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Methodology · AI Search Infrastructure

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Definition

AEO — Answer Engine Optimization — is the practice of structuring content to earn featured placement in AI-generated answer surfaces, voice assistants, and direct-answer search features. AEO focuses specifically on optimizing for the answer extraction layer — ensuring content is structured to be selected as the direct answer to specific questions. AEO is distinct from GEO in its focus: where GEO addresses broad AI search visibility, AEO targets the specific mechanism of answer selection. AEO-optimized content uses direct answer format, question-answer structure, concise definitional paragraphs, and FAQ schema to maximize the probability of being selected as the answer to specific queries. For brands targeting high-volume informational queries, AEO is the most direct route to AI Overview citations and voice search answers.

GEO

LLMO

Answer Layer

FAQ Schema

Direct answer format

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