What is Answer Engine Optimisation?

The practice of improving whether your company appears in AI-generated answers, how accurately it is described, and which sources support the recommendation.

Search returns options. AI makes a shortlist.

When a buyer asks ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Perplexity what to buy or who to hire, the response names a few providers and explains why. AEO helps your company earn a credible place in that response.

Prompt

Which specialist advisory firms should a company like ours shortlist?

AI answer

  1. 1.Northstar Advisory: strong local evidence and focused expertise
  2. 2.Fieldwork Partners: clear sector coverage in your market
  3. 3.Meridian Practice: well-documented outcomes and useful guidance
source · industry guidesource · trade publicationsource · company site

Illustrative example · fictional brands

AEO, in practical terms

The outcome

Your company is named when a buyer asks an AI assistant for a recommendation, comparison, or solution.

The measure

Answer Share: the share of AI answers to eligible buyer questions that name your company, reported with its range.

The evidence

Structured, current information and third-party sources that give AI a defensible reason to cite you.

The difference from SEO

SEO earns a place among links. AEO earns a place inside the answer itself.

See how often your company makes the answer.

We write the questions your buyers ask AI and check whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity name you.