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Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimisation and, in the broadest sense, refers to measures for optimising digital content for answer engines - i.e. systems that provide direct answers to user questions, such as AI answer engines, Google Snippets or AI-based chatbots.
  

The term AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) can refer to three different areas in current usage:

1. The optimisation of content for new AI response engines
The aim here is to optimise content on websites for AI answer engines - i.e. systems that combine LLMs with database queries (RAG systems), such as Google Overview, ChatGPT (in search mode) or Microsoft Copilot (Bing).

These systems are used by users to get answers to questions or to research topics.
This type of content optimisation is aimed at visibility in these systems.
 

AI answer engines

  • Combine LLM answers with current web data (RAG approach).
  • Favour content that is formulated as a direct answer to questions, including sources.
  • For optimisation, semantic combination, clear structuring of the texts and, if applicable, conversational style of the content are decisive; structured data is helpful, but not mandatory.

Related terms:

Optimising content for AI is also referred to by various other terms and abbreviations that essentially describe the same thing:

 

2. The optimisation of content for chatbots

This involves answers that chatbots provide, for example, in the service on websites or as voice assistants (Alexa, Siri).

In the context of AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation), this type of optimisation is often considered together with optimisation for AI answer engines because they pursue a common goal: They provide users with direct, precise answers to questions without them having to search through traditional search results.

Die Antworten für Chatbots werden in der Regel über vordefinierten Dialoge oder eigenen FAQ-Datenbanken generiert.  Das heißt, es werden keine vorhandenen Inhalte etwa auf Websites optimiert, vielmehr eigene Inhalte in Datenbanken vorgehalten. 

Chatbots/voice assistants

  • Usually work with predefined dialogues, their own FAQ databases or API feeds.

  • Answers must be short, precise and easy to understand, as they are often read aloud.

  • Natural language and question-and-answer logic are key.


3. Optimising content for snippets in Google Search

There are functional overlaps here with optimisation for AI answer engines, as direct answers to user questions are also displayed.

However, the visibility of Google snippets is based on the classic indexing and ranking procedures of search engines. This type of response optimisation is therefore part of classic SEO for websites. However, the term AEO is rarely used in this context.


Google Snippets:

  • Google extracts answers directly from indexed web pages, favouring clearly structured content, lists and short paragraphs.

  • Structured data (e.g. FAQ page, HowTo) helps to qualify content as a snippet.

  • Ranking is based on relevance, authority and clarity of the answer

 
 
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