Compare AEO Agencies: Which One Is Right for My Business?

The digital marketing landscape has shifted dramatically. While traditional SEO focused on ranking in Google’s blue links, today’s consumers are getting answers directly from AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, Perplexity, and Bing Chat. If your business isn’t optimized for these answer engines, you’re missing out on a massive opportunity.

But here’s the challenge: Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is still relatively new, and not all agencies claiming to offer AEO services are created equal. Some are genuinely equipped to help you dominate AI search results, while others are simply rebranding their existing SEO services with trendy terminology.

So how do you separate the innovators from the imitators? This guide will help you evaluate AEO agencies and find the right partner for your business.

What Is AEO?

Before diving into agency selection, let’s clarify what Answer Engine Optimization actually means.

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of optimizing your digital content so that AI-powered search engines and chatbots cite your business as a trusted source when answering user queries. Unlike traditional SEO, which aims to drive clicks to your website, AEO focuses on positioning your brand as the authoritative answer within the AI’s response itself.

Think of it this way: When someone asks ChatGPT “What’s the best digital marketing agency in Los Angeles?” or “How do I choose a marketing partner?”, AEO ensures your business appears in that answer—complete with specific mentions, quotes, or recommendations.

AEO involves:

• Structured data optimization to help AI understand your content
• Authority building through high-quality citations and mentions
• Conversational content that mirrors how people ask questions
• Entity optimization to establish your brand as a recognized authority
• AI search optimization across multiple answer engine platforms

Why AEO Matters Now

The statistics are compelling: According to recent industry research, over 40% of consumers now use AI chatbots for product research and purchasing decisions. By 2027, analysts predict that traditional search traffic could decline by 25% as users shift to conversational AI interfaces.

For businesses, this means three critical things:

1. Zero-Click Searches Are Becoming the Norm
When AI provides a complete answer, users don’t always click through to websites. Your brand needs to be mentioned within that answer, or you don’t exist in the customer’s consideration set. AI citations now matter more than traditional keyword rankings.

2. Trust Signals Have Changed
AI engines prioritize authoritative, well-cited content. Being mentioned by reputable sources, having consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data, and maintaining strong entity recognition and knowledge graph signals across the web are now crucial ranking factors.

3. The Competitive Landscape Is Still Open
Unlike traditional SEO, where established players dominate the SERPs, AEO is still emerging. Early adopters have a significant advantage in establishing authority within AI knowledge bases. In competitive markets like Los Angeles, being among the first in your industry to master AEO can create a lasting competitive moat.

The question isn’t whether your business needs AEO—it’s how quickly you can implement it effectively.

Key Criteria for Choosing an AEO Agency

Now that you understand why AEO matters, let’s explore what to look for in an AEO agency partner.

1. Proven AEO-Specific Experience

First and foremost, verify that the agency has actual experience with answer engine optimization—not just traditional SEO repackaged. Ask for:

• Case studies showing improved visibility in AI search results
• Examples of clients appearing in ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overview responses
• Documentation of their AEO methodology and how it differs from traditional SEO

Red flag: Agencies that can’t articulate the differences between SEO and AEO or show concrete AI search results.

2. Technical Expertise in Structured Data

AEO relies heavily on structured data markup (Schema.org) to help AI engines understand and categorize your content. Your agency should demonstrate:

• Advanced knowledge of JSON-LD schema implementation
• Experience with entity markup and knowledge graphs
• Ability to implement FAQ schema, How-To schema, and other conversational formats
• Understanding of how different AI engines parse structured data

3. Content Strategy for Conversational Search

AI-powered search is fundamentally conversational. Your agency should excel at:

• Creating content that answers specific questions naturally
• Long-form, authoritative content that AI engines trust
• Topic cluster strategies that establish topical authority
• Natural language optimization without keyword stuffing

4. Multi-Platform AI Search Optimization

Different answer engines behave differently. ChatGPT pulls from different data sources than Google’s AI Overviews or Perplexity. A quality AEO agency understands these nuances and optimizes across multiple platforms:

• Google AI Overviews (formerly SGE)
• ChatGPT and GPT-based applications
• Perplexity AI
• Bing Chat (Copilot)
• Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant)

5. Authority and Citation Building

Since AI engines prioritize authoritative sources, your agency should have strong capabilities in:

• Digital PR and securing mentions in reputable publications
• Building citation networks across trusted industry sources
• Managing and improving your brand’s entity recognition
• Strategic partnerships and co-marketing for authority signals

6. Analytics and Reporting

AEO is still evolving, and measurement methodologies are developing. Your agency should offer:

• Custom tracking for AI search visibility
• Brand mention monitoring across AI platforms
• Citation tracking and quality assessment
• Clear ROI metrics tied to business outcomes

7. Local Market Understanding (For Los Angeles Businesses)

If you’re a Los Angeles-based business, working with an agency that understands the local market provides distinct advantages. They should know:

• LA-specific industry trends and competitive landscapes
• Local media outlets and citation sources
• Regional search patterns and conversational queries
• Local business schema requirements for geo-specific optimization

Questions to Ask AEO Agencies

When evaluating potential agency partners, come prepared with these essential questions:

About Their AEO Approach:

• “How do you define Answer Engine Optimization, and how does your methodology differ from traditional SEO?”
• “Can you show me examples of clients appearing in AI-generated responses?”
• “What AI platforms do you optimize for, and why?”

About Technical Capabilities:

• “What structured data schemas do you typically implement for AEO?”
• “How do you track and measure visibility in AI search results?”
• “Do you have proprietary tools or processes for AEO?”

About Results and Timeline:

• “What realistic timeline should I expect to see results?”
• “What metrics do you use to measure AEO success?”
• “Can you provide case studies from businesses similar to mine?”

About Strategy:

• “How do you build authority and secure citations for AEO?”
• “What’s your content strategy for conversational search?”
• “How do you stay current with AI search algorithm updates?”

About Partnership:

• “What level of involvement do you need from our team?”
• “How often do you report on progress, and what do those reports include?”
• “What happens if we don’t see results within the expected timeline?”

Red Flags to Watch For

Not every agency offering AEO services is qualified to deliver results. Watch out for these warning signs:

🚩 Guaranteed Rankings in AI Results

Any agency promising guaranteed placement in ChatGPT or AI search results is being dishonest. AI algorithms are complex and constantly evolving. Legitimate agencies promise strategic optimization, not guaranteed outcomes.

🚩 No Differentiation from Traditional SEO

If an agency’s AEO pitch sounds identical to standard SEO practices, they likely haven’t developed AEO-specific methodologies. Look for clear articulation of how their approach differs.

🚩 Lack of Technical Depth

Agencies that can’t discuss structured data, entity optimization, or knowledge graphs in detail probably lack the technical expertise needed for effective AEO.

🚩 Over-Reliance on Black Box “AI Tools”

Some agencies claim proprietary AI tools that magically deliver AEO results. While tools are helpful, strategy, technical implementation, and quality content matter more. Be skeptical of agencies that can’t explain their methodology beyond “our AI does it.”

🚩 No Case Studies or Proof Points

AEO is still emerging, but agencies should be able to demonstrate some results—whether through their own visibility, client examples, or documented testing. Complete absence of proof suggests they’re still learning.

🚩 Cookie-Cutter Packages

Every business has unique AEO needs based on industry, competition, and goals. Agencies offering one-size-fits-all AEO packages likely lack the sophistication to deliver customized strategies.

🚩 Dismissing Traditional SEO

Ironically, good AEO builds upon strong SEO fundamentals. Agencies that dismiss SEO entirely in favor of AEO-only approaches miss the bigger picture. The two strategies should complement each other.

Finding the Right AEO Partner for Your Business

Choosing an AEO agency is ultimately about finding a partner who:

• Understands your specific business goals and challenges
• Has the technical expertise to implement sophisticated optimization strategies
• Can articulate a clear, customized approach to your AEO needs
• Demonstrates thought leadership in this emerging field
• Communicates transparently about timelines, processes, and results

The best agency relationship is collaborative, not transactional. You want a partner who will educate your team, adapt strategies based on performance, and grow with you as the AI search landscape evolves.

Ready to Explore Answer Engine Optimization?

At Emarketed, we’ve been at the forefront of AI search optimization since the emergence of conversational AI search engines. Our Los Angeles-based team combines deep technical SEO expertise with cutting-edge AEO strategies to help businesses establish authority in AI-generated answers.

We don’t just optimize for algorithms—we build comprehensive digital authority that positions your brand as the trusted answer, regardless of how your customers search.

If you’re ready to future-proof your digital marketing strategy and capture visibility in the age of AI search, let’s talk. We’ll provide a complimentary AEO assessment and show you exactly where your brand currently appears (or doesn’t appear) in AI search results.

The future of search is conversational. Make sure your business is part of the conversation.