Question 1

What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

Accepted Answer

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of optimizing your content to become the authoritative source that AI models cite when generating answers. Unlike SEO which focuses on ranking for clicks, AEO ensures your content is selected, referenced, and recommended by AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. As search evolves from traditional engines to conversational AI, being discoverable means being citable.

Question 2

What is the core difference between AEO and SEO?

Accepted Answer

The core difference is the primary goal. While traditional SEO optimizes for clicks from a list of search results, AEO optimizes for being the authoritative source that AI systems trust and cite directly in their answers. AEO focuses on semantic clarity and authority to be featured by answer engines, not just ranked.

Question 3

How do I optimize my website for ChatGPT and other AI engines?

Accepted Answer

Optimizing for AI engines requires implementing structured data (JSON-LD), creating clear "Answer Objects" that directly address common questions, and ensuring your content demonstrates E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Focus on semantic clarity, use natural language that mirrors how people ask questions, and provide comprehensive, well-sourced answers.

Question 4

Why do traditional SEO tactics fail for AI models?

Accepted Answer

Traditional SEO tactics focus on signals for search engine crawlers, such as keyword density and backlinks. AI models prioritize semantic understanding, factual accuracy, and content authority. Tactics like keyword stuffing do not influence how AI systems evaluate and cite content because they analyze content for meaning, not just keywords.

Question 5

Which AI engines does AEO.VC optimize for?

Accepted Answer

AEO.VC is built specifically for generative AI engines and helps you optimize for platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

Question 6

What does 'Generative Visibility' mean?

Accepted Answer

Generative Visibility refers to the likelihood of your brand or content being cited, referenced, and recommended by AI systems when they generate answers for users. It's about becoming an authoritative part of the AI conversation, moving beyond simple search rankings.

Research Papers