AEO Implementation Step-by-Step
Complete guide to go from zero to full AEO optimization on your website. 5 concrete steps from audit to measuring AI citations.
Time required: 4-8 hours | Difficulty: Medium | Tools: JSON-LD, Google Search Console
Why this guide?
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is becoming increasingly important as users seek answers directly in AI engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini instead of traditional search engines. This guide gives you a structured plan to optimize your website so your company gets cited in AI answers.
You will learn:
- How to audit your current AEO level
- Which structured data (Schema.org) you need
- How to optimize content for direct AI answers
- How to measure success and AI citations
Step 1: AEO Audit – Map the Current State
Start by understanding where your website stands today. An AEO audit identifies gaps in structured data, FAQ optimization and AI readability.
AEO Audit Checklist:
- ✅ Structured data: Is there Schema.org markup (Organization, FAQPage, HowTo, Product)?
- ✅ FAQ content: Are questions and answers optimized (40-80 words per answer)?
- ✅ Semantic HTML: Do you use
<article>,<section>,<h1-h6>correctly? - ✅ Canonical URLs: Are all pages indexable with clear canonical tags?
- ✅ Mobile-first: Is the site responsive and fast on mobile?
💡 Pro tip:
Use the AEO Generator for automatic analysis of your website. Get an AEO score and concrete improvement suggestions in under 2 minutes.
Step 2: Implement Structured Data (Schema.org)
AI engines read structured data to understand the content on your site. JSON-LD is the recommended format for Schema.org markup.
Important schema types for AEO:
| Schema type | Usage | Priority |
|---|---|---|
Organization |
Company information, logo, contact details | 🔴 High |
FAQPage |
Frequently asked questions and answers (key for AI citations!) | 🔴 High |
HowTo |
Step-by-step instructions | 🟡 Medium |
Article |
Blog posts, guides, news | 🟡 Medium |
Product |
Products/services with pricing | 🟢 Low |
Read more: See our guide Schema.org for Beginners for detailed implementation.
Step 3: Optimize Content for AI Citations
For AI engines to cite your content, you need to write concisely, structured and directly. Avoid marketing fluff – AI engines prioritize fact-based answers.
Best practices for AI citation-friendly content:
- FAQ answers: 40-80 words. Too short or too long answers drastically reduce AI citations.
- Start with the answer directly. No introduction – get straight to the point.
- Use lists and tables. AI engines love structured content.
- Include keywords naturally. "What is AEO?" should appear in both question and answer.
- Write for voice assistants. Test by reading aloud – does it sound natural?
Example: Before vs After
❌ Before (too vague and unstructured):
"Implementing AEO is a process that requires careful planning and content structuring. It's about optimizing the website so AI engines can understand and cite your information correctly. This involves using structured data such as Schema.org..."
✅ After (concrete and structured, 62 words):
"AEO implementation involves three steps: 1) Add Schema.org markup (FAQPage, HowTo, Article). 2) Write FAQ answers in 40-80 words with direct responses. 3) Structure content with semantic HTML. The result is higher AI visibility in AI engines and AI models such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini, Bing Copilot to name the main ones."
Step 4: Publish and Index
When structured data and content are ready, it's time to publish and ensure AI engines can reach your website.
Publishing checklist:
- ✅ Validate JSON-LD: Use Schema.org Validator to check markup
- ✅ Google Search Console: Submit sitemap and request reindexing
- ✅ Robots.txt: Ensure important pages are NOT blocked
- ✅ AI.txt and LLM.txt: Configure permissions for AI crawlers (recommended: User-agent: * Allow: /)
- ✅ IndexNow: Use IndexNow API for fast indexing in Bing and others
Step 5: Measure and Optimize AI Citations
AEO success is measured not just in rankings but in AI citations – how often your company is mentioned in AI answers.
How to measure AI visibility:
- Manual tests: Search in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini for your keywords + industry
- Citation tracking: Note which pages are cited and why
- Google Search Console: Track impressions and clicks from AI engines (doesn't always show AI sources directly)
- Custom tracking: Track referrer traffic from perplexity.ai, chatgpt.com etc.
Goals to aim for: 3-5 AI citations per month within 3 months for niche B2B companies. Enterprise companies can reach 20+ citations/month.
Common Questions About AEO Implementation
How long does it take to implement AEO?
For a standard website, basic AEO implementation takes 4-8 hours: 1-2 hours audit, 2-3 hours Schema.org markup, 2-3 hours content optimization. Larger sites with 50+ pages may require 15-20 hours. Results often appear within 2-4 weeks when AI engines have reindexed the content.
Do I need to know coding to implement AEO?
Basic HTML knowledge helps but is not necessary. Most CMS platforms (WordPress, Wix, Shopify) have plugins for Schema.org markup. For JSON-LD you can copy templates and customize text. Alternatively, hire a web developer for 5-10 hours of work or use AEO Engine for automated implementation.
How do I know if my AEO implementation is working?
Test by searching your most important questions in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini. If your company is cited with source attribution, AEO is working. Use Schema.org Validator for technical verification. Track traffic from perplexity.ai and chatgpt.com in Analytics. Increase in direct queries (not just brand searches) indicates success.
Next Steps
Now you have a complete plan for AEO implementation. Choose your next step based on your situation: