CITED
FAQ

Answer Engine
Optimization, explained.

Everything you need to know about being the answer — and how Cited gets you there.

What is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?

Answer Engine Optimisation is the practice of getting your brand cited, quoted and recommended inside AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Gemini. Instead of ranking a blue link, AEO earns your brand a place inside the single synthesised answer users now read.

How is AEO different from SEO?

SEO optimises to rank pages in a list of search results. AEO optimises to be the source an AI engine cites when it answers a question directly. They share foundations — quality content, structured data, authority — but AEO focuses on entity clarity, answer-ready content and citations across AI platforms rather than click-through from a results page.

How long does AEO take to show results?

Timing varies by starting position, competition, crawl frequency and the changes implemented. Early movement may be measurable within several months, while sustained visibility generally requires ongoing evidence, authority and monitoring.

Which AI engines does Cited optimise for?

ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Gemini — the answer engines your buyers now ask first. We monitor share of answer across these leading platforms and iterate monthly.

How much does AEO cost?

Cited plans start at $290/month (Starter) and $990/month (Growth), with custom Scale pricing for multi-brand programmes. A one-off Google Business Profile & Entity Setup is available for $790. Every engagement begins with a free AEO audit.

Do I need AEO if I already do SEO?

Yes — they're complementary. Strong SEO helps, but AI answer engines weigh entity clarity, structured data and citations differently, so AEO targets visibility SEO alone doesn't guarantee.

How do you measure AEO results?

We track share of answer — how often and how prominently engines cite your brand for your target prompts — alongside sentiment and which competitors are cited beside you, reported monthly.

Still have a question?

Get a free audit of how the major answer engines see your brand today.

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