AEO examines how products appear in AI answers
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. It involves checking how AI describes brands and products, then improving content and evidence so accurate information can be used. GEO is also used for visibility work in generative AI.
The question is broader than whether your name appears. Look at the buying situation, the explanation, any supporting links, and whether the product facts are correct.
What do you measure?
Answers can vary by engine, market, language, and time. Define the prompt set and comparison conditions instead of treating one answer as the market’s verdict.
- Mentions: does the brand or product appear?
- Position and context: in what order and for what reason is it introduced?
- Citations: where do the actual source links lead?
- Accuracy: does the description agree with official product evidence?
What to manage alongside SEO
AI answers can include source links and product lists, and search results may contribute to discovery. Google says established SEO fundamentals also apply to its AI search features.
Start with the information customers need and page text they can access. Keep price, features, usage conditions, and evidence accurate, and check that linked pages do not contradict each other.
The role of llms.txt and structured data
llms.txt is a proposed format for helping agents find and use website information. It does not replace robots.txt access rules or constitute a universal AI-engine requirement.
JSON-LD expresses structured information about the actual page. Do not treat one file or markup change as a citation guarantee; inspect the published content and the answers together.
A starting workflow for your team
Choose prompts for a representative product and record the current answers. Compare competitor citations with your product explanations, select the missing information, publish, and measure again under the same conditions.
There is no universal time to results. Keep records of access, crawling, engine changes, and prompt and market conditions so you can interpret the changes you observe.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
Does AEO replace SEO?
Manage search and AI answers together. Google says established SEO fundamentals also apply to its own AI search features.
How long does AEO take?
There is no universal period or expected improvement. Compare a consistent prompt, engine, and market set, and check content access and crawling alongside the results.