
Are you ready to optimise your website for AEO? Begin with a few important strategies:
Write content with Bottom-Line Upfront (BLUF) in mind. Begin your paragraphs or sections with direct answers. Don't bury them in core facts.
Use schema markup, such as FAQ, How-To, and bullet points, to make it easy for AI tools to find your content.
Build brand authority across third-party networks, review sites, and other platforms like Reddit and YouTube.
Make sure your site's robots.txt file isn't blocking AI crawlers like GPTBot.
Optimise Your Website for AEO with Help from Write Southland
You're busy running your business, so leave the hard stuff to us. Write Southland will optimise your website content for AEO and SEO to help your website stand out from the crowd. Ready to get started? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
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