Field notes.

What we're learning about AEO, what's changing in how AI engines pick sources, and how the work we do shows up in the product.

• May 23, 2026

  AEO

  What is AEO, and why is it suddenly the conversation?

  Answer engine optimization is what SEO turns into when most queries get a synthesized answer instead of a list of blue links. Here's what's actually different — and what isn't.

  • AEO
  • SEO
  • citation tracking
  • LLMs
• May 22, 2026

  AEO

  How LLMs decide what to cite (and how to be in that set)

  Citations look magical from the outside. They're not. Here's what actually drives whether ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity link to your site — and the editorial moves that consistently work.

  • citation tracking
  • LLMs
  • schema
  • editorial