◎ Introduction
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) has long been the cornerstone of digital visibility. Since 2023, a new discipline has emerged: AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). AEO targets the immediate response provided by answer engines (Google SGE, Bing Copilot, Perplexity, ChatGPT, voice assistants), whereas traditional SEO focuses on page ranking in the SERPs.
◈ Classic SEO: necessary but not sufficient
- Based on on-page, off-page and technical signals (markup, performance, meshing, authority).
- Designed for discovery via results pages (SERPs) and a clickstream.
- Medium/long-term performance horizon.
Current limitation: AI engines condense and filter information, reducing clicks: being 1st is no longer enough if the answer is given before the SERP.
⚙ AEO: a paradigm shift
- Optimize precise questions (explicit and implicit intent).
- Structure short, reliable and contextualized answers (FAQ front + proof content).
- Seek to become the source cited by search engines.
◎ Why is AEO the current priority?
- Mass adoption of generative AI: uses are shifting towards direct response.
- Save user time: fewer steps, fewer clicks, more satisfaction.
- Perceived credibility: being quoted = a signal of expertise and trust (E-E-A-T).
- Accelerated ROI: targeted FAQs + structuring can produce results in weeks.
◈ The pillars of a successful AEO
- Q/R content integrated into strategic pages (rather than siloed).
- Semantic structuring: FAQ front, HowTo, Product, Organization in JSON-LD.
- Evidence: public case studies, verifiable metrics, price transparency.
- Maximum E-E-A-T: author, expert review, date, sources, clear legal notices.
⚙ SEO vs AEO: a quick comparison
| Criteria | SEO | AEO |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | SERP ranking | Direct response quoted |
| Horizon | Medium/long term | Short/medium term |
| Format | Articles, guides, networking | Targeted FAQs + structured data |
| Main result | Organic traffic | Immediate visibility + credibility |
◎ Shopify e-commerce example
A merchant publishes "How much does a Shopify site cost?". SEO-only version: progressive ranking in 3-6 months. AEO version: intent-oriented FAQs, verifiable figures, transparency of offers - the page becomes a candidate for citation by SGE/Copilot/ChatGPT.
👉 LobsTTer already applies this strategy on its pages and it's probably thanks to this that you've contacted LobsTTer!
◈ Conclusion
AEO doesn't bury SEO - it complements it. But in a context where the user expects a single single, reliable and immediate answer, AEO is the priority of the present. Brands that structure their content around real questions and standardized schemas take ahead of "AI-native" visibility.
FAQ
What's the difference between SEO and AEO?
Does AEO replace SEO?
Where to start with AEO?
FAQPage. Update author, date and evidence.
Which JSON-LD schemas have priority?
FAQPage, HowTo, Product, Organizationand Article/Author for E-E-A-T.
