Infographic displaying different types of answer engines, including AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Google Bard), search engine snippets (Google’s Featured Snippets), voice assistants (Siri, Alexa), and knowledge panels (Google Knowledge Graph).

AEO 101: What Is Ask Engine Optimization & Why It’s Replacing SEO

Core AEO Concepts
January 27, 2025•3 min read
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“The future of search isn’t keywords—it’s answers.
Stop chasing Google rankings. Start dominating AI answers.
Your customers aren’t searching. They’re asking.
Will your business be the answer?”

As a top 0.0008% Google-ranked expert featured in Forbes and USA Today, I’ve pivoted to AEO because it’s the future. Now, I help coaches and marketers like you dominate AI answers—guaranteed—or I work for free.

Your customers are asking AI. Will your business be the answer?

👉 Claim Your Free AEO Audit

Imagine a world where your business is the first answer customers see—not buried on page 2 of Google, but prominently featured in ChatGPT, Alexa, or Google Gemini. Welcome to Ask Engine Optimization (AEO), the game-changing strategy that’s making traditional SEO obsolete.

Here’s the truth: 40% of consumers now ask AI tools like ChatGPT for recommendations instead of typing keywords into Google. If your website isn’t optimized for these AI-driven answers, you’re missing out on traffic, leads, and sales—even if your SEO is flawless.

"Kendrya Smith, AEO expert and founder of ReDirect software, teaching AI-driven search strategies.

Why AEO?

  • Escape the SEO grind: No more battling 10M+ competitors for keywords like “best life coach.” AEO targets real questions people ask AI, such as, “How to find a marketing coach who specializes in LinkedIn growth?”

  • Faster results: While SEO takes 6+ months, AEO can rank you in AI answers within 30–90 days.

  • Less competition: 99% of businesses still focus on SEO—leaving the $10B AEO opportunity wide open.

1. The Rise of AI Answers

40% of people now ask ChatGPT questions like ‘best life coach near me’ instead of Googling. But here’s the problem:
If your business isn’t in these AI answers, you’re invisible.
This is why AEO (Ask Engine Optimization) is replacing SEO as the #1 way to get seen online.

2. What Is AEO?

AEO (Ask Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing your content to appear in AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Alexa.
Unlike SEO, which targets keywords, AEO focuses on answering real questions people ask AI.
For example:

  • SEO: Ranking for “life coach NYC.”

  • AEO: Being ChatGPT’s answer to “how to find a life coach who specializes in burnout.”3. Become an authority

comparing seo to aeo and the ask engine optimization

3. Top 5 Benefits of AEO

1. Escape the SEO Rat Race
“No more competing with 10M+ Google results. With AEO, you’re answering questions only a handful of businesses optimize for.”


Example: A divorce lawyer ranks in ChatGPT for “how to file for divorce without a lawyer in [City]” → 15+ new clients/month.

2. Faster, Smarter Traffic
“Google takes months to rank you. AI engines update daily—we’ve seen clients rank in 30 days.”
Stat: 63% of AEO-optimized content ranks in ChatGPT within 60 days (Source: Frase.io 2024).

3. Higher Conversion Rates

AI answers attract ready-to-buy users. Someone asking ‘best CRM for coaches’ isn’t just browsing—they’re hiring.”
Case Study: A marketing agency saw 3x more leads from ChatGPT than Google.

4. Future-Proof Your Business
“By 2025, 60% of searches will happen via AI. AEO positions you ahead of the curve.”
Visual: Graph showing Google vs. AI search growth (2023–2025).

5. Build Authority Effortlessly
“When ChatGPT says ‘[Your Business] is the best solution,’ users trust you instantly. No ads needed.”

4. How AEO Works (Simplified)

  1. Find Questions: Tools like AnswerThePublic and Reddit uncover what your audience asks AI.

  2. Write Answers: Create concise, conversational answers (50-150 words) optimized for AI readability.

  3. Post Everywhere: Share answers on your blog, Google Business Profile, and LinkedIn.

  4. Track & Tweak: Use AI tools to monitor rankings and update answers monthly.


    “Want to skip the DIY hassle? Our AEO agency handles everything—audits, content, tracking. Get a Free Audit.

5. Why AEO Beats SEO for Coaches & Marketers

Coaches:
“Your clients want personalized advice, not generic blogs. AEO puts you in ChatGPT’s answers for questions like ‘how to price coaching packages.’”

  • Marketers:
    “Clients demand ROI now—not in 6 months. AEO delivers fast, measurable results.”6. It drives long-term results


    Ready to be the answer your customers trust?
    Claim Your Free AEO Audit

Kendryah Smith, Founder of AEO Agency®️ LLC Over the past three years, I’ve climbed to the top of search engines and social platforms using keyword strategies—without spending a dime on ads. But in 2024, I realized the future of search wasn’t about keywords; it was about answers. As AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini skyrocketed in popularity, I pivoted to pioneer Ask Engine Optimization (AEO) and developed our signature Ask Engine AI—a system that ensures businesses show up in AI-generated answers to the questions their audience is already searching for. Since then, I’ve: Been featured in Forbes, USA Today, MSN, and more Helped over 1,500 business owners with software solutions and business development Built a custom white-label AEO platform now used by agencies worldwide My mission? To help coaches, marketers, and entrepreneurs future-proof their visibility—no coding, guesswork, or SEO grind required.

Kendryah Smith

Kendryah Smith, Founder of AEO Agency®️ LLC Over the past three years, I’ve climbed to the top of search engines and social platforms using keyword strategies—without spending a dime on ads. But in 2024, I realized the future of search wasn’t about keywords; it was about answers. As AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini skyrocketed in popularity, I pivoted to pioneer Ask Engine Optimization (AEO) and developed our signature Ask Engine AI—a system that ensures businesses show up in AI-generated answers to the questions their audience is already searching for. Since then, I’ve: Been featured in Forbes, USA Today, MSN, and more Helped over 1,500 business owners with software solutions and business development Built a custom white-label AEO platform now used by agencies worldwide My mission? To help coaches, marketers, and entrepreneurs future-proof their visibility—no coding, guesswork, or SEO grind required.

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