Clients are increasingly not reading entire search results, but instead seeing a ready-made answer prepared by AI. If you want your company to be cited in these answers and simultaneously be well-visible on Google, you need not only traditional SEO but also AEO, or Answer Engine Optimisation. The following guide shows step by step how to prepare a service page in a clear and practical way, without technical jargon, so that within one quarter you can realistically increase the number of valuable inquiries.
What is AEO and how is it different from SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) involves actions that lead to a click on search results and visit to your site. AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) focuses on ensuring that your content is cited as a concise, ready answer in generative tools and answer panels. These approaches complement each other. SEO builds visibility and traffic, while AEO increases the chance that your explanation will outpace the competition in the format of a short answer. In practice, this means a different way of writing content: shorter paragraphs, clear language, sections directly responding to client questions, and a predictable structure that AI tools can easily quote.
When does AEO make the most sense for services
Service companies win with AEO when they answer specific decision-making questions from clients. This primarily includes questions about cost, time of execution, scope of work, and risks. AEO works particularly well in local services, where people enter queries like service + city or neighborhood. If you already have strong expertise but feel a low CTR (Click-Through Rate) on Google or many inquiries from potential clients repeat the same questions during conversations, AEO will allow you to transfer those answers to the page in a format that AI is eager to quote.
How to structure a service page for AI responses
The service page should guide the client from a brief explanation of what you do and for whom, to specifics, such as time, costs, and process. Start with a paragraph in which you answer the most important question from the client in two sentences. Explain what the service is, what problems it solves, and within what time frame the first effects can be seen. Then add a paragraph about who the service is for and who it is not for. This saves time on both sides and increases the quality of inquiries. Dedicate the next paragraph to the process in simple steps, so that a non-technical person understands what happens sequentially. Also describe the factors that influence the duration of execution, such as the size of the scope or the availability of materials.
Transparency in costs builds trust and increases the chances of being cited in answers. You do not need to provide an exact price list. A reliable description of ranges and the factors that bring the project closer to the lower or upper limit is sufficient. Add a paragraph about risks and how you minimize them. This sounds serious and is valuable for clients who are making decisions. At the end of the page, insert a short FAQ section, where in 8 to 12 answers of 60 to 120 words you explain the most common doubts. Formulate each question simply, without jargon, so that it can be copied to the AI response without changes.
How to write so that AI wants to quote you
AI responses prefer content that is short, unambiguous, and contains numbers or decision thresholds. Therefore, write in short paragraphs, give the answer in the first sentence, followed by a brief explanation. Use plain language with examples close to everyday life. If you write about time, provide a real range and what influences a shorter or longer deadline. If you write about costs, list the component elements and in what situations they increase. Formulate headings as questions, because users ask them this way, and both Google and AI tools like this structure.
What to add in the technical version without entering the code
You do not need to be a technical person to take care of the basics. Ask the website creator to add schema markup for local business and services, as well as for the questions and answers section. Ensure consistent recording of the company name, address, and phone number on the site and in directories, as this helps in local results. Also, ask for faster page loading through image compression in the hero section and delaying the loading of heavy scripts. These fixes enhance the quality of the page and increase the chance that your content will be easily parsed and quoted.
A brief comparison of AEO and SEO for non-technical people
SEO involves broad actions on and off the page that aim to improve ranking in Google and attract clicks. AEO focuses on ensuring that your answer is clear, short, and ready to be quoted. In practice, SEO often uses longer articles, while AEO promotes modular response blocks, simple language, and predictable structure. When measuring SEO effects, you look at positions and traffic. In AEO, key indicators are whether the number of views on informational queries without clicks is increasing, whether your brand appears more often in answers, and whether you receive more inquiries from the FAQ section and short articles.
A plan for one quarter for a service company
In the first two weeks, pick three most important services and supplement their pages with paragraphs on process, time, costs, risks, and a short FAQ. Check the headings and rephrase them into client questions. Link the service topics with short articles addressing the most common doubts, such as a comparison of options or a preparation checklist. In the next step, implement markups for local businesses, services, and FAQ, and organize the contact details. At the same time, ask for faster page loading by compressing images and limiting unnecessary scripts. In weeks five and six, write four short articles in which the first paragraph is a ready answer. In weeks seven and eight, publish two case studies with numbers before and after and a visible quote from a client. The last month is dedicated to monitoring effects, updating numbers, and expanding the FAQ based on real sales conversations.
The ideal structure of a service page
The page should start with a clear heading and a short paragraph of the answer. Then, in several paragraphs, explain who this service is for and when it is worth choosing. Describe in simple language the process from the first contact to completion. In subsequent paragraphs, discuss typical timeframes and what influences them, then the cost ranges and the package structure. Add a paragraph about risks and ways to minimize them, such as through phased implementation or additional testing. Conclude the page with a short FAQ section and a clear call to action, such as a quote form or booking a short conversation. This way, the client has everything in one place and does not have to search for additional information.
How to measure if AEO works
You do not need advanced reports to notice the first effects. Monitor Google tools for an increase in views on informational queries and those that do not generate clicks but build recognition. Check if the number of visits starting on service pages and articles with short answers increases. Note how many sales inquiries come through the forms placed above the FAQ section. If after a few weeks you see an increase in inquiries and a shorter path to conversation, it means that AEO is starting to work.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The biggest problem is general texts that do not answer specific questions. Avoid long introductions and marketing slogans without numbers. Lack of a questions and answers section or answers without specifics reduce the chances of being quoted. Remember also the technical basics. A page that loads slowly and has a disorganized structure will be cited less frequently even if it has good content. Regularly update numbers and examples to ensure that answers remain fresh and credible.
A simple 14-day plan if you want to start now
Select one service and prepare a short FAQ with five questions and specific answers. Supplement the page with paragraphs on process, time, costs, and risks, and then ask for the implementation of markups for local business, services, and FAQ. Write two short articles that start with a ready answer and link them to the service page. Finally, ensure faster loading of the main image and enable basic monitoring of views and inquiries. Such a sprint (14 days) will allow you to see the first effects within two to six weeks.
