Answer engine optimization (AEO)
The practice of making information easier for answer systems to discover, understand, verify, and use in a direct response.
AEO focuses on the answer a person receives, not only the list of links they might click. It overlaps with technical SEO, content strategy, entity clarity, and digital PR, but its observable outcome is presence in an answer.
What AEO changes
The unit of work shifts from a keyword and ranking page to a question, a supportable answer, and the evidence behind it. Clear definitions, verifiable claims, accessible pages, and consistent entity information all make evaluation easier.
How to measure it
Track a stable set of buyer questions across named platforms. Keep linked citations, unlinked mentions, position, and absence as separate observations. Because answers can vary by time, model, and prompt, repeated samples are more informative than a single scan.