AEO BasicsIntro
What is AEO?
Understand the shift from keywords to conversations and why Answer Engine Optimization is the next frontier of search.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of optimizing your brand content so that AI-powered "Answer Engines"—like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini—choose to cite and recommend you.
Traditional SEO vs. Modern AEO
| Feature | Traditional SEO | Modern AEO |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Ranking links in a list | Being the "Last Answer" |
| Success Metric | Click-Through Rate (CTR) | Visibility within AI response |
| Outcome | Driving traffic to site | Being cited as authority |
Why AEO Matters
Zero-Click Search
Over 60% of searches now result in "Zero-Clicks," meaning the user gets their answer directly from the AI without visiting a website.
The Power of Citations
When an AI cites your brand, it builds massive trust. Users see you as the "Answer" provided by a system they already rely on.
Core AEO Engines
AnswerOps tracks your visibility across the four primary engines driving the AEO revolution:
- Google AIO
- Perplexity
- Gemini
- ChatGPT