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What is answer engine optimisation (AEO)?
Answer engine optimisation, or AEO, means shaping your online information so AI tools can confidently use it to answer a direct question, like "who's the best florist near me?". It's about being the answer, not just a link on a results page.
In plain English
AEO is making sure your business information is clear and trustworthy enough that an AI tool will confidently state it as the answer to someone's question. In plain English: it's about being the one name the AI mentions, not just one of ten blue links.
Why does it matter for a small business?
When someone asks an AI assistant "where's a good dentist in Singapore?", they often get one direct answer rather than a list to scroll through. If your business isn't the one mentioned, you may lose that customer entirely, because they never see a results page to scroll past.
What helps AI tools trust your business?
- An accurate, complete Google Business Profile.
- A healthy number of reviews, especially ones you've replied to.
- Consistent name, address and phone number across the web.
- A clear description of what you do and where you serve.
How do you check your AEO performance?
Ask the AI tools your customers might use the questions they'd realistically type, and note whether your business is mentioned, ignored, or mentioned with wrong information. Doing this regularly across several tools is tedious by hand, so automated checking saves real time.
How Local SEO AI helps
Local SEO AI's AI search check does exactly this, asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok whether they'd recommend your business, then repeating the check every two weeks so you can see whether your visibility is moving in the right direction.
Common questions
Is AEO just for big companies?
No. Small businesses can show up in AI answers too, often more easily for very local questions, because AI tools lean on local information like your Google Business Profile.
How is AEO different from SEO?
SEO aims to rank in a list of search results. AEO aims to be the direct answer an AI tool gives, without the customer seeing a list at all.
Can I improve my AEO without a website?
Yes, a strong Google Business Profile and a brand page both give AI tools information to work with, even without a traditional website.
How often should I check my AEO performance?
Every couple of weeks is reasonable, since AI answers can shift as your reviews and profile information change.