Content audit
Every page scored against AEO criteria. Top 10 pages flagged for rewrite priority with specific recommendations for each.
AEO / GEO
Get recommended
by AI.
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews now answer the questions your customers ask before they ever click a link. If your business is not in those answers, a competitor is. AEO gets you cited — and keeps you there.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) structure your content so AI search platforms — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude — recommend your business when a user asks a high-intent question. 3D3D audits your content, builds your entity graph, installs structured JSON-LD schemas, and keeps you cited in generative search results.
Key Takeaways for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
- Generative Visibility: Adding structured tables, academic citations, and specific statistics can boost AI citation rate by 30-40% based on recent Princeton GEO research.
- Direct Answer Signals: Answer-first formatting ensures that AI crawlers identify your site's core solutions in the first 200 words.
- Machine-Readable Context: Deploying llms.txt, Speakable schemas, and customized breadcrumbs enables search engines to map content hierarchy.
- Turnkey Commerce: Governed monthly optimization plans start at $149/mo, with full source code ownership.
What is Answer Engine Optimization?
AEO is the discipline of structuring content so AI systems cite your business — not just rank it.
Why do AI answers matter more than rankings?
When someone asks ChatGPT "who does the best 3D printing in New Brunswick" or Perplexity "what software should I use for field operations," those systems return one or two cited businesses — not ten blue links. The click-through rate for the cited source is substantially higher than position one on a SERP. Being cited means being chosen.
How do AI engines decide who to cite?
AI answer engines weight three signals above all others: a clear first-answer paragraph that directly states what the page is about, machine-readable structured data (Schema.org / JSON-LD) that removes ambiguity, and a strong entity graph — consistent brand name, address, and description across trusted third-party sources. If your site lacks any of these, it gets skipped in favour of a competitor who has them.
Does AEO replace my existing SEO?
No. SEO and AEO target different systems — SERPs vs. AI answer engines — and the techniques are complementary. Most AEO work (structured data, answer-first content, entity signals) also reinforces traditional SEO. You get both; there is no tradeoff.
"Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) methods—including citations, structured tables, and specific statistics—improve generative citation likelihood by up to 40%, serving as the definitive optimization protocol for LLM search agents."— Generative Engine Optimization, Princeton University Research Study (Nov 2023)
SEO vs. AEO vs. GEO
Understanding the focus, optimization target, and key drivers of each digital search discipline.
| Discipline | Target Engine | Core Signal | Search Format | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional SEO | Google / Bing Algorithms | Keywords & Backlinks | 10 Blue Links (SERPs) | Standard anchor links |
| AEO (Answer Engine) | ChatGPT / Perplexity / Claude | Answer-First & Entity Graph | Synthesized Text / Paragraph | Inline source references |
| GEO (Generative Engine) | Google AI Overviews / Search | JSON-LD, Citation URLs & Trust | Summaries & Panel Cards | Knowledge Graph links |
How does 3D3D do AEO?
Four levers, implemented in order. Each builds on the last. No black-box tactics — you see every change before it goes live.
- 01
Answer-first content
We restructure your highest-value pages so the opening sentence directly answers the most important question that page handles. AI scrapers quote the first clear statement they find — your content needs to be that statement.
- 02
Schema markup & JSON-LD
Service, FAQPage, HowTo, and Product structured data is installed and validated. This gives AI systems a machine-readable version of every key fact — so they can cite you accurately without guessing.
- 03
llms.txt
A plain-text file tells language models what your site is about, which questions you answer, and what you do not cover. Early adoption costs nothing. Early movers benefit when AI engines standardize on it.
- 04
Entity signals
We cross-reference your brand name across trusted directories, industry databases, and partner sites. AI systems weight sources with strong entity graphs — consistent NAP data and inbound citations from trusted domains move the needle.
Core AI Search Definitions
AI engine optimizations rely on specific, machine-readable mechanisms. Here is what they mean in plain language.
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
- The technique of structuring content specifically for answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity so they cite and recommend your brand.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
- An academic optimization framework targeting search systems with generative layers (e.g. Google AI Overviews), focusing on citation trust and source relevance.
- llms.txt
- A proposed text-file standard hosted at your domain's root. It directs large language model crawlers to key pages and guides model indexing context.
Governing AI Bots with llms.txt
An llms.txt file is a markdown file placed at your site root to supply LLM-friendly context and path summaries.
Example /llms.txt file configuration
# 3D3D Canada
> Websites you own, custom software, and governed AI.
## Core Services
- [AEO Optimization](/aeo): Structured AEO/GEO plans and pricing.
- [Private AI](/software/ora): Governed AI infrastructure.
- [3D Printing](/3d-printing): Custom mechanical parts.What do I get every month?
Concrete work, not a retainer of vague 'optimization.' Every deliverable is listed, scoped, and yours.
Answer-first pages
Up to 5 pages restructured per month: answer-first opening paragraph, tightened H2 structure, and clear entity-signal language.
Schema installation
Service, FAQ, HowTo, and Product schemas installed and validated through Google's Rich Results Test. No schema, no citation.
llms.txt file
Maintained every month and updated as AI model indexing norms shift. Sets crawl priority and scope for every major LLM.
Entity graph build
NAP consistency audit across 30+ directories plus 3 to 5 high-trust listing submissions: industry associations, government databases, review platforms.
Citation report
Which AI engines cite you, for which queries, and what changed. Plain language — no dashboard login, no vanity metrics.
What does AEO / GEO cost?
Two options: ongoing monthly or a one-time audit. Both are fixed price — no scope creep, no surprise invoices.
Most popular
AEO Monthly Plan
$149 /month
Billed monthly. Cancel anytime.
- Full content audit (month 1)
- Up to 5 page rewrites/month
- Schema installation + maintenance
- llms.txt created + kept current
- Entity graph build + monitoring
- Monthly citation report
One-time
AEO Audit
$750
Single payment. Report delivered in 5 business days.
- Full site AEO content audit
- Prioritized rewrite list (top 10 pages)
- Schema installed on up to 5 pages
- llms.txt file created and deployed
- Written recommendations document (yours to keep)
- Credit toward monthly plan within 90 days
Who is AEO for?
AEO works for any business where customers ask questions before they buy. If someone can type your service category into ChatGPT and get an answer, you need to be that answer.
01
Local service businesses
"Best 3D printing in Moncton." "Best web designer in Fredericton." AI answers to local queries now appear before the map pack. Businesses with AEO-optimised sites get cited; businesses without them do not appear at all.
02
B2B service companies
Procurement teams and technical buyers use Perplexity and ChatGPT to shortlist vendors before the first call. If your service page doesn't answer the question they asked, your competitor's does — and they call them first.
03
Productized software and SaaS
"What's the best field operations CRM?" "What's a good governed AI setup for a small business?" These questions now return AI answers that cite specific products. Getting cited on a comparison query is the highest-value placement in the funnel.
04
Any business with a competitive niche
If your niche has two or three serious competitors and the answer to "who should I call?" is increasingly coming from an AI, you want your name in that answer. AEO is how you get it there and keep it there.
4 Core AEO signals (content, schema, llms.txt, entity)
$149 Monthly plan — all four signals, maintained
$750 One-time audit — full scope, yours to keep
24 hr Audit kickoff after subscription confirmed
Questions about AEO.
What is the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO optimizes for search engine ranking pages (SERPs) — the list of blue links. AEO targets AI answer engines: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Claude. These systems synthesize a single answer instead of listing links. The techniques overlap but the goal is being cited, not ranked.
Is AEO the same as GEO?
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the academic term for the same discipline. Industry uses AEO and GEO interchangeably. We use AEO because it describes the target (answer engines) rather than the mechanism (generative AI). Both mean the same thing in practice.
How long before I appear in AI answers?
There is no guaranteed timeline. AI models re-index at different rates. Structured data and answer-first content tend to show up in Perplexity fastest — typically 4 to 8 weeks after implementation. Google AI Overviews often lag by 2 to 3 months. We track and report every month.
What is llms.txt and do I need it?
llms.txt is an emerging standard — similar to robots.txt — that tells AI crawlers which pages to prioritize and how to understand your site's scope. Not every AI engine reads it yet, but early adoption costs nothing and early movers benefit when engines standardize on it. We install and maintain it as part of every plan.
Do I need to change my existing content?
Usually yes, but selectively. We audit all your pages and flag the 10 most valuable for AEO rewriting. A typical rewrite adds an answer-first opening paragraph and tightens the H2 structure. Most pages need fewer than 200 words changed. You approve every rewrite before it goes live.
I already have an SEO agency. Does AEO conflict?
No. AEO is complementary. Your SEO agency focuses on SERP rankings; we focus on AI citation signals. We can work alongside any existing agency. The deliverables are separate and the techniques rarely overlap at the technical level. We have operated alongside major Canadian SEO firms without conflict.
Can I buy the one-time audit and upgrade later?
Yes. The $750 one-time audit fee is credited toward the first two months of the monthly plan if you upgrade within 90 days of receiving the report. You pay $750 upfront, get the full audit and initial implementation, and if you subscribe within 90 days the credit applies automatically.
What does the one-time audit include?
Full AEO content audit of your entire site, a prioritized rewrite list for the top 10 pages, Service and FAQPage schema installed on up to 5 pages, an llms.txt file created and deployed, and a written recommendations document you own outright. No ongoing commitment.
Start getting cited.
One inbox. Fixed price. Real citations — not a dashboard full of impressions. Subscribe for $149/mo or book the one-time audit for $750. New Brunswick, worldwide reach.