What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the practice of structuring pages so they give a short, precise and verifiable answer to a user’s question, allowing Google answer boxes, voice assistants and AI search to surface that answer directly.
Why it matters
A large share of queries are questions: how much does it cost, how is it done, what is the difference. Search engines try to show an answer rather than a link for these. When the answer comes from your page, the user sees your brand even without a click — and in a considered B2B purchase that first exposure often precedes the enquiry by weeks.
How it works and how it is measured
- Question as heading: H2 and H3 headings are phrased the way users write the question.
- Answer first: the first paragraph under the heading answers it in full; supporting detail follows.
- Format: a numbered list for steps, a table for comparisons, a single sentence for a definition.
- Markup: FAQPage and HowTo tell the engine which part is the question and which is the answer; the markup must only describe content visible on the page.
- Measurement: which queries you appear for in Search Console and in what form — a standard result or an answer feature.
Frequently asked questions
How is AEO different from GEO?
AEO is about the shape of the answer: short and precise. GEO is about being selected as a source by AI systems, which involves crawler access, structure and external corroboration. AEO can be treated as a component of GEO.
Should every page carry an FAQ block?
Not necessarily. FAQ sections help when they reflect questions customers genuinely ask; repeating a generic block across pages adds nothing.
Do answer boxes reduce clicks?
For informational queries they can — the user takes the answer and leaves. Comparison and decision queries behave differently: people rarely settle for a summary before choosing a vendor, so commercial clusters are where this content still earns visits.