What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of improving your brand's visibility in AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity AI. Unlike traditional SEO that targets search engines and keywords, AEO focuses on conversational questions and earning citations in AI-generated responses. AEO requires creating structured, authoritative content that provides clear, direct answers to specific questions.

Does ChatGPT actually search the web?

Yes, ChatGPT can search the web. As of February 2025, ChatGPT will automatically search the web if your question might benefit from current information. You can also manually trigger web search by clicking the web search icon. ChatGPT uses web search to provide up-to-date information and cite sources. For businesses, this means having a strong, authoritative web presence is crucial for being discovered and cited by ChatGPT.

How is AI search different from Google search?

AI search like ChatGPT generates synthesized answers in natural language, while Google retrieves and displays multiple website links. ChatGPT provides a single, conversational response that combines information from various sources, whereas Google search shows you options to explore. User behavior also differs: AI search queries are longer, more conversational, and often multi-turn interactions with high task-oriented intent, compared to Google's short, keyword-based queries with navigational intent.

What content should I create to rank on ChatGPT?

Create content that directly answers specific questions your customers ask. Use clear H2 and H3 headings with conversational, question-based phrases. Write in a natural, human tone using the same language your customers use. Include comprehensive FAQ sections, detailed guides with numbered steps, and summaries with bullet points. Focus on demonstrating expertise with specific, actionable advice rather than generic guidance. Structure your content logically with schema markup to help AI understand and extract information.

How important are reviews for ChatGPT visibility?

Reviews are extremely important for ChatGPT visibility. Yelp rankings, review sentiment, and star ratings are often cited verbatim in ChatGPT responses. Reviews serve as authoritative signals that validate your business quality and credibility. More positive reviews across platforms like Google, Yelp, and industry-specific sites increase your chances of being mentioned by ChatGPT. Reviews also provide rich, natural language content that AI can pull from when answering questions about your business or industry.

Do I need schema markup for ChatGPT?

Yes, schema markup is highly beneficial for ChatGPT visibility. Schema.org structured data helps AI understand your business type, offerings, location, reviews, and other key information. ChatGPT pulls from both structured and unstructured data, and schema markup makes it much easier for AI to accurately extract and cite your business information. Implement Organization, LocalBusiness, FAQPage, and Product schemas relevant to your business.

How long does it take to show up in ChatGPT?

There's no definitive timeline, but typically it takes several weeks to months of consistent optimization. ChatGPT learns from publicly available information, so you need time to build authority through quality content, backlinks, and reviews. The more authoritative and consistent your digital presence, the faster you may appear. Early adoption gives you an advantage - businesses optimizing now are establishing authority before competitors. Focus on creating valuable content consistently rather than expecting immediate results.

Can small businesses compete on ChatGPT?

Absolutely! Small businesses can compete effectively on ChatGPT by focusing on local relevance, niche expertise, and specific questions. ChatGPT often prioritizes authoritative, specific answers over big brand names. Focus on dominating your local area with location-specific content, optimize your Google Business Profile and Yelp listings, create detailed content about your specific services, and gather consistent reviews. Small businesses with strong local presence and clear expertise often outperform larger competitors in AI responses.

Should I focus on ChatGPT or Google?

Focus on both! While traditional Google search still dominates, AI search is growing rapidly. Research predicts 25% of organic traffic will shift to AI chatbots by 2026, with LLM traffic potentially overtaking Google by 2027. The good news is that many optimization strategies overlap - strong SEO, quality content, schema markup, and authority signals help both. Start by ensuring your Google presence is solid, then layer in AI-specific optimizations like FAQ pages, conversational content, and direct answers to questions.

What is the biggest mistake businesses make with AI visibility?

The biggest mistake is treating AI optimization like traditional keyword stuffing. ChatGPT and other AI platforms prioritize authentic, valuable content that genuinely helps users. Creating thin content with generic advice, inconsistent information across platforms, ignoring reviews and reputation signals, and failing to directly answer specific questions will hurt your visibility. Focus on being genuinely helpful, maintaining consistency, and demonstrating real expertise rather than trying to game the system.

Do I need to pay to get found on ChatGPT?

No, you don't need to pay to get found on ChatGPT. Unlike traditional advertising, ChatGPT visibility is earned through organic optimization - quality content, strong SEO, schema markup, reviews, and authority signals. However, you may want to invest in tools that help with optimization, or hire experts to accelerate your results. Some directories and platforms may offer paid placements that could indirectly increase your overall web presence, but ChatGPT itself doesn't offer paid placement in its responses.

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Why AI Discovery Matters

As AI becomes the primary way people discover information, being visible on ChatGPT and similar platforms is critical for business growth.

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Everything you need to know about getting found on ChatGPT

To get your business found on ChatGPT, you need to optimize your digital presence for AI discovery. Start with a strong SEO foundation, create high-quality content with clear structure using H2 and H3 headings, implement schema markup, maintain consistent information across all platforms, and build authority through backlinks and reviews. ChatGPT pulls from reliable, well-structured sources, so focus on creating valuable content that directly answers questions your customers are asking.

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