SEO Is Evolving. Welcome to the Age of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

If you’ve noticed Google feeling a little smarter lately, you’re not alone. The search engine giant just rolled out AI Mode, and it’s changing how information is delivered and discovered online. For business owners and marketers, that means we’re no longer optimizing just for search engines, but for answer engines.

Let’s break down what’s changing and how Rocketship is evolving to keep your brand visible, clickable, and trusted in this new era.

From SEO to AEO: What’s the Shift?

Traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization) focused on keywords, rankings, and getting users to click. But with AI Mode in Google Search, the engine isn’t just showing results, it’s delivering synthesized answers, often without users needing to click at all.

This new world is called Answer Engine Optimization (AEO).

It means content must not only rank but also be understood, trusted, and cited by AI. This is where Rocketship thrives. We’ve already updated our strategy to help you ride this wave, not get lost in it.

On-Page SEO: Introducing the Fan-Out Technique

AI doesn’t search in a straight line. Instead, it employs a “fan-out” query model, expanding a question into multiple semantic layers to identify the most relevant and reliable sources.

Old-school SEO? One blog post per keyword.
New-school AEO? Multiple, related pieces of content built around topic clusters that signal deep authority.

That’s why Rocketship has launched a new content strategy. We map your topics, build semantic relationships, and publish interconnected content that AI trusts.

Learn more about what’s in (and out) in content strategy: Read our content update blog

Technical SEO: Optimized for Human + AI Bots

Googlebot and Bingbot are no longer the only crawlers. Language models like ChatGPT and Claude are also scanning the web to build their knowledge.

That’s why Rocketship now includes an AI Crawlability Audit in every project. We’re checking not just for site speed and structure, but for AI visibility. Can LLMs access your pages? Is your schema clean? Are you using the right formats to get indexed in this new AI-first ecosystem?

The technical foundation just got deeper, and we’ve got the blueprint.

Off-Page SEO: Clean Up Your Digital Paper Trail

Because of how fan-out queries work, your entire digital presence now feeds into how AI interprets and trusts your business.

That means your citations, your business name, address, phone (NAP), and all directory listings need to be accurate, complete, and consistent.

Rocketship is implementing Manual NAP Audits across the web, building a true 360° view of your brand. We’re cleaning up your digital presence so when AI pulls data, it’s your real business that gets surfaced.

Brand SEO: Say It Loud, Say It Often

AI doesn’t just connect keywords, it understands concepts and entities. That means your brand must be clearly and repeatedly associated with your niche.

In the past, one blog post might have been enough. Not anymore.

We’re now creating topic clusters that include:

• Core service pages

• Brand and company profiles

• Supporting blogs and media

• Partner and community content

All connected. All optimized. All telling AI exactly who you are and what you do.

We’re Building Your Brand for the AI Era

SEO isn’t dying, it’s evolving. At Rocketship, we’re leading that evolution.

We’ve upgraded our tools, techniques, and mindset to help you not only rank but also resonate in a world where answers come first.

Whether you’re an existing client or just exploring, we’re ready to guide you from SEO to AEO sustainably, strategically, and with real results.

Ready to get ahead of the curve? Let’s talk.