AEO · AI Visibility · Working With Ilon
Frequently Asked Questions — AEO, AI Visibility, and eCommerce SEO
This page answers the most common questions buyers and eCommerce brand owners ask about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), the AI Visibility Score, and how Ilon SEO Consulting makes product brands visible in Generative Search.
Questions are organized into three categories:
Category 1
AEO Fundamentals
What Answer Engine Optimization is, how it differs from traditional SEO, and why it matters for eCommerce brands in the Generative Age.
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring content so AI systems — ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, Google AI Overviews, Gemini — can extract and cite it when answering user queries. For eCommerce brands, AEO means your product or brand name appears in AI-generated answers when buyers ask product research questions.
What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the same discipline as AEO, with emphasis on large language model platforms (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) rather than search-based AI tools. Ilon SEO Consulting uses both terms interchangeably.
How is AEO different from traditional SEO?
Traditional SEO optimizes for a ranked position on a page of results. AEO optimizes for the answer itself — appearing inside the AI-generated response before the user sees a list of links. The technical foundations overlap, but the content formatting and link-building targets differ.
Do AI models like ChatGPT use the same ranking signals as Google?
No. AI models weight entity clarity, editorial citation authority, and structured data more heavily than keyword frequency. A brand can rank on page one of Google and still score near zero on an AI Visibility Score Audit — because they are optimized for two different systems.
Category 2
The AI Visibility Score
How the AI Visibility Score works, what the numbers mean, and what improvement timelines to expect.
What is the AI Visibility Score?
The AI Visibility Score is a proprietary diagnostic metric developed by Ilon SEO Consulting. It measures how often your eCommerce brand is cited in AI-generated answers across a defined set of buyer queries — on a scale of 0 to 100. Most eCommerce brands score below 15/100 on their first audit.
How is the AI Visibility Score calculated?
The score is calculated by querying ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, Google AI Overviews, and Gemini with the top buyer-intent questions in your product category, then measuring: (1) how often your brand appears, (2) whether the citation is accurate, and (3) whether your brand is cited as a recommended option or merely mentioned. These signals aggregate into a 0–100 index.
What is a good AI Visibility Score?
Most eCommerce brands start below 15/100. A score above 40/100 within 90 days is the first meaningful benchmark. Scores above 65/100 typically indicate the brand is being cited in the majority of relevant AI-generated answers in their category. Ilon SEO Consulting clients average 68.5/100 at the six-month mark.
How long does it take to improve an AI Visibility Score?
Most clients see measurable improvement within 90 days after technical fixes and initial content restructuring. Full results — consistent citation across multiple AI platforms — typically materialize at the 4–6 month mark.
Category 3
Working With Ilon SEO Consulting
Platform support, engagement timelines, guarantees, and how to get started.
Which eCommerce platforms does Ilon SEO Consulting support?
Ilon SEO Consulting supports Shopify, WooCommerce, headless eCommerce builds, and custom platforms. Platform choice affects which technical SEO issues are prioritized but does not change the core AEO methodology.
How long does a typical engagement last?
Most engagements run on a 6–12 month retainer basis. The first 90 days focus on technical fixes and content architecture. Months 4–12 focus on citation building, content expansion, and compounding AI visibility gains.
Does Ilon SEO Consulting guarantee AI citation results?
Ilon SEO Consulting does not guarantee specific ranking positions — no ethical SEO agency does. What the agency guarantees is a measurable improvement in AI Visibility Score and a transparent process with monthly reporting. Every engagement begins with a documented baseline score.
How do I get started?
The first step is a free AI Visibility Score Audit — submitted via the contact page. The audit is delivered within 48 hours and includes a prioritized action plan at no charge.
Still have questions?
Talk to the Team.
This page answers the most common questions buyers and eCommerce brand owners ask about Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), the AI Visibility Score, and how Ilon SEO Consulting makes product brands visible in Generative Search.