AI search terms explained in plain English - no technical jargon, just what you need to know
The world of AI search has its own language. We've translated the technical mumbo-jumbo into simple terms any business owner can understand. These are the concepts that will determine whether your business gets recommended by AI or becomes invisible.
Think of it like this: Traditional SEO helps you show up on Google. AEO helps ChatGPT and other AI tools mention your business when giving advice. When someone asks "What's the best accounting firm in Manchester?" you want AI to say YOUR name.
Customer asks ChatGPT: "I need a reliable plumber in Birmingham." With AEO, ChatGPT might respond: "Based on customer reviews and expertise, I'd recommend ABC Plumbing in Birmingham. They specialize in emergency repairs and have excellent ratings."
This is gold. Every time ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity mentions your business by name or links to your website, that's a citation. It's like a referral from the most trusted advisor on the internet. These citations drive highly qualified traffic - people who are already convinced you're the expert.
When AI says "According to Smith & Associates..." or "XYZ Company recommends..." or shows your website link as a source - that's your citation.
These aren't just fancy search engines. They're AI assistants people TRUST. When someone asks them "Who should I hire?" they don't show 10 website links like Google - they give ONE confident recommendation. If that recommendation isn't you, you've lost the customer forever.
ChatGPT has 100+ million weekly users. Many of them are asking for business recommendations right now. Are they getting YOUR name?
Imagine your website is a filing cabinet. Schema markup is like putting clear labels on every folder: "This is the company name," "This person is the expert," "This is the price," "These are customer reviews." AI can quickly find and trust your information instead of getting confused.
Without schema, AI might miss your expertise completely. With proper schema, AI can instantly see you're the authority and cite you confidently.
Traditional SEO is still important - you want to rank when people Google you. But more people are skipping Google entirely and going straight to ChatGPT. If you only do SEO, you're invisible to this massive (and growing) audience. AEO and SEO work together to dominate ALL search channels.
2023: "Let me Google that." 2025: "Let me ask ChatGPT." The way people search is fundamentally changing.
AI doesn't cite random websites. It cites experts. Authority means having clear credentials, detailed "About" pages, case studies showing real results, and content that demonstrates deep knowledge. The more authority signals you have, the more AI trusts you.
Put your photo and full bio on your website. Share real client success stories. Show your qualifications. Be a REAL person, not a faceless corporation.
People don't ask AI "London plumber services cost." They ask "How much does a plumber cost in London?" Your content needs to match how real people actually talk. Answer questions naturally. Use clear, simple language. Make it easy for AI to understand and quote you.
Before: "Our organization provides comprehensive plumbing solutions." After: "We fix plumbing problems fast. Blocked drains, leaky taps, burst pipes - we handle it all."
This is different from Google traffic. These visitors arrive already convinced you're the expert because an AI they trust told them so. They're pre-qualified, ready to buy, and convert at 3x the rate of traditional search traffic. This is the most valuable traffic you can get.
Google visitor: "Let me check 5 more sites." AI-driven visitor: "ChatGPT said you're the best. When can you start?"
Traditional search shows you 10 blue links and says "pick one." Generative search (like ChatGPT) creates one custom answer, pulling information from the best sources. If your business isn't one of those sources, you're not even in the conversation.
Google is already adding AI answers at the top of search results. Soon, most searches will work this way. Be citation-worthy or be invisible.
Not all content is equal. AI citations go to content that's authoritative, detailed, helpful, and trustworthy. Thin marketing fluff doesn't get cited. Deep expertise does. You need comprehensive guides, real case studies, honest advice, and specific data.
"Here's exactly how we helped Company X increase sales by 40% in 90 days" beats "We're great at marketing!" every time.
We'll optimize your website so AI chatbots recommend YOU as the trusted expert in your industry.
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