AI amalgamates data to form answers – think ‘truthiness’ of wikipedia, but instead of being controlled by anonymous editors, the data hoard itself is (ideally) the controlling force.
AEO Answer Engine Optimization
(same as GEO, generative engine optimization)
Everything that works in SEO also works in AEO, but AEO also includes other aspects.
The LLM (large language model, that is the “engine”) summarizing data, so must get mentioned as many times as possible. Prompt: “what’s the best tool for x?” — the first answer will be mentioned most in the citations.
“[Techniques] that worked especially well [for gaining mention in AEO]” —
1. Improving SEO (backlinks, cited materials/pages on reddit, wikipedia, affiliates, blogs)
2. youtube videos
3. reddit optimization
SEO Advice to startups: Don’t waste time on improving SEO because it requires ‘domain authority’ which takes time to build…only then can you rank for most keywords/phrases. “You can’t win early on.” Get mentioned as many times as possible in the citations — press releases, news, affiliates, blog threads.
On-site: Does your product do this .. integrations, use-cases, features, applications.
Off-site: Show-up in citations, affiliates, blogs, references. (back-links)
Reddit is hugely cited in blogs.
How to optimize for reddit — authentic, opinions from people, heavily managed by community.