These notes are based on the YouTube video by Julia McCoy

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Key Takeaways

• Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the next evolution of SEO, focusing on AI‑powered answer engines (Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Bing Copilot, etc.). As explained in What Is AEO? How to Get Your Brand Found in AI Search, AEO shifts the goal from ranking pages to ranking answers.
• Ranking in AEO tends to be less competitive than traditional SEO, often requiring fewer referring domains (some analyses cite roughly 13 vs. 41 for a typical page‑one rank).
• Long‑tail, conversational keywords (4 + words) are the primary drivers of AI overview visibility.
• The overwhelming majority of AI overview opportunities are informational; commercial intent is a secondary focus.
• AEO success depends on multi‑feature visibility (AI overview + Featured Snippet + People Also Ask) and brand authority across the web, not just on‑page optimization.
• Early adopters can build a compounding citation advantage that becomes increasingly valuable as AI answers grow to a larger share of search interactions (estimates suggest 30‑40 % of queries by mid‑2026).

AEO vs. Traditional SEO

Aspect	Traditional SEO	Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
Goal	Rank web pages in search‑engine algorithms	Rank content in AI‑generated answer panels and citations
Primary Signals	Backlinks, on‑page SEO, technical health	Answer relevance, citation quality, multi‑feature presence
Keyword Focus	Short‑tail, high‑volume terms	Long‑tail, natural‑language questions
Difficulty	Higher (≈41 domains for page‑1)	Lower (≈13 domains for AI overview, per some studies)
Conversion Quality	Mixed; often top‑of‑funnel	Higher; users are deeper in the funnel after reading an AI answer

The Six‑Step AEO Framework

1️⃣ Target Long‑Tail Conversational Keywords

• Why: AI answer engines synthesize responses to natural‑language queries.
• Data Point: AI overviews are frequently triggered by queries that contain four or more words.
• Process (Ahrefs Keywords Explorer):
  1. Enter a seed term (e.g., “Ozempic”).
  2. Open Matching Terms → Presets → Questions (filters for “how, when, why…”).
  3. Under SERP Features, select AI Overviews.
  4. Set Word Count ≥ 4.
  5. Export the resulting list (often > 100 viable keywords).
• Tip: Follow the AEO Checklist to verify you’ve captured every on‑page signal before moving to outreach.

2️⃣ Prioritize Low‑Competition AEO Keywords

• Observation: A large share of AI‑overview keywords show relatively low keyword difficulty; many tools report KD < 30 with median scores in the low teens.
• Implication: Fewer referring domains are needed → faster wins.
• Competitive Gap Hunt:
  • In Ahrefs Site Explorer, filter a competitor’s organic keywords by AI Overview + KD ≤ 30 + Rank 1‑20.
  • Identify “gold‑mine” queries where the competitor ranks but you don’t.

3️⃣ Focus on Informational Intent

• Most AI overview queries are informational (well over 90 %).
• Strategy:
  • Educate first, convert later.
  • Use the answer as a trust‑building hook, then guide readers to deeper content or a CTA.
• Finding High‑Value Informational Keywords:
  • Apply AI Overview + Intent = Informational filters.
  • Exclude branded and local terms to isolate pure AEO opportunities.

4️⃣ Optimize for Multi‑Feature Visibility (The “AEO Triple Crown”)

• AI Overviews often co‑occur with:
  1. People Also Ask (PAA) – a strong majority of AEO results show this feature.
  2. Featured Snippets – many AI Overviews appear alongside snippets.
  3. Image Thumbnails – visual opportunities.
• Implementation:
  • In keyword research, select AI Overview, Featured Snippet, and PAA simultaneously.
  • Target the resulting keyword set (often > 9,000 terms) for multiple top‑of‑page slots.
• Content Formatting Tips:
  • Use question‑based H2s that match PAA queries exactly.
  • Provide a concise, quotable answer in the first 2‑3 sentences (ideal for snippets).
  • Expand with comprehensive coverage for AI overview citations.
  • Add relevant images with descriptive alt text for visual AEO.
• Further Reading: The strategies outlined in The Ultimate AI SEO Playbook - Rank #1 in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini & More provide deeper tactics for dominating these multi‑feature slots.

5️⃣ Build Brand Authority Across the Web

• AI engines pull any credible source: industry sites, reviews, forums, social media.
• Citation Sources Matter More Than Your Own Site for AEO rankings.
• Brand Radar Setup (Ahrefs):
  1. Choose country & category (e.g., “running shoes”).
  2. Add your brand + competitors.
  3. Filter for AI Overviews (or all mentions).
  4. Review share of voice, trend data, and source quality.
• Authority Playbook:
  1. Weekly brand‑mention monitoring.
  2. Identify high‑authority sites that cite competitors but not you.
  3. Pitch expert content or data to those outlets.
  4. Track citation growth as a core AEO KPI.

6️⃣ Systematic AEO Gap Analysis & Outreach

• Gap Definition: Competitor appears in an AI overview, your brand does not.
• Discovery Process:
  • In Brand Radar, filter for AI Overview = Yes, Your Brand = No, Competitor Brand = Yes.
  • Example: 327 gaps for Nike in the running‑shoe niche (illustrative).
• Two‑Pronged Attack:
  1. Content Creation: Publish a superior, citation‑ready guide covering the gap.
  2. Outreach: Secure backlinks or mentions from the same high‑authority sites feeding the AI overview.

🔗 See Also: What Is AEO? How to Get Your Brand Found in AI Search

Future Outlook & Predictions

• Current State (early 2025): AI overviews appear for ≈ 10‑12 % of queries, according to several industry trackers.
• Mid‑2026 Forecast: Analysts project that AI‑generated answers could account for around 30‑40 % of all searches.
• 2027 Projection: Some forecasts suggest traditional SERPs will become a secondary experience, with AI answers dominating the first screen.
• Platform Scope: AEO is not Google‑only – it includes ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Bing Copilot, Gemini, Apple’s upcoming AI, etc.
• Compounding Advantage: Once an AI engine cites your brand as authoritative, it will repeatedly surface you across many related queries, creating a virtuous cycle.

💡 Related: Pieter Levels’ Genius Programmatic SEO Strategy Explained

30‑Day AEO Action Plan

Week	Focus	Core Tasks
1	AEO Audit	• Run top 20 keywords through Ahrefs with the AI Overview filter. • Document current AI overview visibility and competitor landscape.
2	Keyword Research	• Apply the six‑step framework to generate 50‑100 AEO opportunities. • Prioritize by search volume, KD < 30, and business relevance. • Build a content calendar.
3	Content Creation	• Optimize 3‑5 existing pages for AI Overview, Snippet, and PAA. • Publish 2‑3 new pieces targeting high‑value AEO keywords. • Implement multi‑feature formatting (question H2s, concise answers, visuals).
4	Monitoring & Metrics	• Set up Ahrefs Brand Radar for ongoing competitive intelligence. • Identify new AEO gaps and outreach targets. • Track KPIs: AI Overview impressions, citation count, share of voice, traffic from AEO sources, citation growth rate.

Summary

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the emerging discipline that supersedes traditional SEO by targeting AI‑driven answer panels across multiple platforms. The core advantage lies in lower competition, higher conversion quality, and the ability to dominate the entire first screen through a multi‑feature approach (AI overview, featured snippet, PAA, images).

Success hinges on:

1. Conversational, long‑tail keyword research (4 + words, question format).
2. Low‑difficulty targets that generally require fewer backlinks.
3. Informational content that educates and builds trust, followed by strategic CTAs.
4. Optimizing for the “AEO Triple Crown” to capture multiple SERP features simultaneously.
5. Building brand authority across the broader web, not just on your own site.
6. Systematic gap analysis and proactive outreach to secure citations from high‑authority sources.

With AI answers projected to answer 30‑40 %+ of searches by mid‑2026, early adopters who implement the six‑step framework and the 30‑day action plan will secure a compounding citation advantage, positioning their brands at the top of every major AI search platform. The window for “easy wins” is closing—move fast, monitor continuously, and let AEO become the cornerstone of your digital visibility strategy.