What is answer engine optimisation (AEO)? How to get cited by AI search
By the OneRoof Ventures team · Updated · 3 min read
Quick answer
Answer engine optimisation (AEO) is the practice of making your content easy for AI-powered search, such as Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, to find, understand and quote. It builds on SEO with direct answers to specific questions, clear structure, FAQ content, structured data (schema) and mentions on trusted third-party sites. It is also called generative engine optimisation (GEO).
Key takeaways
- AEO doesn't replace SEO; AI answers still draw on pages that are crawlable and trusted.
- Answer the question in the first one or two sentences, then explain.
- Third-party mentions (directories, reviews, comparison sites, press) strongly affect what AI recommends.
On this page
Why AEO matters now
People increasingly ask full questions ("best digital marketing agency in Bangalore for a dental clinic") and get a written answer instead of ten blue links. If your business isn't mentioned in that answer, you may not be seen at all, even if you rank on page one.
AEO vs SEO
How to optimise for answer engines
- Answer first. Start each page or section with a one- or two-sentence direct answer to the question.
- Use question headings. Write headings the way customers ask: "How much does X cost in Bangalore?"
- Add FAQ sections with short, factual answers, and mark them up with FAQPage schema.
- Add structured data for your organisation, local business, products, articles and reviews.
- Be specific. Prices, timelines, locations, numbers and dates are easier to quote than vague claims.
- Get mentioned elsewhere. Listings on trusted directories and comparison sites, reviews, and press coverage are often what AI tools cite.
- Keep it fresh. Show the date content was last updated, and update it.
- Let crawlers in. Make sure robots.txt doesn't block the AI crawlers you want to be found by.
A listing with published prices on a comparison site like OneRoof Ventures is one of those third-party mentions. Agencies can list here.
What does an AEO agency do?
An AEO agency audits how your brand shows up in AI answers for the questions your customers ask, finds which sources the AI tools cite, then rewrites and structures your content, adds schema, and works on getting you mentioned on the sources that matter. Many SEO agencies now offer AEO as part of their packages.
Find agencies offering AEO in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
Is AEO the same as GEO?
Mostly yes. Generative engine optimisation (GEO) and answer engine optimisation (AEO) both describe optimising content to appear in AI-generated answers. Some people use AEO for featured snippets and voice answers too.
Can I pay to appear in ChatGPT or Google AI Overviews answers?
Not in the organic answers. You can only make your content and brand easier to find, trust and quote. Paid ads may appear around AI answers on some platforms, but they are labelled separately.
How do I know if my business appears in AI answers?
Ask the questions your customers would ask in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google, and note whether you and your competitors are mentioned and which sites are cited. Repeat monthly, since answers change.