Quick answer
Answer Engine Optimisation means structuring content so AI assistants can extract and cite it: lead each section with a direct 40–60 word answer, use descriptive question-style headings, add FAQ and LocalBusiness structured data, state facts plainly with dates and figures, and keep your business details consistent everywhere online.
Answer first, elaborate second
AI systems extract short, self-contained answers. Put a direct answer in the first two sentences under each heading, then expand. If the answer only emerges after four paragraphs of build-up, it will not be quoted.
Write headings as questions
Question-form headings map neatly onto the way people prompt assistants. 'How much does a plumber website cost?' is far more extractable than 'Investment'.
Be a clear entity
Assistants need to know who is speaking. Consistent business name, location, services and contact details across your site, Google Business Profile and directories make you a recognisable entity worth citing.
- Use LocalBusiness and Service structured data
- Include specific figures, dates and locations
- State when content was last reviewed
- Avoid vague marketing claims with nothing behind them
Depth still wins
Answer engines favour pages that cover a topic comprehensively rather than a set of thin pages. One authoritative guide with clear sections usually outperforms five shallow posts on the same subject.
Frequently asked questions
- Is AEO different from SEO?
- It overlaps heavily. AEO adds emphasis on extractable answers, structured data and entity consistency so AI tools can quote you confidently.
- Do AI Overviews reduce website traffic?
- They reduce clicks for simple informational queries but increase qualified traffic when your site is the cited source for a commercial question.
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