What is AEO, and why does it matter?

What is AEO?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is the process of making your business the answer that AI platforms recommend when someone asks about what you do. When a potential client types a question into ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini, those engines synthesise an answer from dozens of sources rather than just linking to websites. AEO is how you make sure your business is among the sources they trust.

Why should you care?

Google is no longer the only front door. AI engines handle hundreds of millions of queries every day, and the people using them tend to be further along in the buying process: not browsing, but deciding. Research shows that only 12% of AI citations come from Google's top-10 results, which means your search ranking alone does not protect you. If you are not present in the communities and sources AI engines draw from, you are invisible to an entirely new channel of ready-to-buy customers.

The benefits of being cited by AI engines

  • Reach buyers who go straight to ChatGPT or Perplexity before opening Google
  • Get named as an authority inside the AI answer, putting your brand front and centre
  • Complement your SEO so you are covered regardless of how someone searches
  • Build credibility through the communities and forums AI engines trust most
  • Compound over time: the more your voice appears in trusted sources, the more AI engines cite you
AEO topic mapping diagram

AEO vs SEO

AEO goes further than Google.It covers everywhere your customers are talking.

SEO is the foundation. AEO is what comes next.

SEO optimises your website for Google's algorithm, earning you visibility on search results pages. AEO builds on that foundation and goes further. Only 12% of AI citations come from Google's top 10. The other 88% comes from forums, community discussions, expert articles, and niche sources — places most businesses have never thought to be present in.

Forums are the dark horse of AEO.

Forums drive AI citations more than you might think. Perplexity cites Reddit in nearly half of all its answers. ChatGPT's Reddit citations have grown 87% since 2024. Google AI Overviews reference Reddit 21% of the time. When a potential client asks an AI engine about finding a financial advisor for a liquidity event, the answer is being shaped by conversations already happening on Reddit, Quora, and LinkedIn.

We put your voice in the right conversations.

We identify the threads where your future clients are asking questions, and make sure your voice is part of those conversations. No shortcuts. No spam. Genuine presence in the places AI engines look when they form an answer.

Your Leads

Real people asking for what you sell, right now.

RedditRedditr/personalfinance

Finally crossed $500k in savings — do I need an actual financial advisor or just keep doing index funds?

47 min ago — I'm 39, no debt, maxed 401k every year. At what point does paying someone actually make sense...

LinkedInLinkedInMichael Tran · Partner

Just closed our Series A. Who handles the personal finance side when your paper wealth suddenly becomes real?

2 hours ago — Wire just hit. I've never had this kind of liquidity before and honestly don't know what I should be doing first...

YouTubeYouTubeParallel Wealth

My honest review of fee-only financial advisors after 3 years

5 days ago — 1.4M views · I was skeptical too. Here is what actually changed...

Keywords

Every brand has a universe of potential AEO topics. We map the conversations that matter most to AI engines, and make sure your voice is part of them.

SEO topic map for Investment Advisor

FAQ

Common AEO questions

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