AEO (Answer Engine Optimization).

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the optimization of website content so that it appears as direct answers in AI-powered search systems — such as Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Apple Intelligence. While traditional SEO targets clickable rankings in search results, AEO goes a step further: it's about having your content directly cited as the answer, often without the user needing to click on a website.

The difference between SEO and AEO lies in the end goal: SEO optimizes for the click. AEO optimizes for the answer. In a world where an increasing number of search queries are answered directly by AI (zero-click search), AEO is becoming a standalone discipline. In 2026, an estimated 30–40% of all search queries are answered by AI assistants — without ever visiting a website. For local businesses in Switzerland, this means: those optimized for AEO appear when someone asks ChatGPT 'Which web design agency is good in Zurich?'

The most important AEO measures: Clear question-and-answer structures in text, FAQ schema markup (JSON-LD), E-E-A-T optimization (Expertise, Experience, Authority, Trust), consistent entity data (who you are, what you do, where), and high-quality backlinks as authority signals. AEO and SEO share the same foundation — good, factual content — and complement each other ideally.