3 Things to Do to Get Recommended by AI
AEO comes down to three things. Here’s what they are.
I’ve written a lot about answer engine optimization (AEO) lately, but haven’t discussed the things you can do right now to improve your chances of being recommended by AI.
Prospects are asking AI tools, “Who is a good financial advisor for someone like me?” If you want yours to be the answer, it comes down to three things:
1. Write content an AI can quote. AI doesn’t read your website the way a person does. It looks for a clear, direct answer it can pull out and use. Front-load that information on every page — ideally, in the first 40 to 60 words. State the most important information on each page at the top, and make sure to include who you serve before any brand language or introductions. “Retirement income planning for public school teachers” gives AI something to recommend. “Comprehensive wealth management” gives it nothing, because thousands of firms say the same thing.
2. Make your site readable by machines. Keep your name, contact information, credentials, and specialty consistent across your website, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, and any directories you appear in. When the details all agree, AI tools grow confident about who you are. When they conflict, the tools get cautious and may leave you out. Use short sections and clear headers, and ask your web developer about schema markup, which is behind-the-scenes code that helps AI tools understand your content.
3. Build authority off your own website. AI tools give significant weight to what other sources say about you. Get listed in reputable directories (e.g., Wealthtender, NAPFA, FeeOnlyNetwork). Appear on podcasts your niche listens to. Pursue mentions in industry, niche, or local publications. A mention in a credible outside source carries more weight than more content on your website.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with your most important page and rewrite it to lead with a clear answer. Make your details consistent everywhere you appear online. Then pursue one off-site opportunity.
The takeaway: AEO isn’t a separate discipline. It’s already established good marketing presented in a way AI tools can read and quote. A defined niche, clear specifics, a solid reputation, and a clean website. Start there.
Kristen Luke
Founder of Kaleido Creative Studio and OnNiche®