Answer engine optimization, or AEO, is the practice of structuring your content so a search or AI system returns it as the direct answer, not just one link in a list. It focuses on clear question-and-answer formatting, concise definitions, and schema markup that machines can read. For a business owner, the basics are simple: answer the questions your buyers actually ask, put the answer first, and make each page easy for an engine to quote. Done well, AEO wins featured snippets, voice results, and citations inside ChatGPT and Perplexity at the same time.