AEO Checklist for Service Businesses (2026)
28-item AEO checklist for plumbers, HVAC, roofers: schema, FAQ structure, GBP, and NAP. Pages with FAQPage schema get cited 3.2x more by AI.
Chris Melson
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AEO
11 articles on AEO
AEO for Small Businesses: A Practical Playbook for 2026
AI search visitors convert at 4.4x the rate of organic clicks. Here's a step-by-step AEO playbook for plumbers, HVAC techs, and contractors ready to start.
Chris Melson
ReadSchema Markup for AEO: Which Types Actually Get You Cited by AI?
FAQPage schema gets pages cited 3.2x more by AI engines. This guide covers the 5 schema types that drive AI citations for small businesses — with JSON-LD examples.
Chris Melson
ReadLocal AEO: How AI Searches for 'Businesses Near Me'
AI 'near me' searches now appear in 60%+ of local queries — but different signals drive AI vs. Google Maps. Learn how NAP, schema, and FAQ markup shape AI visibility.
Chris Melson
ReadHow to Get Your Business Cited by ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity
AI-referred traffic surged 527% in 5 months in 2025. Five practical steps small businesses can take to get cited by ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.
Chris Melson
ReadDoes llms.txt Work? What the Data Actually Shows (Plus a Template)
Google says no AI reads llms.txt. A 300k-domain study found zero citation correlation. Why we added one anyway — copy-paste template included.
Chris Melson
ReadAEO vs GEO: Why We Call It Answer Engine Optimization
GEO and AEO are two names for the same strategy. Here's the difference in origin and framing — and why 'answer engine' matters more than 'generative engine' for small businesses.
Chris Melson
ReadHow AEO and Local SEO Work Together in 2026
98.8% of local businesses receive zero AI citations. Here's how combining local SEO and AEO gets Midwest service businesses found on Google Maps AND in AI search.
Chris Melson
Read10 Features Every Small Business Website Needs in 2026
From Core Web Vitals to AI search visibility, these are the 10 website features small businesses can't afford to skip in 2026 — with stats and service links.
Chris Melson
ReadWhat Is the Difference Between SEO and AEO?
SEO gets you in Google's blue links. AEO gets your business cited in AI-generated answers. Here's the difference and why both matter for Midwest small businesses.
Chris Melson
ReadWhat Is AEO and Why Midwest Businesses Need It in 2026
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is how your business gets cited by AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews. Here's what it means for local businesses in the Midwest.
Chris Melson
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