🌍 Why It Matters

People are changing how they search. Instead of typing into Google, they’re now asking:

• “What’s the best stretching routine before golf?”

• “Find a kids’ tennis coach near me.”

• “How can I improve my soccer speed drills?”

These questions are answered by AI systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Siri — which don’t just list websites.
They read online information, summarize it, and choose the most trusted, clear, and relevant content.

That’s where AEO comes in — it’s about structuring your website and content so these tools can easily understand and quote it.

🧩 Step-by-Step: How to Do AEO

1. Start With Clear Questions and Answers

Goal: Write content that directly answers real-world questions.
These are the “People also ask” questions or what someone might ask a chatbot.

Steps:

1. Use Google’s “People also ask” or tools like AnswerThePublic or AlsoAsked.com.
   Example:

   • “How can I improve my tennis serve?”

   • “What’s the best warm-up before a match?”

   • “How long should a junior coaching session be?”

2. Create short, clear answers (40–60 words) at the top of your blog post or page.

3. Then add a more detailed explanation below it.

Why:
AI tools like concise, factual, structured content — they pull answers from sections that look like Q&A.

2. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Goal: Help AI “read” your page more easily.

Steps:

1. Add FAQ schema or How-To schema to pages that answer questions.

2. If you’re a local business, add Local Business schema (includes business name, services, area served, phone, website).

3. Tools to help:

   • Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper

   • TechnicalSEO Schema Generator

4. Validate your schema using Google’s Rich Results Test.

Why:
Answer engines scan structured data to confirm your answers are reliable and in the right format.

3. Use Natural, Conversational Language

Goal: Write the way people speak.
AI tools are trained on natural language, not robotic keywords.

Steps:

1. Write content in question-and-answer format.

2. Use “you” and “your” often — it sounds like a human conversation.

3. Break up long sentences. Avoid jargon.

4. Include common phrases people might say aloud, like “best way to…” or “how do I…”

Why:
AI tools like ChatGPT pull from content that feels human and conversational — not keyword-stuffed.

4. Build Trust and Authority

Goal: Make AI engines trust your content enough to use it.

Steps:

1. Display clear author bios — show who wrote the content and why they’re an expert.

2. Include references, certifications, or testimonials where possible.

3. Update content regularly to keep it accurate.

4. Get backlinks from reputable sources (local news, directories, industry blogs).

Why:
AI tools prioritize E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).

5. Optimize for Voice Search

Goal: Prepare for spoken queries like “Hey Google, find me a junior soccer coach near me.”

Steps:

1. Use long-tail, conversational keywords. Example:

   • Instead of “sports coaching Brisbane”

   • Use “where can I find a sports coach in Brisbane?”

2. Add short, simple answers (under 30 words) so assistants can read them out loud.

3. Focus on mobile performance — voice queries come mostly from phones.

Why:
AEO overlaps heavily with voice search optimization, since both use AI interpretation.

6. Keep Pages Fast and Clear

Goal: AIs skip over slow or confusing sites.

Steps:

1. Make sure your site loads in under 3 seconds.

2. Use simple layouts and plain text for key info (no buried answers in images).

3. Use headings (<h2> and <h3>) to organize content logically.

Why:
Clean structure = easy for AI to understand and summarize.

7. Link Your Online Profiles (Ecosystem Optimization)

Goal: Strengthen your credibility across multiple trusted platforms.

Steps:

1. Keep your Google Business Profile fully updated.

2. Ensure consistent Name, Address, Phone (NAP) across your website, social media, and listings.

3. Link your site on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and any industry pages.

Why:
AI engines cross-check information across multiple platforms for accuracy before using it.

8. Create AI-Friendly Content Formats

Goal: Give AI the easiest possible content to summarize.

Use these formats:

• FAQs (“What is…?”, “How do I…?”)

• Lists (“5 Ways to Improve Your Golf Swing”)

• How-To Guides

• Tables and Comparisons

• Short Definitions or “TL;DR” sections

Why:
Answer engines love structured, bite-sized, and logical information — easy to extract, easy to quote.

9. Test How AI Sees You

Goal: Check if AI tools recognize or quote your business/content.

Steps:

1. Go to ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity.ai.

2. Ask questions like:

   • “Who are the best sports coaches in Brisbane?”

   • “What is [your business name]?”

3. See if your name or content appears.

4. If not — refine your Q&A format and strengthen online trust signals.

10. Combine SEO + AEO for Full Visibility

SEO helps Google find you.
AEO helps AI understand and recommend you.

Together, they:
✅ Improve your website traffic.
✅ Get your content featured in AI and voice answers.
✅ Build trust as a top expert in your field.
✅ Future-proof your business for the next generation of search.

🧾 Quick Checklist

• Add clear Q&A sections on your site

• Use FAQ schema and How-To schema

• Write conversational content

• Add author bios and credentials

• Optimize for voice search

• Keep NAP consistent across platforms

• Test AI search visibility

• Update content regularly