Search basics
AEO and SEO: where should healthcare practices start?
Before learning another acronym, check that practice information is accurate and official pages are readable.
Search and answers start with the same information
SEO helps search services discover pages and understand their content. AEO focuses on the format and delivery of information that answers users' questions. Both share the same foundations: accurate official information, accessible text, and clear sources.
Start with three checks
Check that practice and branch names match between the website and map listings, that key treatment descriptions are available as text outside images, and that each treatment guide has a direct URL. Getting these basics right prevents confusion from building as content grows.
Special tags do not guarantee an answer
Google states that existing SEO principles also apply to its AI search features, with no additional special optimization requirements. Structured data and Q&A help communicate content clearly; they cannot be translated into a probability of recommendation.
Make small changes, then check
Organize official information and questions for one treatment topic, then check indexing, visits, and mentions and citations in answers separately. Search results and AI answers vary with time and conditions, so one screen does not represent overall performance.