What is AEO and how is it different from SEO?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the practice of structuring your site so AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overview cite you when someone asks a question. SEO targets the ten blue links. AEO targets being the quoted answer. The work overlaps — schema, page speed, content quality — but the goal is different.

Is AI search really replacing Google?

Not entirely, but the share is shifting fast. Gartner forecasts traditional search volume will drop 25% by the end of 2026. Adobe Analytics reported AI traffic to U.S. retail sites grew 393% year-over-year in Q1 2026. The customers asking AI for recommendations are real, and they're a growing share.

How much does AEO cost?

Three tiers. Audit is $250 one-time. Setup and Hand-off is $700 one-time. Done-For-You runs $500 to $1,200 per month. We don't hide the prices and we don't quote different rates to different prospects. The tier you pick depends on whether you want to learn it, run it after, or have us manage it.

How long until I see results?

First measurable changes in about 30 days. Steady-state results around month six. The work is foundational — month one usually looks like a net loss because we're fixing things that should have been fixed before. By month twelve the curve compounds. Anyone promising faster is either lying or doing something that gets your business penalized.

Why are your prices so much lower than other agencies?

Two reasons. We cap year one at 5 St. Louis clients, so we don't carry agency overhead. And we run the actual work ourselves — there's no project manager, no account executive, no slide deck. Slow growth means deep service. If you want a logo on a portfolio of 200 clients, we are not the right fit.

Can you guarantee a #1 ranking or a ChatGPT citation?

No, and anyone who does is lying or breaking Google's rules. What we guarantee is the work itself: every month you see exactly what we did, you keep full access to your accounts, and you can stop any time. The result we shoot for is realistic ROI math, not a position promise.

What if I already have an SEO person?

AEO and SEO overlap, so good SEO work makes our job easier. We'll often coordinate with an existing person rather than replace them. If your SEO setup is solid, the audit is the right starting point — it tells you exactly which AEO-specific gaps need closing without redoing what already works.

What if I don't even have a website?

You can absolutely get cited by AI without a website. AI engines pull from Google Business Profile, Yelp, Foursquare, Apple Business Connect, and others. We'll claim and complete those first. A basic five-page site comes second. The site is the one piece you fully control, but it's not the foundation — your business listings are.

What about my Google Business Profile?

GBP is the single highest-ROI lever for local businesses. A complete, optimized GBP can move a business into the local 3-pack within 30–60 days with no other changes. If your profile is unclaimed, half empty, or missing photos, that's where every engagement starts. The Whitespark 2024 ranking factors study still puts GBP at #1 for local pack.

What if I want to stop?

Stop. You own everything we touch — your domain, your GBP, your accounts, your content. We have no contract longer than month-to-month. If the work isn't paying off, you should leave, and honestly we'd rather know. Locking clients in is a sign that the work isn't good enough to keep them voluntarily.

Is 'AEO' the same as Answer Engine Optimization?

Yes. We use AEO as shorthand throughout the site. It's the same thing as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — the industry hasn't settled on one term yet. Note: 'AEO' is also American Eagle Outfitters' stock ticker. Different industry, different trademark class. Our service is in the marketing-services class, not retail apparel.

Can I do this myself with the audit?

Yes. The Audit tier is built for that. You get the prioritized fix list, a 1-hour walkthrough, and you implement at your pace. Most owners can fix the high-impact items in an afternoon — robots.txt, Bing Webmaster Tools, schema basics. The audit credits toward Setup if you change your mind later.

AI is changing how customers find you.

We help St. Louis small businesses get cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overview — before your competitors do.

Technical · Authority · Content

from $250 audit · $700 setup · $500–1,200/mo managed

Operating as Gateway Tech AEO (LLC formation in progress) · Matthew Jamison · St. Louis, MO

Schedule a 30-min Discovery Call (free)

How we think about AEO

Every action we take fits into one of three buckets. If a tactic does not strengthen one of these pillars, we don't do it.

Technical

Can AI find and read you?

robots.txt allows AI bots
Schema markup (LocalBusiness, FAQ)
Mobile speed under 3 seconds
Bing index submitted
Sitemap clean and current

Authority

Can AI trust you?

Google Business Profile 100% complete
NAP consistency everywhere
Review generation system
Citations on key directories
Brand mentions across the web

Content

Do you match what people ask?

Answer-first formatting
FAQ pages with schema
Statistics every 150 words
Comparison tables
Local-intent landing pages

Three honest tiers

Audit

$250 one-time

You're skeptical and want to see the work before you commit. You'll fix things yourself afterwards.

Full visibility audit
Prioritized fix list
1-hour walkthrough
You implement

Start with an audit

Setup & Hand-off

$700 one-time

You want it built right, then you run it after a training session.

Everything in Audit
Implementation done
Training session
You run it after

Pick Setup & Hand-off

Done-For-You

$500–1,200 per month

You have a budget but no time. You want it managed end-to-end.

Everything in Setup
Monthly optimization
Content & reviews
Reporting + strategy

Talk about a retainer

How to pick: If you have time and want to learn — Audit. If you want it built right but you'll run it after — Setup & Hand-off. If you want it managed and you don't want to think about it — Done-For-You.

Audit credits toward Setup if you continue. No long contracts. We cap year one at 5 St. Louis clients — slow growth means deep service.

Common questions

What is AEO and how is it different from SEO?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the practice of structuring your site so AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overview cite you when someone asks a question. SEO targets the ten blue links. AEO targets being the quoted answer. The work overlaps — schema, page speed, content quality — but the goal is different.
Is AI search really replacing Google?

Not entirely, but the share is shifting fast. Gartner forecasts traditional search volume will drop 25% by the end of 2026. Adobe Analytics reported AI traffic to U.S. retail sites grew 393% year-over-year in Q1 2026. The customers asking AI for recommendations are real, and they’re a growing share.
How much does AEO cost?

Three tiers. Audit is $250 one-time. Setup and Hand-off is $700 one-time. Done-For-You runs $500 to $1,200 per month. We don’t hide the prices and we don’t quote different rates to different prospects. The tier you pick depends on whether you want to learn it, run it after, or have us manage it.
How long until I see results?

First measurable changes in about 30 days. Steady-state results around month six. The work is foundational — month one usually looks like a net loss because we’re fixing things that should have been fixed before. By month twelve the curve compounds. Anyone promising faster is either lying or doing something that gets your business penalized.
Why are your prices so much lower than other agencies?

Two reasons. We cap year one at 5 St. Louis clients, so we don’t carry agency overhead. And we run the actual work ourselves — there’s no project manager, no account executive, no slide deck. Slow growth means deep service. If you want a logo on a portfolio of 200 clients, we are not the right fit.
Can you guarantee a #1 ranking or a ChatGPT citation?

No, and anyone who does is lying or breaking Google’s rules. What we guarantee is the work itself: every month you see exactly what we did, you keep full access to your accounts, and you can stop any time. The result we shoot for is realistic ROI math, not a position promise.
What if I already have an SEO person?

AEO and SEO overlap, so good SEO work makes our job easier. We’ll often coordinate with an existing person rather than replace them. If your SEO setup is solid, the audit is the right starting point — it tells you exactly which AEO-specific gaps need closing without redoing what already works.
What if I don't even have a website?

You can absolutely get cited by AI without a website. AI engines pull from Google Business Profile, Yelp, Foursquare, Apple Business Connect, and others. We’ll claim and complete those first. A basic five-page site comes second. The site is the one piece you fully control, but it’s not the foundation — your business listings are.
What about my Google Business Profile?

GBP is the single highest-ROI lever for local businesses. A complete, optimized GBP can move a business into the local 3-pack within 30–60 days with no other changes. If your profile is unclaimed, half empty, or missing photos, that’s where every engagement starts. The Whitespark 2024 ranking factors study still puts GBP at #1 for local pack.
What if I want to stop?

Stop. You own everything we touch — your domain, your GBP, your accounts, your content. We have no contract longer than month-to-month. If the work isn’t paying off, you should leave, and honestly we’d rather know. Locking clients in is a sign that the work isn’t good enough to keep them voluntarily.
Is 'AEO' the same as Answer Engine Optimization?

Yes. We use AEO as shorthand throughout the site. It’s the same thing as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — the industry hasn’t settled on one term yet. Note: ‘AEO’ is also American Eagle Outfitters’ stock ticker. Different industry, different trademark class. Our service is in the marketing-services class, not retail apparel.
Can I do this myself with the audit?

Yes. The Audit tier is built for that. You get the prioritized fix list, a 1-hour walkthrough, and you implement at your pace. Most owners can fix the high-impact items in an afternoon — robots.txt, Bing Webmaster Tools, schema basics. The audit credits toward Setup if you change your mind later.

About

Right Tool, Right Job

Full-stack developer foundation: Ruby on Rails for SaaS, Hugo for fast static sites, Shopify for commerce, plus AEO methodology layered on top. We pick technology based on what your business actually needs, not what’s trending.

From Concordia to Main Street

Day job: software developer at Concordia Publishing House. 194+ merged PRs on Rails 8 applications serving over a million users — counter auto-updates daily on my GitHub profile, so the proof’s right there. I been working. Now I’m bringing that same rigor to St. Louis small businesses at indie-friendly pricing.

The site you're on is the demo

Lighthouse 98+, FAQPage schema, multilingual (5 languages), Cloudflare Pages, $0 hosting cost. Verify the score in your browser address bar. We do for clients what we do for ourselves.

Drive signups and slash customer acquisition costs with conversion-optimized design. Clear value propositions, compelling pricing, and trust-building elements turn visitors into paying customers—fast, professional, and built to scale globally.

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Schedule a 30-min Discovery Call

Free. No pitch. We figure out together if AEO makes sense for your business right now.

Book the call

Book a Discovery Call

First step is a free 30-minute call.

No pitch, just a fit check. We figure out together if AEO makes sense for your business right now. If it does, we walk you through the audit. If it doesn’t, we tell you that too.