60% already using AI tools to shop. Launch different

Brand launches must evolve—immediately.
Your big splash ad campaign? It might look great on Instagram, but to the engines that drive modern discovery, it doesn’t exist.

Nearly 60% of consumers already use AI tools to guide their shopping, and that number’s only going up. If your brand isn’t findable, citable, and contextually relevant inside answer engines, you’re not just late—you’re invisible.

Enter AEO: Answer Engine Optimization.
This isn’t a trend. It’s the new baseline. It’s how you show up in the places where intent is high and attention is earned—not bought.

Launch without it and you’re launching into silence.
The waves are already crashing. And like SEO, being early compounds.

So: steal this playbook and thank yourself later when ChatGPT starts driving clicks.

1. Write a Conversational “What Is [Brand]?” Explainer

No jargon. No hype. Just a dead-simple, scannable page that sounds like an answer on Reddit. This is your anchor content.

2. Create a “People Also Ask” Map

Use Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google’s PAA boxes to find every follow-up question someone would ask after learning about your brand — and answer them in standalone pages or blog entries.

3. Seed Brand Mentions on Quora & Reddit

Genuinely engage. Drop your brand as a useful, contextual mention in relevant threads — not as a pitch, but as a solution.

4. Launch With an Authoritative POV Post on LinkedIn

Founders, CMOs, or subject matter experts need to show up as humans. Answer a real tension in your space and tie your brand to that POV.

5. Publish a “Why We Built This” Narrative

This builds trust. LLMs love founder stories with clear, emotional motivation — it’s a signal of authenticity and depth.

6. Build a Brand-Side FAQ Hub

Not a generic help center. A deeply thoughtful, SEO/AEO hybrid FAQ page answering high-intent, discovery-phase questions.

7. Publish Comparison Pages

“[Brand] vs [Category Leader]” or “[Category Option A] vs [Option B]” — highly searched, high-conversion, and valuable for AEO.

8. Share 3rd-Party Data or Research

Create or curate niche data your category cares about. LLMs prioritize information-rich sources. Be one.

9. Include Definitions in Your Content

Define industry terms simply and clearly. You’ll get surfaced in “What is [term]?” queries that lead to broader interest.

10. Get on Niche Podcasts

Audio gets cited. Summary content from podcasts often surfaces in answer engines. Pick relevant shows, not just big names.

11. Post on Product Hunt, Hacker News, or Industry Forums

These create high-signal backlinks and organic discussion. LLMs use them as trust signals.

12. Quote Experts, Not Just Yourself

Enrich your launch content with perspectives from credible experts. Adds weight and makes your content more likely to be summarized and cited.

13. Tag and Label Everything Clearly

Pages, headings, metadata — make it obvious what every section is about. Structure helps AI understand context.

14. Create a Knowledge Base

Not for support — for education. Build a structured library of short, tight articles answering top-of-funnel questions in your space.

15. Use Schema Markup

Yes, it’s technical. Yes, it helps engines parse your site faster and more accurately. Invest in it.

16. Publish a “Best Tools for X” List — and Include Yourself (Tastefully)

Don’t be shy — if you’re legit, include your brand among other top tools with a transparent, helpful breakdown.

17. Be Present in Review Ecosystems

Yelp, G2, Trustpilot, niche directories. Ask early users to post real reviews. Authenticity wins.

18. Optimize Your Product Pages for Questions

Don’t just describe the product. Anticipate what people are wondering: how it works, how it compares, why it’s different.

19. Pitch Thoughtful Earned Media

Skip the “New Brand Launches” press release. Instead, land stories about a problem you’re solving or a market insight you uncovered.

20. Build Content That Targets Follow-Up Queries

Don’t stop at answering the first question. Create layers — “Now that I know this… what’s next?” Content that chains together = visibility that compounds.