AEO & AI Search
Optimization
SEO is no longer enough. Buyers now ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews — not Google's blue links. Black Layers makes sure your brand is the answer.
~60%
of Google searches end inside an AI Overview — no click
440M
weekly active ChatGPT users now use it as their primary search
4–8 wks
typical time to first AI citation after Black Layers' AEO setup
What we do
Schema & structured data
Implement schema.org markup that AI crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended) prefer when extracting facts from your site.
Citation-ready content
Rewrite content in Q&A and fact-block format that LLMs are statistically more likely to quote verbatim in their answers.
Brand entity optimization
Establish your brand as a named entity across Wikipedia-adjacent sources, knowledge graphs, and authoritative directories — so AI models recognize you.
LLM visibility testing
Weekly monitoring across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews to measure where you appear and where competitors do.
GEO content strategy
Generative Engine Optimization — long-form content engineered to be the canonical source AI models reach for on your topic.
Multi-engine coverage
Optimize once for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Mode, Microsoft Copilot, and emerging answer engines. No platform left behind.
Why AEO matters in 2026
The search market is splitting in two. On one side: Google's classic results page, where AI Overviews now consume the top of the page and absorb most of the click traffic. On the other side: standalone AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, where users get one synthesized answer instead of ten links.
In both worlds, the brand that gets cited inside the AI's answer wins. The brand that ranks #1 on Google but isn't cited in the AI Overview above it loses. That's why traditional SEO ROI is collapsing.
AEO is how you stay visible. It's a different discipline — different signals, different optimization targets, different success metrics. Black Layers is one of the first Canadian agencies offering it as a standalone service.
Old SEO vs. New AEO
Traditional SEO (2010-2024)
- • Optimize for clicks on blue links
- • Keyword density & backlinks
- • Rank #1 on Google
- • Long-form blog content for traffic
- • Domain authority metric
AEO & GEO (2025+)
- • Optimize to be cited inside AI answers
- • Structured data & clear factual claims
- • Get quoted by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity
- • Q&A format content for direct retrieval
- • Brand entity recognition in knowledge graphs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?+
AEO is the practice of structuring your content so AI answer engines — ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews — cite your brand when users ask related questions. It's what replaces classic SEO as people stop clicking blue links and start reading AI answers directly.
How is AEO different from SEO?+
SEO optimizes for clicks on a search results page. AEO optimizes for being quoted inside an AI answer. SEO rewards keywords and backlinks; AEO rewards clear factual statements, structured data, citation-worthy authority, and consistent brand mentions across the open web.
Is SEO dead in 2026?+
Traditional SEO isn't dead, but its ROI is shrinking fast. Google AI Overviews now absorb roughly 60% of informational queries before any blue link is clicked. The new winners are brands that get cited by the AI itself — that's what AEO and GEO optimize for.
What does Black Layers actually do for AEO?+
We implement schema.org structured data, rewrite content in FAQ format for citation worthiness, build out brand entity recognition across the web, run weekly LLM visibility tests on ChatGPT/Claude/Perplexity/Gemini, and report on where you appear vs. competitors.
How long does AEO take to show results?+
AI answer engines refresh their understanding of brands faster than Google. Our clients typically see initial citations in ChatGPT and Perplexity within 4 to 8 weeks. Google AI Overviews can take 8 to 12 weeks since they update less frequently.
How much does AEO cost?+
AEO engagements at Black Layers start at one-time audits (CAD $1,200) and scale up to monthly retainers (CAD $1,800–$4,500/month) depending on competitive landscape and content volume. Every quote is fixed-price. Contact info@blacklayers.ca for a scoped proposal.
Do you offer GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?+
Yes. GEO and AEO are overlapping disciplines — AEO focuses on getting cited; GEO focuses on becoming the canonical source AI models reach for on your topic. Black Layers covers both under one engagement.
Can you optimize for Google AI Overviews specifically?+
Yes. Google AI Overviews are powered by Gemini and rely heavily on structured data, E-E-A-T signals, and FAQ schema. We implement all three plus the technical signals needed for Google-Extended (Google's AI crawler) to index your content favorably.
Free AEO audit — no commitment
Send us your website and we'll run it through our AEO audit: schema coverage, citation worthiness, ChatGPT & Perplexity visibility, and the top 3 fixes that would move you up fastest. Free, no obligation, 5-business-day turnaround.
Request free AEO audit