What Is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
AEO is the art and science of structuring your website and content so answer engines (Google SGE, ChatGPT, Copilot, Alexa, Siri) select YOUR site to provide direct answers in AI-powered results. Instead of just appearing in search listings, your brand becomes the trusted source of the answer.
Examples of Answer Engines
- Google Search Generative Experience (SGE)
- ChatGPT browsing
- Microsoft Copilot search
- Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant)
AEO vs. Traditional SEO: What’s the Difference?
- Prioritise building AI fluency – not just for leadership, but across operations.
- Focus on strategic deployment (use cases with clear ROI) – customer service, content generation, analytics, personalization.
- Address trust issues: transparency, privacy, and educating customers on how AI is used.
Traditional SEO | Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) |
Focus on ranking web pages in search results | Focus on being the source of direct answers |
Keyword-focused content | Question-focused, natural language content |
Backlinks & domain authority matter most | Authority & structured answers matter most |
Meta descriptions, title tags, etc. | Structured data, FAQs, and Schema |
CTR is key to traffic | Visibility comes from the direct answer itself |
In 2024, nearly 60% of Google searches resulted in zero clicks, users are increasingly receiving answers directly.
SEO helps you get clicked. AEO helps you get quoted.
Why AEO Matters for Irish SMEs in 2026
- Voice Search is Booming: Over 80% of Irish marketers say adapting content for voice and AI search is now ‘essential’ to digital strategy.
- Zero-Click Searches Are Increasing: Users expect answers instantly, never even visiting the website.
- AI-Powered Agents Shape Buying Choices: Consumers rely on AI tools to recommend products, services, and solutions. If you’re not optimised for them, you’re invisible.
- Local Relevance: 77% of Irish consumers search for local businesses online weekly; 56% do so daily. Organic SEO & AEO are still top-funnel sources for Irish companies.
Gartner predicts classic web traffic will drop by 25% by 2026
How to Optimise for AEO
At The Smart Group, we empower businesses to win in the age of answer engines with:
1. Answer Real Questions
Research what your audience asks (using AnswerThePublic, Google’s People Also Ask, SEMrush).
• Create FAQ pages with clear, direct answers.
• Optimise blog headers in question format.
• FAQ Example: Q: What is AEO? A: Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is structuring web content to be quoted by AI-powered search engines, getting the best answers instantly to users. Gartner estimates web traffic will drop 25% by 2026 due to AEO’s rise.
2. Add Schema
MarkupUse structured data (FAQ schema, How-To schema, etc.) so search engines and answer engines can easily interpret your content.
3. Write in Natural Language
No more keyword stuffing, focus on helpful, conversational answers in all content.
4. Optimise Page Speed & Mobile UX
Fast, responsive sites are prioritised for answer blocks and voice search.
5. Build Trust & Authority
• Thought leadership content, reviews, listings.
• As part of our Growth Marketing Subscription, we improve your brand’s digital footprint.
6. Add Internal & External Links
Link to your service pages and respected sources (e.g. Google’s SGE, SEMrush, Forbes).
The Impact of Generative AI & Answer Engines
ChatGPT had 525.9M unique visitors in March 2025, with 62.5% of the consumer AI tool market.
73% of marketing departments now use generative AI, mainly for image and text creation.
Ireland’s SEO spending among mid-sized companies rose 25% in 2024, with another 15% projected increase for 2025.
What Does Success Look Like?
- Your site gets quoted in Google’s AI summaries, above all regular results.
- Your business is the source for voice assistants answering local queries.
- You feature in ChatGPT or Copilot recommendations.
- You capture users who never scroll past the AI box.
How The Smart Group Delivers AEO Success
- Onsite SEO Service:
Technical audits, schema implementation, and FAQ optimisation. - Website Design Projects:
Ensuring your site structure, mobile UX, and speed support AI-readability. - Growth Marketing Subscription:
Ongoing AEO, advanced content optimisation, performance tracking
Ready to Future-Proof Your Website?
Let’s prepare your business for the next evolution in search.
Chat with The Smart Group about optimising your content for AI-powered discovery.
