I’ve seen this firsthand with contractor clients: the ones who just tweak old keywords miss out.

But those who are getting really serious about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) are winning bigger shares of search traffic and, more importantly, better leads.

What is AEO? It’s basically making your content the AI’s best friend by answering the questions it asks internally, not just the ones you think your customers ask.

Why SEO’s old playbook is dead

The old “sprinkle keywords, build backlinks, write a long blog” routine? Yeah, AI is way smarter now.

It reads context, analyzes intent, and cross-checks answers across hundreds of sources before picking what to show.

If your page doesn’t clearly and thoroughly answer the full scope of questions AI expects, you won’t get featured in that coveted answer box or voice snippet. You’ll just be another link lost in the crowd.

How I approach AEO with contractor clients

Here’s the secret sauce I’ve developed:

1. Start with real questions Forget guessing what customers want. Use Google Business Profile Q&A, customer support transcripts, even review comments. These nuggets are gold. They’re the actual questions your audience asks in their own words.
2. Be hyper-specific Don’t just say “AC repair.” Answer, “Why won’t my AC cool when it’s humid in Houston?” or “How fast can I get emergency HVAC service after a storm?” Specific questions beat broad topics every time because AI can clearly match intent.
3. Structure content like a conversation Use short, clear headers that read like questions. Then answer in 2-3 sentences, bullet points, or simple steps. AI loves clean formatting because it can parse and cite easily.
4. Don’t stop at the main question Think in threads. AI breaks one query into many sub-questions, so cover those too. For example, if you answer “How often should I replace my water heater?” also add “What are signs of water heater failure?” and “How long does installation take?”
5. Technical stuff matters Use FAQ schema, QAPage markup, or HowTo structured data. This isn’t optional. It’s how you tell Google’s AI “Hey, here’s my answer, ready to serve.”

The impact?

Contractors I work with who nail this approach see:

• A spike in featured snippet appearances on Google
• More voice search queries driving traffic (think Alexa, Google Home)
• Longer visitor engagement because users find what they need, fast
• Better qualified leads since prospects come informed and ready to buy

What not to do (because I see this mess too often)

• Don’t stuff your content with keywords that sound robotic. AI sees right through it.
• Don’t slap an FAQ at the bottom of your page as an afterthought. It needs to be woven into the full content experience.
• Don’t neglect schema markup. It’s not just for nerds. It’s your ticket to rich results and AI citations.

Quick checklist to get started with AEO

1. Collect 10+ real customer questions (from reviews, support, GMB)
2. Build a dedicated page or blog post for each big topic, structured as Q&A or step-by-step guides
3. Write clear, concise answers (no fluff) right under question headers
4. Add FAQ or QAPage schema to all pages with questions
5. Review performance monthly: track snippets, voice queries, and bounce rat

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