AEO
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization: the practice of improving how often and how accurately a brand appears in AI-generated answers.
What is AEO?
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the process of making a brand, website, and content easier for AI-powered search and answer engines to discover, understand, trust, cite, and recommend.
How does AEO work?
AEO combines technical accessibility, clear content structure, topical authority, and strong brand signals. The goal is not only to rank in traditional search results, but also to become a reliable source that AI systems can use when generating answers.
- Create clear, expert content around relevant buyer questions.
- Use structured, machine-readable information where appropriate.
- Build authority through mentions, links, and consistent brand signals.
Why does AEO matter?
More buyers are using AI assistants and AI-powered search experiences to research problems, compare solutions, and shortlist vendors. AEO helps increase the chance that your company is part of those answers and recommendations.
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Written by:
Niels Voshol is co-founder of Overflow Agency, focused on B2B website strategy, AI Search, SEO, positioning and conversion.
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