What’s Really Happening With Search Right Now
Search has changed.
People aren’t searching like they used to, instead, AI and voice assistants now answer most questions for them.
Homeowners are asking things like:
“Who’s the best roofer in my area with a fast turnaround?”
“Which HVAC company is most reliable?”
“Who can come today?”
AI scans everything about your business — your reviews, photos, activity, accuracy of your listings, website clarity, response time, and more — and then chooses one business to recommend.
If AI can’t clearly understand you or trust you…
you don’t get recommended.
This is where AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) comes in.
AEO helps AI understand:
What you do
Who you serve
Why you’re trustworthy
When you’re available
Whether you’re the best answer
Why AEO Matters for Contractors
Homeowners don’t scroll anymore.
AI gives them one answer, sometimes two.
Your job is to make sure AI chooses you.
AI looks at:
Clear service descriptions
Up-to-date GBP
High-quality reviews
Accurate NAP data
Consistent citations
Real job photos
Website clarity
Reputation strength
Fresh online activity
Authority signals
If any of these are weak, AI recommends someone else.
AEO strengthens all of them, so you show up everywhere that matters.
How AEO Works (Simplified)
AEO is built on seven core elements AI uses to judge whether your business is trustworthy, relevant, and worth recommending.
1. Reputation Signals (Trust)
Your reviews, responses, and ratings across the web.
If this is weak, your visibility instantly drops.
2. Content Clarity (Your Answers)
Your website + listings must answer common customer questions quickly and directly.
3. Local Authority (Maps + Citations)
Your Google Business Profile, directory listings, service area accuracy, and citation consistency.
4. Engagement & Activity (Freshness Signals)
AI looks for fresh proof that your business is active:
new photos, new posts, updated hours, recent reviews, and project activity.
5. Relevance (Matching Real Questions)
AI checks how well your content answers homeowner questions.
FAQ-style content and schema markup help AI choose you as the best answer.
6. AI Assistant Signals (Voice Search Era)
AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, Siri, Alexa, and Perplexity need:
Simple service descriptions
Structured answers
Accurate business data
Real job photos
Consistent online activity
Recent reviews
These signals help AI confidently recommend your business.
7. Authority (Proof You’re the Expert)
Educational content, job photos, videos, FAQs, local mentions, and consistency.
Authority proves credibility, and credibility gets you recommended.
The AEO Framework for Local Contractors
Here’s the complete 7-step system to make your business AI-recommended, visible, and trusted.
Step 1: Strengthen Your Reputation (Trust Signals)
This is your ranking foundation.
10–20 new reviews per month
Respond to every review
Remove duplicates
Fix incorrect listings
Keep NAP consistent
AI will not recommend a contractor with poor or outdated reputation signals.
Step 2: Optimize Your Website for Answers (Content Clarity)
Your website must answer:
Who you are
What you offer
Where you work
Why you’re trustworthy
How to contact you
Real photos of real jobs
FAQs
Clarity converts.
Confusion loses jobs.
Step 3: Maximize Your Local Presence (Maps + Directories)
Your GBP is your #1 digital asset. Optimize it by completing all areas and keep it updated.
Keep it updated with:
Weekly photo uploads
Accurate service areas
Updated hours
Recent posts
Job updates
Fresh reviews
If your local presence looks dead, AI will hide you.
Step 4: Publish Helpful Content (Engagement & Expertise)
Short, helpful content is now the king.
Examples AI loves:
“How much does ___ cost?”
“Signs you need a new ___”
“How long does ___ take?”
“Best materials for ___”
Photo updates of recent work
Before/after examples
Local tips for homeowners
You don’t need longer content — you need clearer content.
Step 5: Strengthen Your Relevance (Pre-AI vs. Now)
Search used to be about keywords.
AI upgraded that to:
“Who gives the best answer?”
Before AI (Traditional SEO):
Keywords
Quality content
Internal links
On-page structure
Schema
Individual service pages
Now (AEO & AI Search):
FAQ content
Natural language answers
Clear explanations
Schema becomes more important
Relevance = answering exactly what the homeowner asked
This is how you show up in AI results.
Step 6: Improve Your Signals for AI Assistants (Voice Search Era)
AI assistants need structure.
They rely on:
Clear service descriptions
Bullet lists
Short paragraphs
Up-to-date business data
Real project photos
Recent activity
Recent reviews
These signals make your business the safest and easiest recommendation.
Step 7: Build Authority Across the Web (The New Ranking Power)
Authority = respect.
Respect = visibility.
Modern authority signals include:
Educational GBP posts
Helpful social content
Job photos + videos
Local partnerships
Strong FAQ sections
Geotargeted service-area pages
Consistent posting
Mentions from local sites or associations
Authority tells AI you’re the expert — not a random contractor.
Be the expert.