Answer engine optimizationAEO
Shaping your pages so an AI tool picks them as the direct answer to a buyer’s question.
In plain English
AEO focuses on the single, direct answer: the AI Overview, the quoted passage, the featured snippet. Pages win by answering the question clearly near the top, backing it up with specifics, and using structure machines can read.
In practice
A pest control company answers “are termites covered by homeowners insurance?” in its first two sentences, and Google quotes that answer in its AI Overview.
AEOvsGEO
AEO is about being the one direct answer. GEO is about being named in the longer answers and shortlists AI writes.
Related terms
AI search basicsStarter Generative engine optimizationGEO Earning a place in the longer answers, comparisons and shortlists that AI tools write. In practice, and related terms → Content & structureStarter Answer-first writing Putting the direct answer at the top of a page or section, then the detail. In practice, and related terms → Content & structureStarter Schema markup Labels in a page’s code that tell machines exactly what is a service, a price, a review, an FAQ or an address. In practice, and related terms →