AI Engine Optimization (AEO): How to Boost Your Brand’s Visibility in AI Search

TL;DR: SEO makes your site discoverable, while AEO ensures AI presents your brand accurately and positively. Together, they give you full visibility, control your narrative, and build trust earlier in the buyer’s journey.

By 2026, 25% of organic traffic will shift to AI chatbots and virtual agents—meaning fewer clicks, and higher stakes for your brand.

Search Has Changed—And AI Controls the Answers Now

Traditional SEO is still critical, but the rise of AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini means customers are forming opinions before ever clicking your site. These zero-click searches can either help your brand shine—or let competitors take the spotlight.

Key takeaway: SEO gets you found. AEO makes sure AI represents you correctly when it matters most.

Why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) Matters Now

The numbers tell the story:

• In 2024, 65% of all global Google searches are estimated to be zero-click. On mobile, the figure jumps to over 75%.
  
  
• 400M+ people use OpenAI products every week.
  
  

• By 2026, 25% of organic traffic will shift to AI chatbots and virtual agents.

• Users are increasingly relying on AI-generated responses for research, recommendations, and buying decisions.
  
  

• By the time a customer lands on your site, AI may have already shaped their perception of your brand.

Bottom line: If your brand isn’t optimized for AI, you risk losing control of how it’s represented.

What is AEO, AI Engine Optimization?

AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of shaping how AI interprets, positions, and presents your brand.

• SEO = Ranking your site on Google
• AEO = Ensuring AI mentions your brand accurately, positively, and prominently in answers
  
  

Key benefits of AI Engine Optimization:

• Brand visibility:
  • Get mentioned in relevant AI-generated searches before users click.
• Narrative representation:
  • Define the key storylines AI associates with your brand.
• Sentiment perception:
  • Influence whether AI mentions your brand positively.
• Competitive positioning:
  • Ensure your brand is recommended alongside or above competitors.
    
    In simple terms: it’s about teaching AI to recognize why your brand is the better choice, so when users ask for “best options,” your name comes up at the top.

💡 Plain language note: Think of AEO as “teaching AI what your brand stands for, so it recommends you in conversations, not just search lists.”

Key takeaway: AI Engine Optimization does not replace SEO—it extends it. Optimized content that ranks well becomes trusted content that AI can reference, boosting your brand across both traditional and AI-powered search.

For a deep dive on SEO fundamentals that complement AEO, see our guide: Search Engine Optimization: A Comprehensive Guide to Ranking Higher

Curious about how AI perceives your brand? Test your AI visibility with HubSpot’s free AEO Grader and uncover actionable insights.

Why SEO + AEO Must Work Together

Think of SEO as the foundation and AEO as the next frontier:

• SEO ensures your website is discoverable, crawlable, and authoritative in search results.
• AEO ensures that the same authority carries over into AI answers, where user attention increasingly lives.

Together, they give your brand full visibility across both traditional search and AI-powered results.

Without SEO, AI has little high-quality content to draw from. Without AEO, your competitors may control the AI narrative.

Tip: Combining SEO + AEO gives your brand full visibility in both traditional search and AI-driven results.

For additional guidance on optimizing SEO specifically for AI-powered search, see: SEO for AI Search Optimisation. 

How to Optimize for AEO with SEO Principles

Here’s how to merge SEO best practices with AEO strategies:

1. Publish authoritative content:
   Create expert-driven, well-researched content showcasing real-world experience (EEAT principles). Learn how to improve EEAT here.
   
   
2. Build authority with trusted sources:
   Earn backlinks from reputable publications to strengthen your brand’s authority.
   
   Learn how to build powerful, high-quality backlinks in our Link Building Mastery guide
   
   
3. Demonstrate trustworthiness:
   Maintain transparency, cite credible sources, and provide accurate, up-to-date information AI can confidently reference.
   
   
4. Optimize for entities, not just keywords:
   Clearly define your brand, products, and services so AI associates your company with relevant categories.
   
   
5. Monitor AI brand sentiment
   Track how AI mentions your brand and fill gaps where necessary to maintain positive perception.
   
   

   For on-page optimization tactics, see On-Page SEO Best Practices

Key takeaway: Think beyond rankings—focus on how AI interprets your brand’s identity, trust, and authority.

AI Engine Optimization Quick Checklist

☐ Publish authoritative EEAT-driven content
☐ Earn backlinks from trusted sources
☐ Keep information updated & transparent
☐ Define brand entities (company, products, services) clearly
☐ Monitor AI brand mentions regularly
☐ Align SEO + AEO strategies for full visibility

Key takeaway: AEO is about visibility + trust. This checklist keeps your brand future-ready.

Not sure if your SEO is strong enough to get noticed by AI? Let our experts show you how — book a free strategy session today

The Future of Search is SEO + AEO

Search is no longer just about clicks—it’s about perception.

• SEO ensures you’re found.
• AEO ensures you’re represented correctly in the answers people trust most.

Together, they help you:

• Control your brand narrative across channels
• Gain visibility in the AI-driven zero-click funnel
• Build trust earlier in the buyer’s journey

For broader insights into trends shaping SEO and AI visibility, read: SEO Trends You Can’t Miss in 2025

Ready to stay ahead of the curve with AI Engine Optimization?

Start strengthening your SEO foundation and expanding into AEO—before your competitors take the lead.

Not sure where to start? Schedule your free consultation today and discover how your brand can integrate SEO and AEO for maximum visibility and impact.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Engine Optimization (AEO)