Ask Engine Optimization (AEO)
The Complete Guide to Getting Your Business Featured in AI Responses
Published: June 2025
Introduction: The New Frontier of Search
For over two decades, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been the cornerstone of digital visibility. But today, we’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how people find information online. With AI assistants like ChatGPT handling over a billion queries daily and Google incorporating AI Overviews into 90% of search results, a new optimization approach is emerging: Ask Engine Optimization (AEO).
In April 2025, Sam Hogan implemented AEO strategies for his company’s website. The results were striking: within just 10 days, the site went from zero AI-driven traffic to receiving visitors from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. This wasn’t coincidental—it was the direct result of making content more accessible and understandable for AI systems.
This guide will walk you through implementing a proven AEO strategy for your business in under 48 hours, with specific actions, examples, and tools you can use today.
What is AEO? Answer Engine Optimization is the practice of optimizing your content to appear as direct answers when people ask questions to AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. Rather than focusing solely on keyword rankings, AEO aims to make your content the source that AI pulls from to answer user queries.
Why AEO Matters Now
Early Adoption Advantage
AEO is comparable to SEO in the early 2000s. Early adopters have a significant advantage in establishing presence before competition intensifies.
Shifting Search Behavior
People are increasingly turning to AI tools for information instead of traditional search engines, creating a new channel for visibility.
Direct Answers
AEO puts your brand directly in answers, not just in a list of results that users may or may not click.
Future-Proofing
As AI interfaces become more prevalent, traditional SEO alone won’t guarantee visibility in this new paradigm.
If your content isn’t optimized for AI systems, you’re essentially invisible to a growing segment of users who rely on these tools for information. AEO isn’t replacing SEO—it’s an additional layer that addresses how modern information discovery is evolving.
Understanding How AI Sources Information
Before diving into implementation, it’s crucial to understand how different AI systems source their information:
ChatGPT
ChatGPT draws from its training data (cut-off date varies by version) and sometimes accesses live web data via browsing capabilities. It typically favors established brands and widely-referenced content. If your site wasn’t part of the training data or isn’t prominent enough to be found via its browsing function, you likely won’t appear in responses.
Perplexity
Perplexity actively crawls the web in real-time using Bing’s infrastructure, then synthesizes and summarizes content from those sources. It provides direct citations to sources. This makes Perplexity an excellent testing ground—when it starts citing your site, you’ll know your AEO efforts are working.
Google AI Overviews
Google’s AI Overviews pull from indexed pages in its database. Structure, schema markup, and content clarity significantly influence selection. Google has confirmed that structured data serves as a signal in generating AI summaries.
Bottom line: If your content is disorganized, ambiguous, or lacks proper markup, AI systems will likely overlook it in favor of clearer, better-structured alternatives—even if your information is more valuable or accurate.
AEO Implementation: The 5-Step Action Plan
1 Identify & Create Answer-First Content
What to do:
- Brainstorm 5-10 questions your ideal customers would likely ask an AI about your industry or product
- Create a dedicated page for each question (or a section if they’re closely related)
- Use the exact question as the headline (H1 or H2)
- Answer the question directly in the first 1-2 sentences
- Keep content concise, clear, and immediately useful
Example Implementation:
Poor Implementation:
Our Email Marketing Platform
Founded in 2018, our company has been at the forefront of digital marketing innovation. Through years of research and development, we’ve created a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help businesses of all sizes achieve their marketing goals. One of our flagship products is our email marketing platform, which offers various features and benefits to users looking to connect with their audience…
AEO-Optimized Implementation:
What is the best email marketing platform for small businesses?
The best email marketing platform for small businesses is one that offers ease of use, affordable pricing, and essential features like automation and analytics. EmailPro combines all these elements with plans starting at $15/month, a drag-and-drop editor, and built-in compliance tools specifically designed for businesses with under 20 employees.
When selecting an email marketing platform, small businesses should consider:
- Cost-effectiveness and scalable pricing
- User-friendly interface requiring minimal technical knowledge
- Basic automation capabilities
- Essential analytics and reporting
- Regulatory compliance features
Pro Tips:
- Use Perplexity or Google’s “People Also Ask” box to find real questions people are asking
- Focus on questions where you can genuinely provide better answers than what’s currently available
- Consider the user’s intent behind the question—are they looking to learn, solve a problem, or make a purchase?
2 Add Structured Data
What to do:
- Select the appropriate schema markup for your content (FAQ or HowTo)
- Implement the schema using JSON-LD format
- Place the schema in the
<head>section of your HTML - Validate your implementation with Google’s Rich Results Test
- Consider submitting to specialized LLM indices
Example Implementation:
For a question like “What is the best email marketing platform for small businesses?”, you would add this JSON-LD schema:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is the best email marketing platform for small businesses?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The best email marketing platform for small businesses is one that offers ease of use, affordable pricing, and essential features like automation and analytics. EmailPro combines all these elements with plans starting at $15/month, a drag-and-drop editor, and built-in compliance tools specifically designed for businesses with under 20 employees."
}
}]
}
</script>
For a how-to guide, you would use this structure instead:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "HowTo",
"name": "How to set up your first email marketing campaign",
"description": "A step-by-step guide to setting up an effective email marketing campaign for beginners.",
"step": [
{
"@type": "HowToStep",
"name": "Define your audience",
"text": "Identify who you want to reach with your campaign by creating customer personas."
},
{
"@type": "HowToStep",
"name": "Create compelling content",
"text": "Write engaging subject lines and email copy that provides value to recipients."
}
// Additional steps...
]
}
</script>
Pro Tips:
- Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to generate your schema code
- Validate your schema with Google’s Rich Results Test
- Submit a pull request to llms-txt.site to feature your LLM-friendly content
3 Ensure Proper Indexing
What to do:
- Add your new content pages to your website
- Update your XML sitemap with the new pages
- Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
- Use IndexNow protocol for faster Bing indexing
- Check for any crawling obstacles in robots.txt
Example Implementation:
Sample sitemap.xml structure:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
<url>
<loc>https://yourdomain.com/email-marketing-for-small-business</loc>
<lastmod>2025-05-28</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>
</url>
<url>
<loc>https://yourdomain.com/how-to-set-up-email-campaign</loc>
<lastmod>2025-05-28</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>
</url>
<!-- Additional URLs... -->
</urlset>
Robots.txt verification:
Ensure your robots.txt doesn’t inadvertently block important content:
# Good example - allows crawling
User-agent: *
Allow: /
# Bad example - blocks content
# User-agent: *
# Disallow: /questions/
# Disallow: /faq/
Pro Tips:
- After submitting to search consoles, use the “Request Indexing” feature for critical pages
- Make sure your pages load quickly and don’t rely heavily on JavaScript, as this can impact crawlability
- Create internal links to your new question pages from relevant existing content
4 Format for AI Readability
What to do:
- Structure content with clear headings and brief paragraphs
- Bold or highlight key information, especially in the first paragraph
- Use bullet points and numbered lists for easy scanning
- Ensure each question-answer pair stands independently
- Add a concise summary that rephrases the solution
Example Implementation:
Poor AI Readability:
Email marketing can be quite effective when done properly. There are numerous platforms available on the market today, each with its own set of features and benefits. Small businesses often find themselves overwhelmed by the choices. Over the years, we’ve found that certain platforms work better than others depending on the size of the business and their specific needs. After careful consideration and testing of the various options available, we can say that there are several factors that make a platform suitable for smaller organizations with limited resources and technical expertise.
AEO-Optimized AI Readability:
What is the best email marketing platform for small businesses?
The best email marketing platform for small businesses is one that combines affordability, ease of use, and essential features. EmailPro is specifically designed for small businesses, with plans starting at $15/month.
Key Features to Look For:
- Affordable pricing (under $20/month for basic plans)
- User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop editor
- Basic automation workflows
- Simple analytics and reporting
- Compliance tools for GDPR and CAN-SPAM
Why This Matters:
Small businesses need marketing tools that don’t require technical expertise or dedicated staff to manage. The right platform balances functionality with simplicity.
Summary: For small businesses seeking an email marketing solution, look for affordable platforms with intuitive interfaces, basic automation, and essential analytics. EmailPro offers these features starting at $15/month with no technical skills required.
Pro Tips:
- Paste your content into a plain text editor—this approximates how an AI sees your content
- Keep sentences under 20 words when possible
- Use descriptive headers that could stand alone as mini-answers
- Add a “Summary” or “Key Takeaway” section at the end that AI systems can easily quote
5 Test and Refine
What to do:
- Ask your target questions on Perplexity and note which sources are cited
- Use specialized AEO tools to analyze your presence in AI responses
- If your content isn’t appearing, revise your approach
- Be patient—it may take several iterations and time to see results
- Track your progress with analytics tools that capture AI-sourced traffic
Testing Strategy:
Step 1: Baseline Assessment
Run your top 5 target questions through Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google and document:
- Which sources are being cited?
- Is your brand mentioned at all?
- What information seems to be prioritized?
Step 2: Implement Changes & Track
After implementing AEO changes, check the same queries weekly and note:
- Any changes in cited sources
- Appearance of your brand or content
- Changes in answer format or detail
Step 3: Refine Based on Results
For pages not gaining traction:
- Make answers more direct and concise
- Add more structured data
- Increase internal linking to those pages
- Consider creating supporting content
Pro Tips:
- Create a spreadsheet to track your progress across different AI tools
- Try variations of your target questions, as slight wording differences can yield different results
- Look at what competing sites that appear in AI responses are doing differently
- Remember that AI systems don’t update instantaneously—allow time between tests
Essential AEO Tools
Profound
Visibility dashboard for AI mentions
Tracks where and how your brand appears in AI responses across multiple platforms. Provides alerts when new mentions appear.
Goodie AI
Content formatting and tracking
Helps optimize content for AI readability and tracks visibility in AI responses. Offers formatting suggestions specifically for AEO.
HubSpot AI Search Grader
Free performance scoring
Evaluates your site’s readiness for AI search engines and provides a simple score with improvement recommendations.
Google Structured Data Helper
Schema creation assistant
Visual tool to help build schema markup for your pages without needing to write JSON-LD code from scratch.
Google Rich Results Test
Schema validation
Tests your structured data implementation to ensure it’s valid and eligible for rich results in search.
llms-txt.site
LLM directory
A site that helps surface content to LLM indexes, potentially increasing visibility in AI responses.
Real-World AEO Example: Step by Step
Let’s walk through a complete example of optimizing a fictional software company that offers project management tools:
Step 1: Identify Key Questions
After research, we identify these top questions:
- What is the best project management software for remote teams?
- How to implement agile project management in small teams?
- What features should good project management software have?
- How much does project management software cost?
- How to transition from spreadsheets to project management software?
Step 2: Create Answer-First Content
For the first question, we create a page with:
What is the best project management software for remote teams?
The best project management software for remote teams combines real-time collaboration, asynchronous communication tools, and robust task tracking. TaskFlow Pro offers all these features with dedicated tools for time zone management, integrated video conferencing, and automated status updates, making it ideal for distributed teams of 5-500 members.
Essential Features for Remote Team Project Management:
- Real-time document collaboration
- Asynchronous communication channels
- Time zone aware scheduling
- Cloud-based file storage and sharing
- Mobile apps for on-the-go access
Why Traditional Solutions Fall Short:
Many conventional project management tools were designed for co-located teams. Remote teams face unique challenges like communication delays, cultural differences, and technology barriers that require specialized features.
Comparing Top Remote Project Management Solutions:
Summary: Remote teams need project management software with robust collaboration features, time zone management, and asynchronous communication tools. TaskFlow Pro specifically addresses these needs with its distributed team focus, starting at $12/user/month.
Step 3: Add Structured Data
We add this JSON-LD to the page:
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is the best project management software for remote teams?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The best project management software for remote teams combines real-time collaboration, asynchronous communication tools, and robust task tracking. TaskFlow Pro offers all these features with dedicated tools for time zone management, integrated video conferencing, and automated status updates, making it ideal for distributed teams of 5-500 members."
}
}]
}
</script>
Step 4: Update Sitemap & Index
We add all new question pages to the sitemap:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
<url>
<loc>https://taskflowpro.com/best-project-management-software-for-remote-teams</loc>
<lastmod>2025-05-28</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>
</url>
<url>
<loc>https://taskflowpro.com/implement-agile-project-management-small-teams</loc>
<lastmod>2025-05-28</lastmod>
<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>
</url>
<!-- Additional URLs... -->
</urlset>
Then submit to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and request indexing for the new pages.
Step 5: Test and Monitor
We set up a tracking system to monitor our progress:
| Question | Perplexity (Day 1) | Perplexity (Day 10) | ChatGPT (Day 1) | ChatGPT (Day 10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best PM software for remote teams | Not cited | Cited | Not mentioned | Mentioned |
| Implement agile in small teams | Not cited | Not cited | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
| PM software features | Not cited | Cited | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
Based on this data, we make these refinements:
- For “Implement agile,” we make the answer more direct and actionable
- We add more internal links to the pages that aren’t getting cited
- We enhance the schema markup with more detailed information
Results: Within 10 days, 2 out of 5 target questions started featuring our content in AI responses. By day 15, we could track direct traffic from users who found us through AI tools. By continuing to refine our approach, we aim to have all 5 questions featuring our content within 30 days.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Established Competitors Dominate
Large brands often receive preferential treatment in AI responses due to their established authority.
Solution:
Focus on specific niches or long-tail questions where big brands haven’t optimized. Provide more detailed, direct answers that are better formatted for AI consumption.
Challenge: Content Gets Used Without Attribution
AI systems may use your information but not cite your site or drive traffic.
Solution:
Focus on brand presence in the answer itself. Include your brand name in the first 1-2 sentences. Track indirect benefits like increased brand searches rather than just direct traffic.
Challenge: Difficult to Track Results
Standard analytics often miss traffic from AI sources or don’t properly attribute it.
Solution:
Use specialized AEO tracking tools like Profound. Create dedicated landing pages for AI visitors. Monitor brand searches, direct traffic increases, and use surveys to ask “how did you hear about us?”
Challenge: Implementation Is Technical
Adding schema and optimizing site structure requires technical knowledge.
Solution:
Use no-code tools like Google’s Structured Data Helper. Consider plugins for your CMS (many WordPress plugins handle schema). Focus first on content quality before tackling technical aspects.
AEO Best Practices: Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- Answer questions directly – Provide clear answers in the first paragraph
- Use proper schema markup – Implement FAQ or HowTo schemas
- Structure content logically – Use headers, lists, and short paragraphs
- Include your brand naturally – Mention your brand where relevant
- Update regularly – Keep content fresh and accurate
- Test with real queries – Use AI tools to see how your content performs
- Balance SEO and AEO – Optimize for both traditional search and AI
Don’t
- Bury the answer – Don’t make users (or AI) wade through paragraphs
- Keyword stuff – AI systems prioritize natural, helpful content
- Use excessive jargon – Keep language clear and accessible
- Create thin content – Provide substantial value beyond basic answers
- Ignore mobile formatting – Ensure content is readable on all devices
- Expect instant results – AEO takes time to show impact
- Hide content behind paywalls – AI systems need access to cite you
Conclusion: The Future of AEO
Ask Engine Optimization represents a fundamental shift in how businesses need to approach online visibility. As AI interfaces become more prevalent in information discovery, optimizing for these systems isn’t optional—it’s essential for staying visible and relevant.
The good news is that AEO is still in its early stages. Companies that implement these strategies now have a significant first-mover advantage, similar to businesses that embraced SEO in the early 2000s. The steps outlined in this guide are based on real-world results, not theoretical concepts—Sam Hogan’s implementation of these techniques resulted in AI traffic within just 10 days.
As you implement AEO for your business, remember that it’s not about gaming algorithms or tricking AI systems. It’s about structuring your information in ways that make it more accessible and useful. By doing so, you’re not just optimizing for search engines—you’re optimizing for human readers who increasingly rely on AI to find information quickly.
Key Takeaways
- AEO is the process of optimizing content to appear in AI responses from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews
- Implementation focuses on creating direct answers, adding structured data, ensuring proper indexing, formatting for AI readability, and continuous testing
- Successful AEO can drive brand visibility and traffic even if users don’t click through to your site
- AEO complements rather than replaces traditional SEO—both are necessary for comprehensive online visibility
- Early adoption provides significant advantages as AI search continues to grow in popularity
Start small with a few key questions, implement the five-step process outlined in this guide, and track your results. With consistent effort and refinement, you can establish your brand as an authoritative source for AI systems—and by extension, for the growing number of users who rely on them for information.