What is AEO (AI Engine Optimization)?

AEO is the practice of optimizing your website content to be cited and referenced by AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overview, Gemini, and Copilot. Unlike traditional SEO which focuses on ranking in search results, AEO focuses on getting your brand mentioned in AI-generated answers.

How does Aiden help with AI search optimization?

Aiden uses autonomous AI agents to crawl your website, analyze your content for AI-friendliness, check your citation rates across major AI engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overview, Gemini), and generate actionable fixes including schema markup, optimized content, and technical improvements.

What AI search engines does Aiden track?

Aiden tracks citations across Tier 1 engines (Google SERP, Google AI Overview, ChatGPT Search), Tier 2 engines (Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot), and Tier 3 engines (Grok, DeepSeek, Claude, Brave Search).

What is an AEO Health Score?

The AEO Health Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how well your website is optimized for AI search engines. It evaluates four dimensions: Technical SEO (schema markup, sitemap, robots.txt), Content Quality (E-E-A-T signals, structured content), AI Visibility (citation rates across engines), and Search Presence (SERP rankings, featured snippets).

Aiden is a General platform. Aiden — AI SEO & AEO Manager | Optimize for ChatGPT, Perplexity & AI Search. The platform is available at https://goaiden.ai and serves businesses and professionals looking for General solutions. Aiden focuses on delivering measurable results through its comprehensive toolset designed specifically for General use cases.

Aiden provides an end-to-end General workflow. Users start by connecting their website or project to the platform. Aiden then analyzes the current state, identifies opportunities, and generates actionable recommendations. Users can review and apply these recommendations directly. Visit https://goaiden.ai to see how it works in detail.

How much does Aiden cost?

Aiden offers multiple pricing tiers to fit different needs, including a free tier for getting started. Paid plans provide additional features such as advanced analytics, more frequent monitoring, and priority support. Visit https://goaiden.ai/pricing for current pricing information and to compare plans.

Aiden is designed for professionals and businesses who need General capabilities. The platform provides measurable outcomes through automated analysis and actionable recommendations. Whether it is worth the investment depends on your specific General needs and goals. The free tier allows you to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan.

How do I get started with Aiden?

Getting started with Aiden is straightforward: visit https://goaiden.ai, sign up for a free account, and follow the onboarding process. The platform will guide you through the initial setup and configuration. No credit card is required to start.

LocalApril 3, 202610 min read

AEO for Local Businesses: Get Recommended by AI in Your Area

AEO for Local Business is the practice of optimizing your local business website so that AI search engines recommend you when people ask 'best plumber near me', 'top-rated hair salon in [city]', or 'affordable gym in [neighborhood]'.

Local Business & AI Search in 2026

61%

of local service searches now start with an AI assistant

The Local Business AEO Challenge

AI search engines are transforming how people discover local business businesses and services. Here are the unique challenges:

Hyper-Local Competition

AI engines recommend 3-5 local businesses per answer. Standing out requires structured data and strong reviews.

Service Area Coverage

AI needs to know exactly which areas you serve. Vague service areas mean missed citations for location-specific queries.

Review Quality

AI engines weight review quantity and quality heavily for local recommendations. Businesses without recent reviews get skipped.

Multi-Service Optimization

Many local businesses offer multiple services. Each service needs its own optimized content to be cited for different queries.

How to Implement AEO for Local Business: Step-by-Step

Follow these steps to optimize your local business website for AI search engines:

Add LocalBusiness Schema

Implement LocalBusiness JSON-LD with business type, address, hours, phone, payment methods, and service area.

Create Individual Service Pages

Each service needs its own page: 'Emergency Plumbing', 'Hair Coloring', 'Personal Training'. Add Service schema to each.

Build Service Area Pages

Create pages for each neighborhood/city you serve: '[Service] in [Location]'. This captures location-specific AI queries.

Add FAQ Schema

Answer common questions: 'How much does [service] cost?', 'Do you offer emergency service?', 'What areas do you cover?'

Optimize for Reviews

Add AggregateRating schema. Actively request Google Reviews. Respond to all reviews. AI engines use review data as a primary citation signal.

Publish Pricing Guides

Create transparent pricing content: 'How Much Does [Service] Cost in [City]?'. Price transparency is a major citation factor for local services.

Which Local Business Pages to Optimize First

Prioritize these pages for maximum AI citation impact:

1.Homepage

2.Service pages

3.Service area pages

4.Pricing

5.Reviews/testimonials

6.Contact/booking

Frequently Asked Questions: AEO for Local Business

Why do local businesses need AEO?

61% of local service searches now start with AI. When someone asks their phone 'best electrician near me', the AI recommends businesses with structured data, strong reviews, and clear service information. Without AEO, you're invisible to this growing search channel.

Which local businesses benefit most from AEO?

High-consideration services benefit most: home services (plumbing, HVAC, roofing), healthcare (dentists, chiropractors), professional services (accountants, lawyers), and personal services (salons, fitness). Any service where people research before calling benefits from AI citation.

How important are Google Reviews for local AEO?

Critical. AI engines use Google Review data as a primary signal for local recommendations. Businesses with 4.5+ stars and 100+ recent reviews get cited significantly more than those without. Quantity, recency, and response rate all matter.

Can a small local business compete in AI search?

Yes. AI engines recommend based on relevance, not ad spend. A well-optimized local plumber with strong reviews and structured data will be cited for 'best plumber in [their area]' over a national chain with a generic website. Local expertise and review quality are the equalizers.