AEO: make your answers clearer, more useful and verifiable.
Answer Engine Optimization brings together editorial and technical practices for interfaces that answer questions directly. They improve content understanding without guaranteeing its inclusion or ranking.
Direct answers complement traditional results
An answer that makes sense even when read on its own
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Explicit question
The need addressed by the passage.
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Useful answer
Clear wording, adapted to the topic's complexity.
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Context and limitations
Conditions that prevent an overly broad interpretation.
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Verifiable source
A reference for checking important facts.
Google may present a traditional link, a featured snippet, a related question or a generated summary. The format depends on the query, device, country and Google's systems. The same page may therefore appear differently from one test to another.
AEO is an industry term, not an official standard. Here it refers to editorial clarity, technical consistency and fact-checking. Google states that its AI features rely on the usual SEO fundamentals and require no special markup.
For a Brussels SME, a reasonable objective is to answer customers' questions precisely, then measure observed impressions, clicks and mentions. No format can reserve an answer block or require a citation.
6 AEO practices we master
FAQPage JSON-LD Schema
Markup only where the FAQ is visible and follows the Schema.org vocabulary. It may help describe the content without automatically triggering a rich result.
HowTo Schema (steps)
Visible, ordered steps that genuinely help the reader. Any markup must reflect the page and guarantees no particular presentation in results.
Self-contained answers
A concise answer where the topic allows, with the necessary context, limitations and sources. No universal length guarantees extraction.
Ordered lists + tables
Lists and tables where these formats actually clarify a procedure or comparison. Structure serves the reader and accessibility first.
PAA question mapping
Analysis of questions prospects actually ask, queries visible in Search Console and gaps in existing content.
Stronger E-E-A-T
Identifiable authors, primary sources, update dates and consistent business information. Wikidata is considered only where its eligibility criteria are met.
AEO vs GEO vs LLMO: what does each target?
| Discipline | AEO | GEO | LLMO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Google Featured Snippets + PAA + Bing Answer | Google AI Overviews + Bing Copilot | ChatGPT + Claude + Perplexity |
| Observation | Search Console and manual checks | Documented tests of generative interfaces | Documented tests and identifiable referral traffic |
| Useful foundations | Clear answers and accessible content | SEO fundamentals and verifiable facts | Crawler access according to the chosen policy |
| Limitation | Display determined by the search engine | Results vary by query | Website access without a citation guarantee |
These three angles share the same foundations: an accessible website, useful content and information readers can verify.
AEO in 4 steps: from assessment to capturing Position 0
Content and question audit
Analysis of pages, observed queries, customer questions, indexability and existing answer quality. Priorities depend on available data.
Targeted technical corrections
Clean-up of architecture, metadata and relevant structured data. All markup reflects visible content and undergoes technical validation.
Rewriting according to intent
Answers are made explicit, sourced and easy to scan. Their length and format are chosen according to the topic's complexity, not an arbitrary threshold.
Measurement and iteration
Monitoring impressions, clicks, queries and observed formats. Changes are documented to distinguish correlation from an attributable result.
Your questions about AEO
What exactly is AEO?▾
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the discipline that optimises a website to appear in search engines' direct answer blocks: Google Featured Snippets (Position 0), People Also Ask, Bing Answer Box and Knowledge Panels. It differs from traditional SEO, which targets standard blue links.
How long does it take to capture Position 0?▾
There is no guaranteed timeframe. Crawling, indexing and display format selection depend on Google, the query and the website's condition. We monitor changes in Search Console and verify them through dated tests.
Does AEO reduce my traffic because visitors do not click?▾
The effect varies with intent and how Google presents the result. A complete answer on the results page may reduce some clicks, while a visible reference may generate others. Only the website's data can establish the actual effect.
How much does a Kanexio AEO assignment cost?▾
The budget depends on the number of pages, the website's technical condition and the editorial work required. Scope, deliverables and measurement arrangements are defined before every assignment.
Should AEO come before or after traditional SEO?▾
Alongside it. Google says its AI-assisted search features rely on SEO fundamentals. A crawlable website, useful content and consistent information therefore remain the priority.
Explore the complementary disciplines
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