Glossary entry
AEO — Answer Engine Optimization
Definition
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimising content to win featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes, voice search responses, and other zero-click answer surfaces. It focuses on questions where users want a quick answer rather than a list of links.
How it works
The mechanism.
Answer engines extract specific blocks of content that directly answer a question. AEO work formats content for extraction: question-first headings, definition paragraphs, lists, tables, and FAQPage schema. Speakable schema makes content eligible for voice search.
Why it matters
Why this matters in 2026.
Featured snippets capture roughly 35% of clicks on queries that have one. Voice search and zero-click answers grow every year. AEO ensures your content is the one extracted into these high-visibility surfaces.
How to check
How to test for it.
Take a query you're currently ranking page-2 for. Check if a featured snippet appears on page 1. If yes, that's an AEO opportunity — restructure your content as a direct answer to capture the snippet.
Adsomia services
Where this fits in our work.
Common questions
About AEO.
What's the difference between AEO and SEO?
SEO ranks pages in the regular search results. AEO captures the answer boxes ABOVE those results (featured snippets, voice answers, PAA boxes). Both matter — AEO often gets the click before users see the rankings.
How do I structure content for a featured snippet?
Define the question explicitly in an H2 or H3. Answer it in the first paragraph below (40-60 words). Use lists or tables where the query implies them. Add FAQPage schema.
Does AEO matter if I'm in B2B?
Yes — buyers research using question-style queries ('how does X work', 'what is Y'). Capturing those snippets puts your brand at the top of the consideration process.
Related terms
Read next.
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