Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) or AI Engine Optimisation

The first step in AEO is understanding what people are really asking. This means going beyond keywords and working closely with clients and end-users to uncover the real needs, pain points, and motivations of your prospects and customers. By aligning your content with their true intent, you create answers that are not only relevant but genuinely helpful.

Creating high-quality, audience-specific content that aligns with the types of questions or requests users make to AI systems. This involves optimising for natural language queries and conversational tone.

Using structured data (e.g., Schema.org) and metadata to help AI engines understand and categorise your content accurately. Clear, well-organised data that is easy for machines to extract and present as answers improves discoverability.

Ensuring your website, content, or brand appears in AI models’ training data through backlinks, mentions, and high-quality authority sites.

Optimising for question-based and long-tail keywords that mimic how users interact with AI engines (e.g., “What’s the best Italian restaurant near me?” or “How do I choose a good laptop?”).

Establishing authority through reviews, testimonials, and positive online presence, as AI engines often prioritise trusted sources.

Ensuring your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and accessible, as AI engines favour resources that deliver value efficiently.