Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the emerging discipline of ensuring your brand appears in AI-generated responses from tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude.
Why AEO matters now
Traditional SEO optimizes for blue links. AEO optimizes for citations, mentions, and recommendations within AI-generated answers. As more users turn to AI for product research, travel planning, and purchase decisions, AEO visibility directly impacts revenue.
How to measure AEO
Key metrics include:
- Mention rate — how often your brand is referenced
- Citation rate — how often your content is cited as a source
- Sentiment — whether mentions are positive, neutral, or negative
- Competitive share — your visibility vs competitors in AI answers
Getting started
SearchDock’s free AI Visibility Report gives you a baseline across major answer engines in under 60 seconds. From there, Intelligence module tracks citations over time and Creator scores content for AI-readiness.