AEO: how to appear in ChatGPT and Perplexity answers in 2026

What is AEO?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the set of techniques that get your property cited by generative AI — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Claude — when a user asks a relevant question.

Example: a traveler types "best campground with a pool near the Gorges du Verdon" into ChatGPT. The AI can cite your campground — or the one next door. The difference? The quality of your AEO signals.

The 4 pillars of AEO in 2026

The /llms.txt file

The AI equivalent of robots.txt, this text file describes your property in natural language: who you are, your services, your rates, your strengths. Systems running in web-search mode (Perplexity, ChatGPT with search enabled) can consult it before answering questions about your brand or area — Google, for its part, states it does not use this file as a ranking signal.

Specialized schema markup

LodgingBusiness, Campground, Hotel — these schema types let AIs understand exactly what you offer: star rating, amenities, GPS location, price range.

Speakable schemas

These tags mark the parts of your content that are most important to remember. Google documents this as a beta feature aimed primarily at Google Assistant on news content — it is not a general citation mechanism for ChatGPT or Perplexity. Worth adding to "About" pages and service pages, without expecting a guaranteed effect on other AI systems.

E-E-A-T content

Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness — AIs favor sources that demonstrate real expertise. For a hotelier: founding dates, team, verified reviews, certifications.

How to measure your AEO visibility

Unlike SEO, there is not yet a reliable "rank tracker" for AEO. The most direct method: manually test 10-20 representative queries in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, and note whether your property is cited.

Livada SEO includes an automated AEO audit that analyzes your current signals and lists priority improvements.