Answer engines — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews — are eating the top of the funnel that used to go to traditional search. Answer engine optimization (AEO) is the practice of making sure when an AI picks 1–3 sources to cite for a query, yours is one of them.
Most contractor sites we audit have content written for skim-reading humans — not for the way LLMs ingest, structure, and cite information. Long meandering pages. No clear answer formatting. No structured data. No source-grade authority signals. The result: when an answer engine picks who to cite for your industry, your site is invisible.
AEO is overlapping but distinct from traditional SEO. We rewrite content into the answer-shaped format LLMs prefer. We deploy the structured data that helps AI crawlers read your content without guessing. We build the topical depth and citation-grade authority that answer engines weight heavily. Then we track when and where you are being cited — across ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews, and Claude — so the gains are visible.
What’s Included in Our Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Engagements
Every engagement is custom — we do not sell packages. But here is the actual scope of work for a typical client:
Answer-Shaped Content Rewrites
We rewrite your highest-traffic content into the structured Q&A format LLMs prefer to cite. Clear questions, direct answers, source-grade authority signals. The goal is becoming the primary source, not a footnote.
Structured Data for AI Crawlers
FAQ, Article, HowTo, Organization, and Service schema deployed correctly so AI crawlers can read your content without ambiguity. Structured data is one of the cleanest signals an LLM uses when picking who to cite.
Topical Depth & Authority Building
AI engines weight depth and authority heavily. We build out topic coverage with the depth and external citations needed to be the source they trust.
LLM Visibility Tracking
We track named-mention and link-citation visibility across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude. You see the AEO surface grow over time — not guess at it.
Brand & Entity Optimization
We work on the entity-graph signals (Wikipedia, Wikidata, brand mentions, structured Organization markup) that help AI engines recognize your brand as an authority on your topic.
Cross-Channel Authority Building
AEO compounds with traditional SEO, content marketing, and PR. We run them as one program because the signals overlap heavily.
Real Results From Real Service Businesses
We do not run case studies on accounts we worked with for six weeks. These are clients we have supported through full sales seasons:
Geelong Roofing Pros — 200% organic traffic growth and doubled Google Business Profile calls in 90 days. See the case study.
Bumble Roofing (Los Angeles) — #1 local search rankings and a 181% increase in organic traffic. Read the breakdown.
Surface Shield Roofing — $5.8M in closed revenue from $50K in ad spend (116x ROAS). See how we built it.
Stronghold Roofing (Lakeland, FL) — Ranked #1 on Google and Google Business Profile for core service areas. Read the case study.
Different verticals, same engine.
Verticals We Run This Playbook For
The patterns above are vertical-agnostic, but the execution is not. We tune the engine to the specific trade — because what works for plumbing emergencies does not work for kitchen remodels, and what works for commercial paving does not work for residential lawn care. We currently run AEO for:
What Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Costs
Straight talk on pricing, because the rest of the industry will not give it to you:
- Most Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) engagements run as a flat monthly retainer, not a percentage of ad spend or per-lead pricing.
- Engagement size flexes with your scale. A single-location contractor and a multi-state operator have very different pricing — we size to your real capacity.
- Real working engagements typically range from $1,500 to $15,000+ per month, depending on scope, vertical, and competition.
- No long contracts. You see the trajectory; you decide whether to stay.
On the discovery call we will model what working AEO should look like for your business specifically, with real numbers — not a generic “starting at $X” pitch.
FAQs About Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
Is AEO replacing traditional SEO?
No — they overlap heavily. AEO uses many of the same signals as good SEO (authority, structured data, depth) and adds answer-shaped formatting and citation-grade authority. The work compounds rather than replaces.
How do I know I am being cited by AI?
We track named-mention and link-citation surfaces across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews. You see real attribution data in your monthly report.
Does AEO drive measurable leads?
Yes — answer-engine citations drive both direct branded search traffic and “cited by ChatGPT” trust signals that lift conversion. The first effect shows up in 60–90 days; the second compounds longer.
Do you work with contractors outside the US?
Yes. We currently run engagements across the US, Canada, and Australia. The principles are the same; the local data and creative are tuned to your market.
Can we see the work before we sign?
Yes. The discovery call is built around walking through what we would actually do for your business — specific recommendations, specific scope, specific numbers. You make an informed decision, not a leap of faith.
Ready to See What This Could Look Like for You?
If AEO is part of what you need — or if you are not sure yet — book a strategy call. We will audit what you are running today, model the realistic upside, and show you exactly where the leads will come from.
Book a free strategy call →
