AEO Services
Get Cited in ChatGPT, Perplexity & Google AI Overviews
Your potential clients are asking AI for recommendations, not scrolling through Google. Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) ensures your firm is the answer they get.
What Is Answer Engine Optimisation?
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the practice of optimising your firm's online presence to be cited and recommended by AI-powered search platforms, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on ranking in search results, AEO focuses on becoming the answer itself.
The shift is already measurable. According to Adobe's analytics, AI search referrals to websites increased by 1,300% during the 2025 holiday season.
Search Has Fundamentally Changed
For 20 years, SEO meant ranking on Google. That era is ending.
Today, 43% of users start their search with AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity. They are not clicking through ten blue links. They are asking questions and getting direct answers.
When a potential client asks ChatGPT, "Who's the best divorce lawyer in London?" or "Which aesthetic clinic should I choose?", your firm needs to be the answer. Not a link. The answer.
Why This Matters for Professional Services
The firms that AI platforms recommend become the default choice. In high-trust sectors such as law, healthcare, and financial services, being the first name a potential client hears carries significant weight. Research from Princeton University's GEO study shows that content optimised for generative engines receives up to 40% more visibility than unoptimised content, even when the underlying information is identical.
AEO vs SEO: What's the Difference?
Factor
Goal
Platforms
Content format
Trust signals
User behaviour
Measurement
Timeline
Still needed?
Traditional SEO
Rank in search results
Google, Bing
Keywords + backlinks
Domain authority, links
Click through to the website
Rankings, traffic
3 to 6 months
Yes, SEO is the foundation
Answer Engine Optimisation
Be cited in AI answers
ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Overviews
Structured, authoritative, citation-ready
E-E-A-T, entity recognition, source quality
Get an answer directly, click for depth
Citations, mentions, and AI referral traffic
4 to 8 weeks for initial citations
Yes, AEO is where search is going
You need both. Strong SEO builds the foundation that AEO amplifies. 74% of sources cited in Google AI Overviews already rank in the Top 10 (SE Ranking, 2024). We deliver both as an integrated strategy.
Our AEO Methodology
AI Visibility Audit
We check how your firm currently appears across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. Most firms have zero visibility, so competitors are recommended instead. Our audit covers 50+ branded and non-branded queries across your practice areas, benchmarked against your top five competitors.
E-E-A-T Foundation
Before any technical optimisation, we audit and strengthen your trust signals: credentials, expertise markers, author entities, publication history, and third-party validation. Without genuine authority, no technical trick will get you cited. This step is informed by Google's Search Quality Rater Guidelines, which define how human evaluators assess page quality for YMYL topics.
Content Structuring
We restructure your content for AI extraction: clear definitions, direct answers, FAQ formats, comparison tables, and citation-ready statistics. AI models extract information differently from how Google crawls pages. We follow the principles outlined in the Princeton GEO study, which found that citation inclusion, quotable statistics, and fluent prose all significantly increase AI citation rates.
Technical Optimisation
Schema markup (Organisation, Service, FAQPage, Person), semantic HTML, AI-crawler accessibility (robots.txt configuration for GPTBot, PerplexityBot, ClaudeBot, GoogleOther), and structured data that helps AI models understand your content and entity relationships.
Platform-Specific Optimisation
Each AI platform works differently
ChatGPT favours authoritative sources with clear entity signals. It draws on its training data and real-time Bing browsing. Strong backlink profiles from authoritative domains, clear author attribution, and well-structured FAQ content increase the likelihood of citations.
Perplexity searches the web in real-time and cites its sources directly with inline references. It prioritises recent, well-structured content with clear attributions and data points. Freshness signals and structured data are critical.
Google AI Overviews pull from pages that already rank well in traditional search. 74% of cited sources come from the Top 10 organic results (SE Ranking, 2024). This is where SEO and AEO converge.
We optimise for each platform individually because a one-size-fits-all approach does not work.
Monitoring & Iteration
We track your citations across all platforms, monitor competitor mentions, and continuously refine your content based on what is actually getting cited. Our reporting includes citation frequency, citation sentiment (how your firm is described), referral traffic from AI platforms, and commercial outcomes (enquiries generated).
Why E-E-A-T Is the Foundation of AEO
Google's E-E-A-T framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is the quality standard that determines which content gets surfaced in both traditional search and AI-generated answers. For YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) sectors such as law, healthcare, and financial services, E-E-A-T requirements are the most stringent.
AI platforms have adopted similar trust evaluation mechanisms. ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews all prioritise sources that demonstrate:
Experience
First-hand practice in the subject area. For a law firm, this means documented case outcomes. For a surgeon, it means procedure volumes and patient results. For a financial adviser, this means years of portfolio management with a verifiable track record.
Expertise
Formal qualifications and recognised credentials. SRA authorisation for solicitors. GMC registration and FRCS for surgeons. FCA authorisation and Chartered Financial Planner status for advisers. AI models look for these signals when deciding whether to cite a source.
Authoritativeness
Third-party recognition and validation. Legal 500 rankings. BAAPS membership. Industry awards. Published research. Media commentary. Backlinks from authoritative sources. These signals tell AI platforms that other experts trust this source.
Trustworthiness
Transparency, accuracy, and user safety. CQC registration for clinics. FCA Register details for advisers. Client reviews. Complaints processes. Clear fee structures. Proper risk warnings and disclaimers.
Our AEO methodology begins with a comprehensive E-E-A-T audit because no amount of technical optimisation will get you cited if the underlying trust signals are not there.
AEO for High-Trust Industries
We specialise in three verticals where trust, expertise, and compliance matter most.
AEO for Law Firms
When someone asks ChatGPT, "Who's the best divorce lawyer in London?" your firm should be the answer. We have already done this for leading Legal 500 firms. AI platforms apply YMYL standards to legal content, making E-E-A-T critical. Our legal AEO methodology incorporates SRA compliance, practice-area authority-building, and evidence of case outcomes.
AEO for Private Healthcare
Patients are asking AI which surgeon, clinic, or specialist to trust. We made Dr Stefano Cotrufo the #1 recommendation in ChatGPT for plastic surgeons in London and delivered 8× more revenue from AI search than traditional SEO. Our healthcare AEO methodology addresses ASA/CAP compliance, GMC credential structuring, and CQC registration signals.
AEO for Financial Services
Investment firms, wealth managers, and advisers need FCA-compliant visibility in AI search. We help financial services firms build the authority signals that AI platforms trust, with content that navigates the critical distinction between education and regulated advice. Our financial AEO methodology incorporates COBS 4 compliance, risk warning integration, and FCA Register entity linking.
AEO Results, Not Promises
Dr Stefano Cotrufo
Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Harley Street | AEO
“#1 on ChatGPT. 8× more sales than SEO alone.”
The Practice: Dr Stefano Cotrufo is a Harley Street plastic surgeon specialising in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. He holds GMC registration and BAAPS membership and has published research in peer-reviewed journals.
The Challenge: Strong clinical reputation but limited online visibility. Patients were finding competitors through Google and, increasingly, AI platforms like ChatGPT.
What We Did:
- AI visibility audit across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews
- E-E-A-T signal building: GMC credentials, BAAPS membership, published research, hospital affiliations, and procedure-specific content structured for AI extraction
- Schema markup implementation (Physician, MedicalProcedure, FAQPage)
- Review strategy for Google and Doctify
- Content restructured with answer capsules, comparison tables, and citation-ready statistics.
The Results:
- #1 recommendation on ChatGPT for plastic surgeons in London
- 8× more revenue from AI search than traditional SEO
- 5× growth in search visibility across Google
- Average ranking position of ~1.6 on priority treatment terms (BBL, VASER, rhinoplasty)
- Sustained growth in patient consultations from AI-referred traffic
“Fabled Labs transformed our online presence. The results from AI search have been extraordinary,”
Dr Stefano Cotrufo
Payne Hicks Beach
Legal 500 Family Law Practice, London | SEO & AEO
“#1 for high-net-worth divorce. Pipeline transformed.”
One of London’s most prestigious family law firms now dominates the search for its highest-value practice area, in both Google and AI platforms. Our integrated SEO and AEO strategy built E-E-A-T signals through partner profile optimisation, Legal 500 accreditation structuring, and practice area content designed for AI citation.
The Results:
- #1 in Google for target HNW divorce keywords
- Cited in ChatGPT as top recommendation for high-net-worth divorce
- Transformed pipeline of high-value enquiries
Why Choose Fabled Labs for AEO
E-E-A-T First Philosophy
E-E-A-T First Philosophy
We do not start with keywords. We start with trust. Every engagement begins with an E-E-A-T audit because, without genuine authority, no technical optimisation will get you cited. Our approach is informed by Google's Search Quality Rater Guidelines and the Princeton University GEO study.
Proven AI Search Results
Proven AI Search Results
We have ranked clients #1 in ChatGPT. We have delivered 8× more sales from AI search than SEO alone. We have named case studies with verifiable outcomes from real firms, not anonymised examples or vague claims.
Vertical Specialists
Vertical Specialists
We only work with law firms, private healthcare providers, and financial services firms. We understand SRA compliance, ASA/CAP advertising rules, GMC guidelines, FCA COBS 4 requirements, and CQC registration standards. This regulatory knowledge is not something generalist agencies can replicate.
Full-Stack Search
Full-Stack Search
AEO does not exist in isolation. We deliver SEO, AEO, PPC, and web development as an integrated strategy because AI platforms cite sources that also rank well in traditional search.
Senior-Level Delivery
Senior-Level Delivery
Maximum 10 clients. Sean O'Dwyer Curran, Founder & CEO, leads every engagement: no account managers, no junior teams, no production lines. When you contact Fabled Labs, you work directly with Sean.
Research-Backed Methodology
Research-Backed Methodology
Our AEO approach is grounded in published research, including the Princeton University GEO study on generative engine optimisation, SE Ranking's analysis of AI Overview citation patterns, and Adobe's AI search referral data. We apply academic findings to commercial strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About AEO
SEO focuses on ranking in Google's search results. AEO focuses on being cited in AI-generated answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Both are important, and they work together. 74% of sources cited in AI Overviews already rank in the Top 10 (SE Ranking, 2024).
Initial citations can appear within 4 to 8 weeks. Sustained visibility requires ongoing optimisation, typically 3 to 6 months to establish consistent AI citations across multiple platforms. The timeline depends on your existing E-E-A-T foundation and competitive landscape.
No ethical agency can guarantee specific rankings on any platform. What we can show you is our methodology, our track record (Dr Cotrufo: #1 in ChatGPT for plastic surgeons in London), and our approach to building the authority signals that AI platforms trust.
Yes. Strong SEO is the foundation for AEO success. 74% of sources cited in Google AI Overviews rank in the Top 10 organic results (SE Ranking, 2024). We deliver both as an integrated strategy because they are mutually reinforcing.
ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, Google AI Overviews, and Claude. Each platform has different content evaluation methods, citation patterns, and trust signals. We have platform-specific methodologies for each.
We track four categories: citation frequency (how often your firm is recommended), citation sentiment (how you are described when cited), AI referral traffic (visits from AI platforms to your website), and commercial impact (enquiries and revenue from AI-referred visitors).
Law firms, private healthcare providers, and financial services firms. These are YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) sectors where E-E-A-T and trust are critical for both SEO and AEO success. We do not work outside these verticals.
Especially relevant. High-trust industries depend on perceived authority and expertise. AI platforms are increasingly how clients find professional services, and the firms cited become the default choice. YMYL sectors face the highest E-E-A-T requirements, which is exactly where our expertise sits.
Ready to Become the Answer?
Book a free AI visibility audit. We will show you exactly how your firm appears in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews, and what it would take to overtake your competitors.
No obligation. 30 minutes. See your AI search visibility before you commit to anything.