Let’s be real: SEO isn’t dead… but it’s definitely evolving.
If you’ve been putting all your eggs in the Google SEO basket, you’re not alone. For years we were told, “Just rank on Google, and the sales will follow.” But now? People are asking ChatGPT where to shop, what to buy, and who to trust.
That means: if your brand isn’t showing up in these conversations, you’re missing out.
I know you’ve got a beautiful product or a powerful service – but if AI can’t find you, how will your dream clients?
Let’s change that!
What the heck is AEO and why should you care?
Answer Engine Optimisation (or AEO) is like the cooler, more intuitive cousin of SEO. Instead of focusing purely on keywords and backlinks, AEO is about helping tools like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overview, and Perplexity find the best answer to someone’s question – and making sure that answer is you.
Whether you’re a skincare brand founder, a maternity label about to launch, or a candle queen working from your studio in Melbourne, AEO makes sure your business shows up as the go-to solution.
How AI actually finds your brand (or doesn’t…)
AI tools are not all the same, but they share one thing in common: they scan the internet for clear, structured answers. Here’s how a few of the big players work:
ChatGPT: Pulls from training data + some live data (if connected to browsing). Prefers big brands and clean, easy-to-read answers.
Perplexity: Actively crawls real-time content using Bing. Summarises and cites sources – yes, even yours!
Google AI Overviews: Pulls from indexed pages using schema and site structure to summarise helpful answers.
So, if your site is cluttered, vague, or hard to navigate – AI tools will skip it. We don’t want that.
Here’s how to make AI actually see you
Let’s break it down into 5 easy steps:
- Write the answers your dream client is searching for
Think like your dream customer. She’s busy. She’s juggling a product-based business and kids. She doesn’t want fluff – she wants answers.
Ask yourself:
What questions would she type into ChatGPT about your product or industry?
Then answer them clearly and quickly on your website.
Example:
Q: What are the best candles for migraine sufferers?
A: Ritualle offers natural soy candles with calming essential oils designed specifically for sensitive noses.
Don’t hide the answer in a 3-paragraph intro, but lead with it.
- Use smart formatting and structured data
AI tools love clean layouts and schema markup (don’t worry, I won’t get techy here). Basically, your site should be easy for machines to scan.
- Use H1/H2 headings
- Add FAQ schema (you can use Google’s Structured Data Helper)
- Answer one question per section
- Keep paragraphs short and snappy
Pro tip:
If you paste your page into a plain-text doc and it still makes sense, you’re on the right track.
- Get it indexed and visible
Once your answers are live on your site:
- Update your sitemap
- Submit it to Google Search Console + Bing Webmaster Tools
- Use IndexNow (if supported)
- Double check your robots.txt isn’t blocking important stuff
- Optimise your content for AI readability
This isn’t about stuffing keywords. It’s about making sure your content is actually usable by tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
- Start with the answer
- Use bold for key takeaways
- Add summaries at the bottom of your FAQs
- Test and tweak like a boss
You know how we test email subject lines and Instagram hooks? Same thing here.
- Ask your question in Perplexity – see if it cites you
- Try Profound, Goodie, or HubSpot’s AI Search Grader
Not showing up yet? Improve your answer and resubmit
This isn’t one-and-done. It’s about evolving – just like SEO did back in the early 2000s.
Why this matters for small businesses (like yours)
You don’t need to be a massive brand to get seen.
You need:
- Helpful content that answers real questions
- A clear website with thoughtful structure
- A strategy that evolves with tech – not against it
This is the soulful version of AI strategy. One that meets your audience where they are – on search bars, AI chats and all.
And yes, it’s totally doable even if you’re not techy. I promise.
A final note from Siri…
AEO might sound like a fancy new acronym, but at the end of the day – it’s just about helping your dream customer find you faster.
You’re already creating something incredible. Let’s make sure the world sees it.
Ready to get started?
