3 tactics for Answer Engine Optimization
The way people use the Internet has changed significantly since the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). People still perform millions of searches per hour, but those searches look different than they used to. This is reflected in the shift from search engine optimization (SEO) to answer engine optimization (AEO).
This does not mean that there is no value in SEO at all. It doesn’t mean that AEO dominates all searches. But it is very important to understand what the shift looks like and how your content needs to be written. This way, you can still attract your target audience to your website.
Answering direct questions
First and foremost, rather than just searching for generic keyword strings, people are far more likely to run a search that is itself a question. Examples could include:
- What are the best nutritional supplements to take for muscle growth?
- How can I fund my new startup business?
- What are the legal steps needed to initiate a divorce in my state?
As such, it helps to write content that directly responds to the questions that your audience is asking. If you anticipate their needs and provide the information they are looking for, they see your website as a trusted and valuable resource.
Writing concise content
It is also important to offer concise answers that sit directly at the top of your content.
In the past, it was useful to provide an introduction that may have reflected the user’s thought process. You generally explored the topic or the questions they had and then provided the answers further down on the page. As an added benefit, this increased dwell times as people read further for the content they needed.
But today, people often look for trusted information in AI snippets at the top of a web search. This means that you need concise content that puts those answers at the top, where they can be easily pulled by AI systems. It is often best to answer the question first and then use your later content to expand on those ideas or provide more valuable details for your reader, rather than the other way around.
Scannable content
As AI is scanning the Internet for answers and information, it is similar to how users may scan a page to find the specifics they are looking for. This means that it is very helpful to have content that is broken up by subheaders, and it can often be helpful to use bulleted lists.
This does mean that your content may not sound as conversational or natural to the reader. So it is important to try to seek a balance by writing content that flows and reads well while also incorporating lists and other elements that highlight the most important details.
Contact us at Content Customs
Here at Content Customs, we are keeping a close eye on how things are changing and evolving in the online landscape. We can assist you with both SEO and AEO, so do not hesitate to reach out to us today.
