AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimisation – Optimization to be recommended by Answer Engines such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, and new generation AI search systems.

If SEO helps you appear on Google Search, then AEO helps you get recommended by AI when users ask a practical question, for example:

• “Where to get dental implants in Vietnam?”

• “Best business hotels in Ho Chi Minh City?”

• “Best All-on-4 clinics in Vietnam?”

• “Dental tourism Vietnam cost?”

When AI tools respond, they independently synthesize information from high-quality sources. AEO helps a business become a trusted source from which AI will gather data to answer, thereby directing customers to your website.

How does AEO work?

AI will prioritize businesses that have:

1. Clear, accurate, structured data

2. In-depth content, easy to understand, aligns with search intent

3. Authority & trust (reputation, reviews, press, citations)

4. Updated data (prices, services, FAQ…)

5. Technically optimized website – easy to crawl, correct schema

What are the differences between SEO and AEO?

What benefits does AEO offer?

For Vietnamese businesses serving international clients (such as medical tourism and international hotels):

• Being directly answered in ChatGPT → no need for customers to enter Google anymore

• Appear in AI's “recommendation list”

• Increase traffic from AI engines

• Enhance conversion rates because AI responds with a professional tone

• Create higher trust because AI confirms the business as the “best option”

What does AEO consist of?

AEO Audit

• Website inspection

• Online reputation check

• Business information list check

• Schema & structured data review

• Entity and factual accuracy check

AEO Implementation

• Rewrite content entirely as QA + fact-based

• Optimize schema (LocalBusiness, FAQ, MedicalOrganization…)

• Create an entity graph for the business

• Revise technical aspects (URL, speed, crawlability)

• Create content that AI can easily access

AEO Authority Building

• PR citations

• Review optimization

• Multi-channel listings

• Wikipedia/knowledge graph (when reputable enough)

A very clear example of AEO

You ask ChatGPT:

“Best dental clinics in District 7, Ho Chi Minh for implants”

ChatGPT does not select random results. It chooses places that have:

• Clear websites in English

• Detailed content on implants

• Address – price – doctors – certificates

• Reviews from international customers

• Complete structured information (schema)

• Consistent information online

This means: AI selects based on the level of “data reliability” – if you excel at AEO, you will be chosen.

When is AEO important?

2025–2026 is when Search will transition from “search engine” to “answer engine”.

• Google Gemini → AI Overviews

• ChatGPT → more real-time and web-connected

• Perplexity → trusted source confirmation

• Bing → AI-first search

Businesses that optimize AEO early on → will secure the “top recommendations” position indefinitely.

When should businesses hire AEO?

Businesses should hire AEO when they want to be recommended by AI in the answers provided by ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity – especially when your customers are no longer searching on Google as much as before and are instead asking AI directly.