Frequently Asked Questions — Petal.ai

❓ What is AI Engine Optimization (AEO)?

AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is the process of improving how your brand is discovered, described, and recommended by artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other large language models (LLMs).

​

At Petal.ai, we go beyond simple AI audits. We measure how AI interprets your brand, how it ranks your products or services, and how well your messaging, trust signals, and differentiators are reflected in real AI responses. Our AEO Scorecards™ give you precise, actionable insights to strengthen your brand’s presence across the entire AI customer journey—so you’re not just visible, but accurately positioned, trusted, and preferred in AI search.

❓ What kinds of businesses should use Petal.ai?

Petal.ai is ideal for:

• Brand & Product Marketing and Communications Teams

• E-Commerce

• Travel & Hospitality

• Real Estate Services

• Consumer brands

• SaaS & technology companies

• Financial Services

• Health & Wellness

• Any company that cares how they’re represented when a customer asks AI:

“Who should I choose?”

❓ How is AEO different from SEO?

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps brands rank in traditional search engines by focusing on keywords, backlinks, and page ranking.

• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) focuses on how your brand is discovered, described, and recommended by artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. Instead of optimizing for search engine results pages (SERPs), AEO helps brands show up in zero-click AI answers, conversational summaries, voice assistants, and AI-generated product or brand lists.

• AEO uses structured data, citations, and prompt-triggered content to ensure your brand appears accurately and favorably when AI systems answer consumer questions. If AI doesn’t surface your brand, you’re missing from the conversation- no click, no mention, no consideration.

• ​

❓ How do I improve my AEO Score?

Some of the most impactful steps include:

• Implementing full schema.org markup (e.g., Organization, FAQ, Product, Event)

• Publishing content that mirrors real prompts (e.g., “Best [category] in [location]”)

• Getting cited in trusted sources (news articles, databases, review platforms)

• Aligning social bios and About pages with structured AI-friendly language

• Tracking your AI summaries and making monthly updates

​

Stage 1: AI Search & Awareness

​

❓ How can brands increase their visibility in AI search and conversations?

Brands can increase AI visibility by ensuring their content is clear, consistent, and structured in a way that AI systems can easily understand and retrieve. This includes using schema markup, FAQs, and authoritative sources that AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude rely on to generate answers.

​

❓ Why is AEO becoming as important as SEO?

AI is quickly becoming the first place consumers turn for answers, recommendations, and comparisons. AEO ensures that your brand is not only found but described accurately by AI systems, just as SEO helps brands rank in traditional search engines.

​

Stage 2: AI-Driven Perception & Consideration

❓How do AI platforms influence how my brand is described?
AI systems summarize and describe your brand based on available online content, structured data, reviews, and citations. If your messaging, positioning, and trust signals are inconsistent, AI may misrepresent your brand or default to competitors.

​

❓ What are common reasons AI might describe my brand inaccurately?

Inaccurate descriptions happen when brands have outdated content, missing schema, lack third-party authority, or inconsistent messaging across channels. AI models amplify these gaps in their answers.

​​

Stage 3: AI & Purchase Intent

​

❓ How is purchasing behavior changing with the rise of AI and conversational commerce?

Consumers are increasingly relying on AI systems to not only discover brands but also to receive personalized recommendations, comparisons, and even purchasing suggestions, all within AI platforms. In the near future, more purchasing decisions and transactions will take place directly through AI-driven interfaces without visiting traditional websites.

❓How can my brand capture AI-driven purchase intent?

To capture purchase intent in AI, brands need clear calls to action, transactional content (such as Pricing, Buy Now, Demo pages), and product schema that enables AI models to surface commercial intent triggers. Without these, AI may recommend competitors by default.

​

Stage 4: AI & Loyalty / Post-Purchase

​

❓How can brands influence AI-driven post-purchase experiences and customer loyalty?

AI systems increasingly assist with post-purchase interactions such as product support, reviews, and re-purchasing suggestions. Brands that provide rich FAQ pages, how-to content, and gather positive reviews are more likely to appear when AI is asked for help or recommendations after the initial sale.
 

❓ How do I get started with Petal.ai?

Click the “Get AEO Score™” button to begin.
We’ll guide you through your first brand scan and show you exactly how to take control of your AI narrative.