Answer Engine Optimization6 min read
AEO vs SEO: how the game changed
SEO ranked you. AEO recommends you. Here's what's different and where to focus first.
What carries over
Crawlable HTML, fast pages, real reviews, accurate hours, and consistent citations across the web all still matter. Good SEO hygiene is the floor — not the ceiling.
What's new
AI engines extract facts, not pages. They prefer structured answers, clear headings, FAQ blocks, and natural-language copy that maps directly to a question. They also weigh your reputation across third-party sources more heavily than Google ever did.
Where to focus first
1. Add FAQ and LocalBusiness schema. 2. Rewrite your top pages to answer the 10 questions customers ask most. 3. Make sure Yelp, TripAdvisor, and category-specific directories say the same thing about you.
Hands-on
Try this before the next lesson
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