Quick answer
Answer engine optimization (AEO) is the practice of shaping your website so AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews can find it, trust it and quote it when someone asks a question. Where SEO aims to rank your page in search results, AEO aims to get your business named in the answer itself.
Why AEO matters now
More people now ask an AI assistant instead of scrolling through search results. Ask ChatGPT for “the best roofer in Boise” or “a dog-friendly hotel on the coast,” and you get a short list of names, not ten blue links. If your business isn’t one of those names, you aren’t in the running for that customer.
How AI assistants decide what to say
No AI company publishes exactly how it picks its sources. But the assistants draw on web pages they can find and read, and they tend to favor pages that:
- Answer the question directly, in the first few sentences.
- State facts that match across the business’s website, Google profile and listing sites.
- Are clearly structured, with headings, lists and structured data (schema).
- Include specific detail, like real distances, prices, seasons and policies.
AEO vs. SEO
| SEO | AEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank on page one | Be named in the answer |
| Where | Google results page | ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, AI Overviews |
| Content | Keyword-focused pages | Direct answers to real questions |
| Measured by | Rankings and clicks | Mentions in AI answers and visits from AI tools |
| The win | A click | A recommendation, and a click |
What an AEO-ready page looks like
- The customer’s question as the headline.
- A quick answer in the first two or three sentences.
- Key facts that are easy to scan and quote.
- An FAQ with matching FAQ schema.
- A named author and a recent “updated” date.
- Links to related answers on the same site.
This page follows that format, and so does our guide to getting your business recommended by ChatGPT.
Does my business need AEO?
It’s most valuable when your customers research before they buy. That includes local services like roofers, dentists and law firms, hotels and venues, and any business where one new customer is worth a lot. If people ask an AI assistant for a recommendation in your category, AEO decides whether you’re part of the answer.
How to get started
- List the questions your customers ask before they buy.
- Ask those questions in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini, and note who gets named.
- Fix mismatched facts on your website and listings.
- Publish answer-first pages for your most important questions, and track the results monthly.
What our clients say
I know I can count on Pineapple to be available anytime for anything. And they always get it right.
DP, Healthcare client
I was shocked at how many more sales we got from our website within 90 days after working with Pineapple.
GH, Software company
Pineapple is by far the only vendor I’ve had for over 10 years. I trust them to always help me when I need it.
HS, E-commerce
Frequently asked questions
Is AEO the same as GEO?
They’re closely related. Generative engine optimization (GEO) and AEO both describe making your content easy for AI tools to find and cite, and many people use the terms interchangeably.
Does AEO replace SEO?
No. AEO builds on SEO. Clear, well-structured pages that answer real questions tend to do well in Google and in AI answers.
How do you measure AEO?
We ask a fixed set of customer questions in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews every month and record whether you’re named. We also track visits that arrive from AI tools in Google Analytics.
How long does AEO take to work?
It varies. Some pages get picked up within weeks and others take months, and nobody can guarantee a mention. That’s why we record a baseline first and track the same questions every month.
What does AEO cost?
Our AI Answer Hub plans start at $1,000 a month.
Find out if AI recommends your business
We’ll show you who ChatGPT and Perplexity name for your customers’ questions, and what it would take to be one of them.