What is AEO?
Answer Engine Optimization — getting cited, not just ranked
Traditional SEO gets you ranked in Google. AEO gets you cited by AI. When someone asks ChatGPT "who’s the best Webflow agency for B2B," the answer doesn’t come from clicking a link — it comes from AI engines that have already evaluated the web’s most authoritative content and extracted a direct answer.
AEO is the practice of structuring your website’s content, schema markup, and authority signals so that AI engines can find, understand, and cite your business. If your site isn’t built for it, you’re invisible to an entirely new category of buyer — one who never clicks a link.
AEO Maturity Model
Where does your site sit today?
Use this framework to diagnose your current AEO maturity — and understand where BrandingLab can accelerate you.
- Keyword-focused content
- On-page SEO only
- Backlink strategy
- Some answer content
- Basic structure
- Active E-E-A-T signals
- Answering question clusters
- Consistent structure, fast site
- Proactive PR & thought leadership
- Answer-hierarchy driven
- Automated structure
- Recognised pillar in your category
- Programmatic + personalised
- AI-native standards
- Widespread AI citations
Not sure where you are? Book a free 15-minute call and we'll tell you.
AEO Services
Choose your AEO engagement
AEO Audit
A comprehensive audit of your AEO standing — structured data, content architecture, authority signals, and technical foundations — delivered as a prioritised action plan.
Book your audit- Structured data analysis
- Content architecture review
- Authority signal assessment
- Prioritised action plan
- 5-day delivery
AEO Foundation
Full implementation of your AEO audit recommendations — schema deployment, content restructuring for AI extraction, authority signal building, and 30-day follow-up.
Get started- Everything in AEO Audit
- Schema markup deployment
- Content restructuring for AI
- Authority signal building
- 30-day follow-up included
AEO Dominance
End-to-end AEO strategy across your entire site — full audit, schema deployment, content rewriting, authority building, quarterly reviews, and monitoring for 6 months.
Get started- Everything in Foundation
- Full site content rewriting
- AI citation monitoring
- Quarterly strategy reviews
- 6 months ongoing optimisation
FAQ
What is Answer Engine Optimization?
AEO is the practice of structuring your website's content, schema markup, and authority signals so that AI engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overview can find, understand, and cite your business in their responses — not just rank it in traditional search.
How is AEO different from SEO?
Traditional SEO optimises for search engine rankings. AEO optimises for AI-generated answers. SEO gets you on page one. AEO gets you cited when someone asks an AI directly — without clicking any links at all.
How long does AEO implementation take?
An AEO Audit is delivered in 5 business days. Full Foundation implementation takes 3–4 weeks. The AEO Dominance engagement runs over 6 months with quarterly reviews and ongoing optimisation.
Do I need to rebuild my site for AEO?
No. AEO Foundation and Dominance work on your existing Webflow site. We add schema markup, restructure content, and build authority signals without a full rebuild. If you're also commissioning a new Webflow build, we include AEO from the ground up at no extra charge.
Isn't AEO just SEO with a new name?
It's a fair question. But the shift is real: AI is now the middleman between your brand and buyers. The brands showing up in AI answers today are training future models. SEO gets you ranked — AEO gets you cited when someone asks an AI engine directly, without clicking any links. Your competitors are already moving.
We already use an SEO agency — do we need AEO on top?
SEO agencies are strong at measurement and recommendations. The question is: how many people and tools does it take to actually publish that change? AEO closes the loop — insights and implementation in one place, without the handoff lag.
We don't have AEO expertise in-house
That's exactly why you don't need to. BrandingLab surfaces the priorities, implements the changes, and keeps you in control with review before anything goes live. Your team stays focused without needing to become AEO experts.
Why BrandingLab for AEO?
We're an Accredited Webflow Partner who has been building AEO into client sites since early 2025. We understand both the technical Webflow implementation and the content strategy required to get cited by AI engines. Most agencies offer one or the other — we deliver both.