AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) works by making your content easy for search engines to find, understand, and extract as a direct answer in SERP features like featured snippets and People Also Ask.
How AEO works (step-by-step)
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Your page gets discovered and indexed
Google uses automated crawlers to find pages and add them to its index. -
The engine matches a question query to your page
For question-style searches, Google may display featured snippets (and those snippets can also appear inside People Also Ask). -
The system extracts a “best answer” passage
You can’t manually “apply” to be a featured snippet—Google systems decide if your page is a good fit for the query and elevate it. -
Structured data can help with eligibility
Structured data can enable rich features, but Google explicitly says it does not guarantee showing them.
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What to optimize for AEO
- Put a direct 1–2 sentence answer immediately under the H1.
- Use question-based H2s and tight, skimmable sections (lists/steps/tables).
- Keep the answer block self-contained so it can be quoted cleanly.
- Add relevant structured data only when it matches visible page content (and follow policies).
FAQ
Can I force my page to be a featured snippet?
No. Google says you can’t mark a page as a featured snippet - its systems choose what to show.
Does structured data guarantee an answer box or snippet?
No. Google does not guarantee that structured-data features will appear, even when markup is correct.
Are featured snippets related to “People Also Ask”?
Yes - Google notes featured snippets can appear within a related questions group (People Also Ask).
