Search is changing. A growing number of people are typing questions into ChatGPT, Perplexity, or the AI summaries at the top of Google results instead of clicking through a list of websites. When someone asks "who is a good plumber in Coquitlam" and an AI gives them an answer, that answer comes from somewhere. AEO is about making sure it comes from you.
AEO Stands for Answer Engine Optimization
Where SEO is about ranking in Google search results, AEO is about appearing in AI-generated answers. The tools that generate those answers pull from publicly available information on the web. They read your website, your Google Business Profile, review sites, directories, and structured data in your code. If your information is accurate, consistent, and clearly structured, you are more likely to get referenced.
Why It Matters for Trades and Local Service Businesses
AI-powered search is not just for tech questions. People are increasingly using it to find local services. "Who does flooring installation in Surrey?" and "best handyman near Port Coquitlam" are the kinds of queries that AI tools are starting to answer with specific business recommendations. The businesses that come up are the ones with clear, well-structured information across multiple sources.
What AEO Actually Requires
It is less exotic than it sounds. The core requirements overlap heavily with good local SEO.
Your website needs schema markup. Schema is structured code that tells search engines and AI tools exactly what your business does, where you are, what your hours are, and what services you offer. Without it you are relying on an AI to guess those things correctly from your page text.
Your business information needs to be consistent everywhere. AI tools cross-reference multiple sources. If your address is different on Yelp than it is on your website, that inconsistency reduces the confidence an AI has in recommending you.
Your website needs an FAQ section or FAQ schema. AI tools are specifically designed to answer questions. If your site already answers the questions people ask about your trade, you are more likely to be the source an AI cites.
You need a clear description of your service area. Not just a list of cities. Sentences that clearly state which cities and neighbourhoods you serve and for what services.
What We Do Differently
Every website we build at Beelong Media includes full schema markup from day one. That includes LocalBusiness schema, FAQPage schema, and service area data that AI tools can read reliably. We also maintain an llms.txt file for each client site, which is a standardized format that tells AI crawlers exactly who the business is, what they do, and where they operate.
This is not something most local web agencies are thinking about yet. It is something we build into every project because the search landscape three years from now is going to look very different from today.
What You Can Do Right Now
Get your Google Business Profile fully filled out with a detailed description, accurate categories, and regular posts. Make sure your website has consistent NAP data and at least a basic FAQ. If you have an existing site and want to know whether it is AEO-ready, we are happy to take a look.