Glossary
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
The practice of optimizing your brand and content so that AI answer engines cite you when users ask direct questions.
Definition
AEO focuses on becoming the cited, recommended source inside AI-generated answers. Where SEO optimizes for ranking on a results page, AEO optimizes for being included in the answer itself: whether that's a ChatGPT response, a Perplexity card, or a Google AI Overview. AEO emphasizes structured data, clear factual statements, and authoritative citations that LLMs trust.
Example
A small CRM brand earns a citation in ChatGPT's answer to "best CRM for solo founders" by publishing a comparison page that AI engines parse cleanly and reference.
Related terms
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
The practice of optimizing your brand and content to be cited, recommended, and described favorably by generative AI engines.
Answer Engine
A search product that returns a direct synthesized answer instead of a list of links: Perplexity, ChatGPT Search, Google AI Overviews.
Citation
A specific URL or source that an AI engine links to when supporting a claim in its answer.
Visibility (brand visibility)
The share of analysed AI answers that name your brand.
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