Happy Thursday, friends!

July flew by, and with it came a shift that's quietly reshaping how people discover businesses like yours.

People are increasingly using AI-powered answer engines, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, to find services and information. Instead of scrolling through search results, they ask conversational questions and receive direct recommendations.

Here's a story I saw earlier this week:

Wild Fork Foods used ChatGPT to find a Long Beach-based cooking class organization. The AI made a specific recommendation that led to a real business outcome.

This isn't a distant trend. It's happening now.

What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

Think of AEO as SEO's evolved cousin. While SEO helps you appear in search results, AEO ensures AI systems understand your business well enough to recommend you in conversations.

The difference? When someone asks an AI, "Who can help my overwhelmed small business with marketing?" AEO determines whether you get mentioned at all.

Start Simple: Ask AI How To Do It

Ask any AI answer engine to review your website with this prompt:

"Act as an Answer Engine Optimization expert. Review this website: [YOUR URL]. What would make this business more likely to be recommended in AI responses?"

Then implement the top three suggestions. Most will focus on clarity and better content organization.

Why This Matters for Emerging Brands

Unlike traditional SEO, AEO levels the playing field. A clear, well-structured website can get recommended alongside much larger competitors if the AI understands your unique value.

The key isn't gaming the system—it's communicating so clearly that both humans and AI systems immediately understand why someone should choose you.

My Final Thoughts

I can confirm that I am currently implementing this with Say Front's website and a client's website I'm working on. I'll follow up on a future newsletter on how it goes.

However, since we're on the topic of SEO, I have a side update. Your social media posts, specifically those on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, can now be searched for on Google. That's how I found the post about Wild Fork Foods above without having to scour through the Long Beach Food Scene's group page.

🤯 So many updates! Understanding these key insights will enable you to make more informed marketing decisions. As always, I'm here to help you navigate through it, so feel free to reply, and we can set up a time to talk.

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Until next Thursday,

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