Prompt Horizon – Issue #4: Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

EDITOR'S NOTE

Hey there! Welcome to the fourth issue of Prompt Horizon! 👋🏻

I'm Alex Lielacher, and this week I'm diving into something that's fundamentally changing how we think about search: Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), also known as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) or what I like to call it, AI Search. 

If you've been in marketing for a while, you've probably mastered SEO, keywords, backlinks, meta descriptions, etc.

But here's the thing: the search landscape is shifting beneath our feet. 

Traditional search engines are evolving into answer engines, and AI-powered platforms like Perplexity, Claude, and ChatGPT are becoming go-to sources for information.

The difference? 

Traditional search gives you a list of links. Answer engines give you the answer directly, often without requiring a click-through to your website.

This shift is massive for marketers, and when there are no "ten blue links" for which to compete, how do you ensure your content gets seen and cited?

Now, instead of scrolling through Google results, an increasing number of people use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Google AI Mode to find answers to their questions. These answer engines give comprehensive answers with information from multiple sources, but once users receive their answer, they often don’t visit any of the cited websites. 

Great for the user, potentially concerning for brands. 

But don’t worry! Showing up in AI Search is by no means impossible, especially if you know what you need to do.

In this issue, you’ll learn about some of the latest developments in AI Search and how to adapt your content strategy to win in this new landscape.

Let's dive in and future-proof your search strategy!

NEWS YOU CAN USE 📰

Here are nine key factors that affect AI search rankings. If you’re serious about improving your visibility across AI-driven search platforms, it’s time to understand the key factors that affect AI search rankings and how to optimize accordingly. [Source: Writesonic Blog, June 14, 2025]

Google’s AI Overviews now appear in more than 50% of all search results, marking a major inflection point in the evolution of search. Just ten months ago, that figure was 25%, and based on the current rate of adoption, monetization, and user engagement, AI-powered summaries are now the dominant format for Google Search. [Source: Xponent21, June 15, 2025]

Reddit is the 2nd most-cited source in Google AI Overviews, but that might not mean much for its bottom line. [Source: Business Insider, June 16, 2025]

CXL's comprehensive study on answer engine behavior revealed that 78% of AI-generated answers cite between 3 and 7 sources, with a strong preference for content published within the last 12 months. The study also found that answer engines are 2.4x more likely to cite content with schema markup than without. [Source: CXL, May 15, 2025]

58% of search queries are becoming conversational. AEO is crucial for capturing voice search and providing immediate answers. AEO targets direct answers in AI-powered search experiences, focusing on instant response opportunities. [Source: Single Grain, May 1, 2025]

THIS WEEK'S PROMPT 🤖

Actionable AI Prompt: Answer Engine Content Audit

Here's a prompt you can use with ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI assistants to audit your content for answer engine optimization.

Act as an Answer Engine Optimization Specialist. Help me audit my content to improve its chances of being cited by AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI Overviews.

First, I'll provide you with:

• The URL or full text of my content

• The primary question my content aims to answer

• My target audience

• My industry/niche

Based on this information, analyze my content for AEO effectiveness using these criteria:

1. Question alignment

Does the content directly answer the primary question? Are there related questions that should be addressed? Is the answer findable within 5 seconds of reading?

2. Content structure

Is the content organized with clear headings and subheadings? Are key points presented in scannable formats (lists, tables, etc.)? Is there a clear summary or conclusion?

3. Credibility signals

Does the content include data, statistics, or research with proper citations? Are expert opinions or sources referenced? Is the publication date recent and clearly visible?

4. Technical optimization

What schema markup should be added to this content? Are there opportunities for structured data? Is the content accessible to crawlers?

For each criterion, provide:

• A score out of 10

• Specific issues identified

• Actionable recommendations for improvement

• Examples of how to implement these changes

Finally, provide a prioritized list of the top five changes that would most improve this content's likelihood of being cited by answer engines.

This prompt helps you systematically evaluate your content through the lens of answer engines. By focusing on question alignment, structure, credibility, and technical optimization, you can identify specific improvements that will make your content more likely to be cited.

The resulting audit will give you a clear roadmap for transforming existing content into answer engine-friendly resources, increasing your chances of maintaining visibility in this new search paradigm.

Try running this prompt with your most important content pieces first, then work through your site systematically, prioritizing high-value pages.

From Invisible to Top 5: How 1840 & Co. Achieved 11% AI Visibility in Remote Staffing 📈

In an era where AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot increasingly dominate search, 1840 & Co., a specialist in remote and offshore staffing, leveraged Profound’s answer engine optimization (AEO) platform to rise from zero visibility to a top‑five brand in their niche. In just one month, they secured 11% AI visibility in the competitive remote staffing category

The Challenge ✋

1. Overcoming AI Invisibility

Despite operating in the competitive remote staffing sector, 1840 & Co. was never cited in AI-generated answers for queries like “best remote staffing agencies.” This absence meant they were completely off the radar in the growing world of voice and AI search. 

2. Facing dominant competitors

AI engines favored major players: Toptal held ~74% visibility, and Upwork ~29%. With such entrenched leadership, emerging brands like 1840 & Co. needed a distinct strategy to capture AI attention.

3. Navigating a new search terrain

Traditional SEO, backlinks, keyword optimization, and meta tactics no longer sufficed. AI models synthesize answers differently, often retrieving content based on structure, clarity, and relevance rather than on-page SEO tricks.

The Solution 🚀

1. Understanding how to be more visible

They ran hundreds of queries across AI platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Copilot).

The citation analysis tools revealed the dominant competitors, AI-preferred formats, “Top 10” lists, comparison bullets, FAQs, and niche blogs with disproportionate citation influence.

It wasn't about volume; it was about precision, finding micro-opportunities where AI engines were already citing certain content types and tailoring around that.

2. Creating AI-friendly content

They launched a single focused blog post featuring: 

• Descriptive headings and bullet lists (e.g. “10 Best Agencies for Remote Staffing Solutions”).

• Early and clear brand mentions in rankings.

• Compact FAQ segments tailored for AI consumption.

The Results 📈

• Within 2 weeks: AI visibility rose from 0% → 6%.

• By one month: Reached 11% visibility, ranking among top‑5 cited brands

• Fast, cost-effective growth gaining traction quickly without hefty SEO campaigns.

Why This Worked 💼

• First-mover advantage in an emerging channel.

• Content structured for AI: concise, clear, FAQ-rich formats.

• Data-driven iteration: basing decisions on real-time AI citation insights.

• High-intent exposure: being cited in AI answers directly channels interested searchers.

Key Takeaways ✅

1. Minor investments can yield major gains: one well-crafted post delivered results.

2. Real-time tracking is essential: adapt content continuously as AI algorithms evolve.

3. Brand mention placement matters: early positioning in content increases citation likelihood.

The transformation of 1840 & Co. from invisibility to a top‑5 AI-cited brand in remote staffing is a powerful demonstration of AEO’s potential. By combining focused, AI-optimized content with data-led strategy and real-time adaptation, they achieved rapid and measurable visibility without the need for vast resources. [Source: Profound, 2024] 

RECOMMENDED READING 📖

“How AI is reshaping SEO: Challenges, opportunities, and brand strategies for 2025” by Search Engine Land

Search isn’t a platform. It’s a behavior – and it’s fracturing across AI, social, and SERPs. Is your strategy ready? Whether people are typing into Google or prompting ChatGPT, consumers are still asking questions that require content, expertise, and trust. [Source: Search Engine Land, June 13, 2025]

“How AI Marketing Agents Can Maximize Your ROI” by Single Grain

This analytical article makes the case for integrating traditional SEO and answer engine optimization rather than treating them as separate disciplines. It includes data on the performance of integrated approaches and a framework for balancing resources between the two strategies. [Source: Single Grain, Dec 3, 2024]

"Answer Engine Optimization: 6 AI Models You Should Optimize For" by Search Engine Land

This practical guide breaks down the six most important answer engines, explaining how each one sources information and what makes content citation-worthy on each platform. It includes platform-specific optimization techniques and prioritization advice. [Source: Search Engine Land, March 25, 2025]

Wrappin Up 🌯

The rise of answer engines isn't the death of SEO. It's an evolution that rewards the best aspects of what we've always done: creating clear, authoritative, well-structured content that directly answers people's questions.

Marketers who will thrive in this new landscape aren't those who try to game the system with technical tricks, but those who genuinely help answer engines do their job better by providing the most useful, credible information in formats that machines can easily understand.

Think of answer engines not as competitors for your traffic, but as new distribution channels for your expertise. By adapting your content strategy to this paradigm shift, you can ensure your brand's voice remains prominent even when the answers come directly from AI.

Until next week, I'd love to hear how you're adapting to the answer engine era. 

Talk soon,

Alex

PS: If you need help getting your brand to show up in AI Search, hit us up at Rise Up Media. We’re doing that for all our clients now!