Each module is shown once with real content. Above it: what it does, how it helps you get found and quoted, and the main options you can change in the editor.
Modules that start a page or a section and tell visitors what it's about.
Hero
A page heading with a description, up to two buttons and an image or video beside the text.
For AEO and SEO: One clear heading and a description that answers “what is this?” help engines and people understand the page at once.
Options: image or video (YouTube, file or embed) on either side, heading level, button styles, background color, gradient or image, text colors, alignment and entrance animation.
Answer engine optimization
Get your company cited in AI answers
AEO First helps B2B companies show up when buyers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. We restructure your content, add the right structured data and track where you are cited.
The core of the theme: modules that give AI assistants and search features a clear answer to quote, with matching structured data.
Answer summary
A two- or three-sentence answer at the top of a page.
For AEO and SEO: AI assistants often quote the first clear answer they find. This box makes sure it's yours. On blog posts it can use the post summary.
Options: label and icon, question heading level, accent bar on the left or top, last updated date, background and text colors.
Short answer
What is answer engine optimization?
Answer engine optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring content so AI assistants and search features such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews can find it, understand it and quote it as a direct answer.
Key takeaways
A short list that sums up the page.
For AEO and SEO: Self-contained points are easy to lift into an answer.
Options: heading, check marks, numbers or bullets, marker colors, last updated date, background and text colors.
Key takeaways
Answer the question in the first two sentences, then add detail.
Use the question your buyer asks as the heading.
Add structured data so engines can tell what each block is.
Definition block
A “What is …?” heading with a one-sentence definition.
For AEO and SEO: Adds DefinedTerm structured data, so engines can quote it as the definition of the term.
Options: “What is …?” or custom heading, “also known as” names, more detail, a button, glossary link, accent bar.
Definition
What is Answer engine optimization?
Answer engine optimization
Answer engine optimization is the practice of structuring content so AI assistants and search features can find it, understand it and quote it as a direct answer.
Also known as: AEO, AI search optimization
Question-led section
A heading written as the buyer's question, with a direct answer and an image.
For AEO and SEO: Engines match questions to headings and quote the first lines under them.
Options: question level, anchor link, short answer and details, image or video on either side.
How is AEO different from SEO?
SEO helps a page rank in a list of links. AEO helps your content become the answer itself, quoted inside an AI response.
AEO builds on SEO and adds answer-first writing, question headings and structured data.
FAQ accordion
Questions and answers that open and close, grouped by category if you like.
For AEO and SEO: Adds FAQPage structured data. Answers stay in the page code even when closed, so they're still read.
Options: categories with links above the questions, one or several open at a time, plus/minus or chevron icon on either side, divided list or separate cards.
What is answer engine optimization?
Answer engine optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring content so AI assistants and search features such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews can find it, understand it and quote it as a direct answer.
Does AEO replace SEO?
No. AEO builds on SEO. Answer engines still need pages they can crawl and sites they trust. AEO adds answer-first writing, question-based headings and structured data on top.
What is structured data?
Structured data is code that labels what your content is, such as an organization, a question and its answer, or a list of steps. It uses the schema.org vocabulary, usually written as JSON-LD.
How-to steps
Numbered steps with total time, tools and supplies.
For AEO and SEO: Adds HowTo structured data, so assistants can walk people through your process.
Options: numbered timeline or cards, step images, total time, tools and supplies.
How to make a page easy for AI assistants to quote
Five steps, about 45 minutes per page. No special tools needed.
Time needed
45 min
Tools
Google Search Console, Google Rich Results Test
1
Step 1: Find the questions your buyers ask
List questions from sales calls, support tickets and Google Search Console queries. Pick the ten that come up most before a purchase.
2
Step 2: Write the answer first
Answer each question in one or two sentences that make sense on their own. Add detail, examples and caveats after that.
3
Step 3: Use the question as the heading
Put the exact question in an H2 or H3 so engines can match it to what people ask.
4
Step 4: Add structured data
Mark up the page with schema.org types such as FAQPage, HowTo or Organization, and test it in Google's Rich Results Test.
5
Step 5: Check how AI assistants answer
Ask the same questions in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google, note who is cited, and repeat every month.
Statistics with sources
Key numbers, each with a linked source and year.
For AEO and SEO: Numbers with a named source are trusted, and quoted, more often than unsourced claims.
Options: tiles, accent line or plain, sources under each number or as numbered notes, columns and card colors.
Pull quotes from named experts, or a “Reviewed by” line. Add more quotes and it becomes a slider.
For AEO and SEO: A named expert with credentials is a trust signal. Reviewed-by marks the whole page as checked by that person, with the review date.
Options: quote or reviewed-by, photo, profile link, more quotes, autoplay with pause, arrows and dots below or on the sides, slide or fade, name and photo alignment.
Answer engines reward what readers reward: a clear answer, from a source they can check.
Dr. Mira LahtiResearcher in information retrieval
Write the answer before the explanation. If a sentence can't stand on its own, it won't be quoted.
Aino VirtanenFounder and CEO, AEO First
Structured data doesn't make weak content strong, but it stops strong content from being misread.
Mikko LaineHead of Technical SEO, AEO First
Glossary
An A–Z list of terms with a sticky letter bar.
For AEO and SEO: Adds DefinedTermSet structured data, and every term gets its own anchor link that can be quoted.
Options: A–Z links that can stay visible while scrolling, A–Z sorting, links to term pages, letter colors.
A
AI Overviews
Google Search's AI-generated summaries that answer a query at the top of the results and link to the sources they draw on.
Answer engine
A system that replies to a question with a direct answer instead of a list of links, such as an AI assistant or an AI search feature.
Answer engine optimization (AEO)
The practice of structuring content so answer engines can find it, understand it and quote it as a direct answer.
C
Citation
A link or reference to the source an AI answer draws on. Being cited is the main goal of AEO.
E
E-E-A-T
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness: the qualities Google's search quality rater guidelines use to judge content.
F
FAQPage
A schema.org type that marks up a list of questions with their answers on one page.
Comparing and deciding
For the questions buyers ask right before a purchase: which option, how much, and what do others say.
Comparison table
A real HTML table with check, cross and text cells and a verdict row.
For AEO and SEO: Tables in real HTML are easy for engines to read and summarize, unlike tables in images.
Options: column headings and alignment, highlighted column, row headers, verdict row, caption, footnote, and on phones: scroll or stacked cards.
How search engine optimization and answer engine optimization differ
SEO
AEO
Goal
Rank in search results
Be quoted as the answer
Success is measured by
Rankings, clicks, traffic
Mentions and citations in AI answers
Content format
Pages focused on a topic
Direct answers under question headings
Structured data
PartlyHelpful
YesEssential
Best for
Being found in search results
Being the answer in AI assistants
AEO builds on SEO: most sites need both.
Alternatives list
Ranked options with who each is best for, pros, cons and price.
For AEO and SEO: Adds ItemList structured data, which suits “best X” and “X alternatives” questions.
Options: numbering, highlighted pick with badge, logos, pros and cons labels and markers, links.
1
Built into your theme
Best for: Teams that want schema on every page without extra work
Our pick
Modules output the right markup as you edit. Nothing to install or maintain separately.
Pros
No extra subscription
Markup matches the visible content
Cons
Tied to the theme you use
Price: Included with the theme
2
A schema app from the marketplace
Best for: Sites that can't change their theme
A separate app adds markup based on settings you fill in.
Pros
Works with any theme
Setup without code
Cons
Monthly cost
Markup can drift from what the page shows
Price: Usually a monthly fee
Pricing table
Plans with a monthly and yearly switch.
For AEO and SEO: Clear prices in text answer one of the most-asked buyer questions directly.
Options: monthly/yearly switch (works without JavaScript), currency before or after, highlighted plan, features included or not, columns.
An average rating with a breakdown and review cards.
For AEO and SEO: Optional AggregateRating and Review structured data, off by default because Google doesn't show review stars for reviews a company collects about itself.
Options: star or custom icon, breakdown bars, source link, review cards and dates.
Reviews
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by our clients
4.9
4.9 out of 5 stars
Based on 37 client surveys sent after each project
5 stars89%
4 stars11%
3 stars0%
2 stars0%
1 stars0%
5 out of 5 stars
We finally show up in AI answers
Clear plan, monthly proof, no jargon.
Sanna L. · Client survey
5 out of 5 stars
Worth it for the tracking alone
The visibility report shows exactly what changed.
Jonas B. · Client survey
Testimonials
Customer quotes in cards with name, role, company and rating.
For AEO and SEO: Real names and companies make the claims checkable.
Options: columns, card style, quote mark, star color, photo size, name and photo alignment.
Testimonials
What our clients say
5 out of 5 stars
Within three months, ChatGPT started naming us when buyers asked for HR software in Finland. Before, it named three competitors.
Sanna LindqvistHead of Marketing, Tavelko
5 out of 5 stars
AEO First turned forty scattered help pages into clear answers. Support tickets about pricing dropped, and AI Overviews now quote our FAQ.
Jonas BergCMO, Halcora
5 out of 5 stars
The monthly visibility report is the part our board reads. It shows exactly which questions we own and which we still have to win.
Mikael RantaContent Lead, Ferrique
Content and navigation
Modules that help people, and crawlers, find their way around your content.
Feature grid
Cards with an icon, image or video, a title, text and a link.
For AEO and SEO: Short, labeled blocks make a page easy to scan for people and easy to summarize for engines.
Options: columns per device, icon shape and colors, card style and hover, item alignment.
Services
Everything it takes to become the answer
Six parts of answer engine optimization, delivered as one project or a monthly retainer.
AEO audit
We test the questions your buyers ask in AI assistants and show where you are cited, and where competitors are quoted instead.
Question research
We collect the real questions behind your deals from sales calls, support tickets and search data.
Answer-first content
We rewrite key pages so each one answers a question in its first two sentences, then adds detail.
Structured data
We add schema.org markup, such as Organization, FAQPage and HowTo, so engines know what each block is.
AI visibility tracking
Every month we rerun your question set in AI assistants and report where you gained or lost citations.
HubSpot implementation
We build it in HubSpot: modules, templates and blog settings, so your team can keep it up to date.
Topic cluster links
Links between a pillar page and the pages on the same topic.
For AEO and SEO: Linking a topic together shows engines you cover it in depth.
Options: pick links by hand or from a blog tag, list or cards, link to the pillar page.
Author byline and author box
The author's name, photo, dates and reading time, or a box with a bio.
For AEO and SEO: Named authors with a bio and profile links are a strong trust signal. Optional Person structured data.
Options: byline or author box, blog author or entered by hand, which dates to show, labels and separators.
About the author
Elina Koskinen
, Content Strategist
Elina turns sales calls and support tickets into answer-first pages.
Blog post listing
The latest posts, or posts from a tag, as cards or a list.
For AEO and SEO: Fresh, linked articles help engines discover and recrawl your content.
Options: this blog's posts with pagination, latest posts or related posts; grid, list or first post large; what each card shows.
Sample content for AEO First Blog. SEO supports discovery in search results. AEO places additional attention on direct answers, citations, and brand mentions. These …
Sample content for AEO First Blog. Trustworthy content gives your reader a way to verify important claims. Clear sources, accurate descriptions, and genuine experience …
Sample content for AEO First Blog. Common mistakes include unsupported promises, unclear answers, inaccurate markup, and unnecessary duplicate pages. Treat AEO tactics …
Sample Author··2 min read
Read article
Resource library
Filterable cards for guides, templates and events, with several categories each.
For AEO and SEO: Grouped, labeled resources are easier to navigate and to link to.
Options: category filter, several categories per card, “requires a form” label, image shape, columns, card hover.
These work across the site rather than in one spot on a page.
Site navigation: the header menu, from a HubSpot menu or built in the module, with dropdowns and mega menus (columns, icons, descriptions and a featured card).
Breadcrumbs: the trail at the top of this page, with BreadcrumbList structured data.
Table of contents: a list of the page's headings that builds itself and can stay visible beside long articles, highlighting the section being read. See it on the Pillar page template.
Site structured data: one place for your organization's details. It adds Organization, WebSite and WebPage structured data to every page.
Service structured data: Service or Product markup for a page about one offering, with price and provider, linked to your organization. See it on the Service or product page template.
Custom fonts: upload your own font files and use them in Theme settings.
Find out where AI assistants cite you today
Book a free 30-minute AI visibility check. We'll show you which buyer questions you already answer, and where competitors are quoted instead.
