What is AEO — how to be cited by ChatGPT and Perplexity

AEO vs classic SEO — the difference

SEO fights for a position and a click in the results list. AEO makes an AI model treat your content as a reliable source and quote it (often with a link) in the answer it gives the user. The foundation is the same — good, reliable content — but the signals and format differ.

How to optimise for AEO (in practice)

1. Answer-first: the answer in the first paragraph, before you expand the topic.
2. Question structure: H2 headings as questions and an FAQ section at the end.
3. Structured data: FAQPage and Article schema help machines understand the content.
4. Unambiguous facts: numbers, definitions, ranges — models prefer specifics over platitudes.
5. E-E-A-T: an experienced author, company data, consistent NAP — this builds trust in the source.
6. llms.txt: a concise description of the company and services for AI engines.
7. Allow AI bots: in robots.txt, allow GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot and Google-Extended.

Does AEO replace SEO?

No — it complements it. Search traffic is not going away, but the share of AI-generated answers is growing. Brands that are “citable” today build an edge before competitors notice the shift. The best part: most AEO practices also strengthen classic SEO.

Frequently asked questions

What is AEO?

Answer Engine Optimization is optimising content for citations in AI answer engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews) — so your brand appears in the answer itself.

How is AEO different from SEO?

SEO fights for a position and a click in the results list; AEO for an AI model to cite your content as a source. The foundation (good content) is shared, but the format and signals differ.

Where do you start with AEO?

With answer-first format and FAQ sections on key pages, structured data (FAQPage), an llms.txt file, and allowing AI bots in robots.txt.

Related service: SEO & AI SEO →

See also

SEO & AI SEO →Websites & stores →