# What is AEO?

**AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)** is the practice of structuring and optimizing content so search and AI platforms can show it as a **direct answer** to a question - often in [featured snippets, answer boxes, and “People also ask”](/content/blog/optimize-seo-ai-overviews-snippets/index.html), [voice results](/content/blog/voice-search-seo-6-strategies-to-boost-organic-traffic/index.html), and AI-generated responses. Check out how AEO works.

## AEO vs SEO

- **SEO:** rank pages in organic search results.
- **AEO:** get selected as the **direct answer** for question-based queries (snippets/answer experiences).

## AEO best practices (quick checklist)

- Put a **1–2 sentence answer** immediately under the H1.
- Use question-style **H2s** (What/How/Why/When) and tight paragraphs.
- Add lists/tables for “steps,” “best,” “vs,” and definitions.
- Use [advanced schema markup](/content/blog/saas-seo-schema-markup/index.html) where relevant ( [FAQ schema](/content/tools/faq-schema-generator/index.html), HowTo, etc.) - it can help eligibility, but it’s not guaranteed to show.

## FAQ

### What does AEO stand for?

AEO stands for **Answer Engine Optimization**.

### Where can AEO help you show up?

Common placements include **featured snippets**, “People also ask,” voice-style results, and other direct-answer SERP features.

### Does the FAQ schema guarantee a rich result?

No - Google says structured data features **aren’t guaranteed** to appear.