Guide · Basics
What is AEO? Answer engine optimization from featured snippets to AI summaries
For some searches Google answers the question directly above the results; voice assistants read a single answer; AI summaries combine several sources into one text. AEO is preparing your content to be chosen for those direct answers. This guide explains how, and which markups no longer help.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is preparing content to be chosen for direct answer surfaces such as featured snippets, voice assistants and AI summaries. The search engine chooses automatically; no markup nominates you. What you can do is write a sourced, current page that answers the question briefly and clearly at the top. It has nothing to do with the customs AEO certificate.
The two meanings of AEO: answer engines or customs?
In Türkiye, searching “AEO” brings up two different topics. One is Answer Engine Optimization, the subject of this guide. The other is the customs status of Authorised Economic Operator (YYS in Turkish), a security and facilitation certificate for companies in foreign trade. The two are unrelated; resolving the mix-up in the title and first sentence is good practice when writing content.
Which direct answer surfaces are there?
| Surface | How it is chosen | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Featured snippet | Google’s systems choose automatically; no markup nominates a pageSource 1: Featured snippets and your website | nosnippet opts out; max-snippet is not a guaranteed waySource 1: Featured snippets and your website |
| AI Overviews and AI Mode | From pages that are indexed and snippet-eligibleSource 5: AI features and your website | No additional requirements or special optimisationSource 5: AI features and your website |
| Voice assistants | speakable markup is still in betaSource 3: Speakable (BETA) structured data | Only in the US, on English-language Google Home devices, for English news publishersSource 3: Speakable (BETA) structured data |
How do you write an answer page?
Make the question the heading
Write a question-shaped heading in the words your buyers use.
Answer right below it
Answer directly in two or three sentences in the first paragraph. We keep this block to 40–60 words.
Structure the detail
Give steps as numbered lists and comparisons as tables.
Add sources and a date
Support claims with primary sources and show the last update date.
One page per question
Do not answer the same question on several pages; put the strongest answer in one place.
Google says there is no need to break content into chunks or write differently just for its generative AI featuresSource 4: Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search. The short answer is a summary for readers.
Where do FAQ and other markups stand in 2026?
- FAQPage: Google no longer shows the FAQ rich result in Search and has removed its documentation, as announced in May 2026Source 2: Removing documentation for the FAQ rich result feature (Search Central updates). The markup remains a valid schema.org type but earns no extra appearance on Google.
- speakable: In beta and only for English news publishers in the USSource 3: Speakable (BETA) structured data; it does not help a Turkish site today.
- In general: Google says no special markup is needed to appear in generative AI searchSource 4: Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search.
How is AEO measured?
- Track impressions and clicks for target questions with Search Console query data.
- For impressions in AI summaries, use Search Console’s generative AI reportSource 6: Generative AI performance report (Search).
- Record with dates who appears in featured snippets and summaries for target questions; results change.
Frequently asked questions
01Are AEO and GEO the same?
Close, but not the same. AEO aims to be the direct answer to a question; GEO aims to be mentioned and cited in the answer a generative AI writes. A well-written answer page serves both. See What is GEO?
02Should we remove FAQ markup from our site?
No need. Even though Google no longer shows the FAQ rich result, the markup does no harmSource 2: Removing documentation for the FAQ rich result feature (Search Central updates); just do not expect an extra appearance on Google from it.
03Can we opt out of featured snippets?
Yes. The nosnippet rule or the data-nosnippet attribute stops text from being used as a snippet; limiting length with max-snippet is not a guaranteed waySource 1: Featured snippets and your website.
Sources
- [1]Featured snippets and your websiteGoogle Search Central · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [2]Removing documentation for the FAQ rich result feature (Search Central updates)Google Search Central · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [3]Speakable (BETA) structured dataGoogle Search Central · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [4]Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google SearchGoogle Search Central · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [5]AI features and your websiteGoogle Search Central · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [6]Generative AI performance report (Search)Search Console Help · accessed: 26 September 2026
How to cite this page
Kaynaq. (26 September 2026). What is AEO? Answer engine optimization from featured snippets to AI summaries. https://kaynaq.pages.dev/en/guides/what-is-aeo
Updates and corrections
No corrections on this page yet. If you spot an error, write to us; we publish every fix here with its date.