Answer Engine Optimization Cost: What You Can Expect to Pay

opollo5278
Nov 11, 2025
2 min read

Google is no longer just a search engine. It’s an answer engine. And it’s not alone. Bing, ChatGPT, and other AI tools are now built to pull direct answers from websites, not just links.

If your content doesn’t deliver clear answers, you’ll miss out on traffic. That’s where Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) comes in.

But before you start overhauling your SEO strategy, you’re probably asking the big question: How much does AEO cost? Short answer: it depends.

In this guide, we’ll break down what you’re really paying for, which services matter, how AEO fits into your broader SEO campaigns, and why it’s a smart move for small businesses trying to boost online visibility.

Find out how Opollo became the first Australian digital marketing agency to partner with Semrush on its new AI Optimization solution: Semrush Taps Opollo as First Aussie Partner for AI SEO Power Move

What is AEO, and How Does It Differ to SEO?

Traditional SEO is about ranking. AEO is about answering.

SEO aims to increase website traffic by targeting specific keywords and building domain authority over time. That means backlinks, meta descriptions, page optimisation, and a content-heavy blog post strategy.

AEO flips the script. It’s about making your content crystal clear so answer engines know exactly what you’re saying, and can show it directly in results.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Traditional SEO includes:

Keyword research
Technical optimisation
Long-form blog posts
Link building
Meta tags and title updates

AEO includes:

Structured data and schema markup
Direct, answer-first content
FAQ pages and how-to guides
Clean page layouts for parsing
Search intent matching for answer boxes

Both strategies work best together. A smart seo strategy should use AEO to enhance organic traffic, not replace what’s already working.

Start from the top: What is Answer Engine Optimization? The Ultimate Guide

What’s Included in AEO Services?

You’re not just paying for another SEO service with a different name. AEO has its own toolkit, and it’s not built for content volume.

Here’s what a high quality AEO service package usually includes:

Schema markup: Adds structured data to your pages so search engines know exactly what’s what.
Content audits: Reviews your existing pages to see if they’re answering questions or just rambling.
FAQ and How-To strategy: Builds answer-first formats that plug directly into featured snippets and voice search results.
SERP feature targeting: Optimises for zero-click results like knowledge panels and People Also Ask boxes.
Content creation and updates: Writes or rewrites pages with tight structure, direct answers, and clear headers.
Page optimisation: Makes technical tweaks to ensure your content loads fast, looks clean, and meets markup standards.