SEO had a 20-year head start to define itself. Answer Engine Optimization? Not so much. Depending on who you ask, it’s AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), AIO (AI Optimization), GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), or even LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization). Point is, the discipline doesn’t even agree on what to call itself yet, but brands are already racing to figure it out.
Why? Because the way people search has changed. Instead of “10 blue links,” they’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity a question and getting a single, synthesized answer back. That means your brand either shows up in that answer; or it disappears.
The agencies on this list are the ones doing more than just rebranding old SEO tactics. They’re building frameworks, tools, and strategies designed for the AI search era; where visibility means being cited, summarized, and trusted by machines and humans alike.
Call it whatever you want, just don’t call it optional.
The Top AEO Agencies in 2025: Quick Comparison
How We Chose the Best AEO Agencies in 2025
Answer Engine Optimization is still a fairly young discipline, which means not every agency talking about it is actually doing it well. To cut through the noise, we evaluated agencies based on a few key criteria:
- Specialization in AEO or GEO: Do they treat AEO as a true specialty, or just a rebranded SEO package? Agencies that developed clear AEO frameworks, services, or dedicated practices scored higher.
- Proprietary Tools & Tech: AI search moves fast. We looked for agencies building, or leveraging, their own platforms (like dashboards, visibility trackers, or frameworks) to help clients measure AI performance.
- Proven Results: Real case studies, performance data, or client outcomes in AI search environments (e.g., AI Overview appearances, citations in ChatGPT) carried weight.
- Innovation & Thought Leadership: Agencies publishing POVs, guides, or strategies that push the category forward (not just “best practices”) were ranked higher.
- Fit for the Future: Since AI search is evolving daily, we considered how each agency prepares clients for what’s next (like paid placements in AI engines, zero-click environments, and evolving citation rules).
- Industry Reputation: Recognition from awards, mentions in trusted publications, and a track record of working with growth-focused industries added credibility.
1. NoGood
When it comes to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), NoGood isn’t just another agency jumping on the trend; we’re the ones who turned it into a discipline. While others are still figuring out whether to call it “AEO,” we’ve been building frameworks, running experiments, and helping brands win visibility inside ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews.
What makes us different? For starters, we built Goodie, our proprietary AEO platform. Goodie tracks brand visibility across AI search engines, monitors sentiment, identifies citation gaps, and gives clients the data they need to not just show up, but to show up favorably. Pair that with our technical expertise (schema rollouts, structured content, prompt-gap audits) and growth DNA, and you get AEO strategies that actually drive business impact, not just mentions.
Unlike traditional SEO shops, we don’t measure success in traffic alone. AEO is about presence: are you in the answer, are you cited, and are you chosen over competitors in zero-click environments? That’s where we shine, and where our clients (from fintech to gaming to healthcare) see compounding returns.
Why we’re #1: NoGood didn’t just adapt to the AI search era; we helped define it. With Goodie as the engine and our growth squads as the operators, we make sure brands aren’t just discoverable, but unavoidable.
Want to learn more about our AI marketing expertise? Check out the Goodie blog and case studies.
2. Avenue Z
Avenue Z has taken the idea of SEO and flipped it into something entirely new: AI Optimization (AIO). Instead of just chasing rankings, their goal is to make sure your brand actually gets cited by ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other generative search engines.
They’ve already earned recognition for it too: Avenue Z won the 2025 AI Breakthrough Award for Cognitive Communications Solution of the Year, plus a Global Recognition Award for their innovation in AI-driven brand visibility. A big part of that comes down to their proprietary AI Visibility Index (AIVx), which measures how often and how credibly your brand shows up across AI platforms.
Their approach blends the technical (schema, AI-friendly content structures) with the creative (strategic storytelling, PR placements, and brand authority building). The result: your brand isn’t just optimized for algorithms, it’s positioned to lead the conversation when AI delivers answers.
Why they’re on this list: Avenue Z isn’t repackaging SEO with an AI label; they’ve built one of the first true AIO frameworks, complete with visibility reporting and measurable impact. If you want proof that AI citations can be engineered (not left to chance), they’re it.
3. Amsive
New York–based Amsive has nearly two decades of SEO expertise under its belt, and now they’ve layered in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) to help brands win in AI-driven search. Their approach makes sure you’re not just ranking in Google; you’re actually being cited inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot answers.
Amsive’s AEO services cover the full stack: technical site cleanup, schema markup, and topic clustering, paired with natural-language content that’s designed to match how AI engines interpret and serve results. They also go a step further with measurement, using their Profound platform to track when, where, and how often your brand shows up in AI-generated answers.
Why they’re on this list: Amsive is the rare agency that blends deep SEO roots with a clear AEO framework. They’re not treating AI optimization like a bolt-on service; it’s baked into a broader growth strategy that connects SEO, content, paid, and brand. If you want visibility you can actually measure in AI search, Amsive is one of the few agencies already delivering it.
4. Revenue Zen
Portland’s RevenueZen has gone all-in on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), making sure brands aren’t just visible on Google, but also show up as the answer inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. In their words: ranking on page one isn’t enough anymore; you need to become the citation.
Their GEO service goes beyond the usual SEO checklist. They’re building content and site structures that AI can easily parse and cite, pairing it with digital PR that puts brands in the sources LLMs actually pull from. On top of that, they treat AI visibility like a real growth lever: measuring when AI tools drive traffic, optimizing landing pages for AI-sourced visitors, and tracking conversions so it’s not just about mentions, it’s about pipeline.
The numbers back them up, too: clients have seen triple-digit jumps in AI Overview appearances, AI-driven traffic more than double, and conversion rates from AI referrals outpace organic search. Instead of hoarding the playbook, they also teach teams how to maintain visibility with SOPs, workshops, and training, so you’re not dependent on an agency forever.
Why they’re on this list: RevenueZen is one of the few agencies turning GEO from a buzzword into a measurable growth channel. If you want more than vanity mentions, they’re proof that AEO done right can drive leads, not just visibility.
5. Arc Intermedia
Based outside Philadelphia, Arc Intermedia brings 15+ years of digital marketing experience into the AI search era with their AI Search & Answer Engines Optimization service. Their focus is simple: making sure your brand doesn’t just show up as a link, but as the actual answer in platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
Their process covers the full spectrum: starting with an audit of your current AI visibility, then layering in structured, Q&A-driven content, author authority signals, and external placements to build credibility where AI engines look for it. They also back it all up with real-time reporting dashboards and monthly strategy calls so clients know exactly how they’re performing as the algorithms shift.
And it’s not just theory: Arc is already seeing results like a 1,100% year-over-year increase in AI-sourced traffic, more than 274,000 AI-driven keyword impressions per month, and a consistent 10% MoM growth in answer visibility.
Why they’re on this list: Arc Intermedia blends the reliability of a seasoned digital agency with the agility needed for AI search. Their early data wins prove they know how to move the needle in AEO, not just talk about it.
6. Omniscient Digital
Be Omniscient (also known as Omniscient Digital) approaches Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) with a clear philosophy: it’s not about ranking for keywords, it’s about being worthy of citation. Their focus is on creating content and authority signals that large language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity can’t help but pull into their answers.
Their GEO strategy centers on two big levers:
- Source-Worthy Content: They push brands to publish original insights, research, and genuinely useful expertise:; content that stands apart from the generic noise and gives AI something substantial to cite.
- Entity Authority: By building out author profiles, brand signals, and topic depth, they make sure both people and algorithms recognize your brand as a credible voice.
Rather than treating GEO as a shiny new trend, Be Omniscient frames it as the next evolution of SEO: still grounded in fundamentals, but retooled for an AI-first discovery landscape.
Why they’re on this list: Be Omniscient is all about turning brands into go-to authorities in the LLM ecosystem. If your goal is to have AI models consistently quote you instead of your competitors, this is the team that knows how to make it happen.
7. Marcel Digital
Chicago-based Marcel Digital has been quick to plant its flag in the Answer Engine Optimization space. Their approach leans heavily on the technical side: think lightning-fast websites, airtight schema markup, and content structured in a way that AI engines can’t ignore. If you want your FAQs, how-tos, and product pages to show up when ChatGPT or Gemini spit out an answer, Marcel is the kind of shop that makes sure your site is AI-readable down to the bones.
Where they stand out is in treating AEO as an evolution of SEO, not a replacement. They blend classic search fundamentals with AI-specific tactics, making sure brands still capture organic traffic while also becoming the “go-to citation” for answer engines. On top of that, Marcel is already preparing clients for what comes next: paid answer engine advertising. While sponsored placements on ChatGPT and Perplexity aren’t mainstream yet, they’re building frameworks now so brands are ready when they are.
Recognition-wise, Marcel regularly pops up on “best AEO agency” lists. Industry reviewers consistently call them out for their technical chops; especially around structured data and content that performs well in AI-driven search. That makes them a particularly strong fit for B2B and SaaS companies where precision and authority are everything.
Why they’re on this list: Marcel Digital bridges today’s SEO with tomorrow’s AEO, giving brands both immediate AI visibility and future-proof strategies for when paid placements inevitably roll out.
Don’t Get Left Out of the Answer
Whether you call it AEO, AIO, LLMO, or GEO, one thing’s certain: answer engines aren’t waiting for brands to catch up. The agencies leading in this space are the ones helping brands move from “hoping to rank” to guaranteeing they’re part of the answer.
This discipline is still evolving every day (paid placements, new AI models, shifting citation rules) but the fundamentals remain the same: if you want visibility, authority, and trust in 2025, you need a strategy built for AI search.
And if you’re ready to stop guessing and start getting cited, well, you already know who to call.
