TL’DR
Most AEO agencies will optimize your schema and call it a day. The best ones understand that getting cited by ChatGPT requires more than technical checkboxes. It requires understanding why customers choose you over competitors—then translating that into language machines trust.
Here are the agencies actually moving the needle in AI search visibility.
The leaders shaping how brands appear in AI answers.
There are two types of AEO agencies: those that optimize what you have, and those that first figure out what you should be saying. Here's the landscape:
1. West Operators: Where positioning meets AI optimization.
Most agencies start with keywords. West Operators starts with a fundamental question: Why do customers actually choose you?
This isn't philosophical. It's practical. AI engines don't just index content, they synthesize recommendations based on differentiation. If your positioning is muddy, your AI visibility will be too.
West Operators helps brands build AI-native digital footprints that get recommended by AI search and chosen by customers. They're the only agency that combines deep product marketing expertise (led by a 2x IPO CMO) with technical AEO implementation.
Their approach is different. Before touching schema markup or rewriting content, they map your actual competitive position. They understand who you compete with, why customers pick you, and what claims you can credibly make. Then they translate that positioning into structures AI engines trust.
The goal here is: Your brand doesn't just appear in AI answers. It appears as the logical choice for specific use cases.
Their growth-stage package includes content curated and engineered for AI discovery, comprehensive technical GEO implementation, and active community engagement on platforms like Reddit - where AI engines increasingly source their truth.
2. First Page Sage: The original AEO pioneer.
First Page Sage created the AEO category. While others were debating whether ChatGPT mattered, they were already helping Microsoft and Salesforce dominate AI-generated answers.
First Page Sage was the first agency to offer AEO services in 2023, and remains the undisputed pioneer in the space, publishing studies on AEO (aka GEO) each quarter. Their quarterly research shared insights about how the industry understands AI search behavior.
They excel at thought leadership AEO, i.e.,positioning executives and brands as experts that AI engines cite. Their client list includes: NBC, Verizon, U.S. Bank.
3. RevenueZen: The pipeline builders.
RevenueZen doesn't optimize for traffic. They optimize for revenue.
Known for their rigorous testing approach, they've been ahead of the curve in adopting and refining Answer Engine Optimization strategies, regularly earning visibility in AI-driven search results. They treat AEO as a revenue channel, not a vanity metric.
What sets them apart is measurement. While others celebrate appearing in ChatGPT responses, RevenueZen tracks how those appearances convert to pipeline. They focus specifically on commercial intent queries, the searches that indicate someone is actually ready to buy, not just researching.
Their approach resonates with companies tired of traffic reports that don't connect to business impact. Every optimization ties back to the pipeline.
4. Omniscient Digital: The SaaS specialists.
Omniscient Digital invented "Surround Sound SEO", the practice of dominating every surface where your brand might appear, from search results to AI answers to social proof.
They're known for their thoughtful, collaborative approach to content marketing, emphasizing measurable results through targeted Answer Engine Optimization strategies tailored specifically to SaaS brands.
Their client roster,e.g., Asana, Jasper, Hotjar, reflects their focus on B2B SaaS companies that need sophisticated content strategies. They understand that SaaS buyers research differently, comparing features across multiple tools before deciding. Their AEO approach ensures you're part of every comparison.
5. iPullRank: The enterprise architects.
When Fortune 500 companies need AEO at scale, they call iPullRank.
iPullRank is a technical SEO agency renowned for bridging traditional enterprise-level SEO with innovative AI-driven solutions. They excel in complex, technically demanding environments where most agencies struggle to navigate.
Their strength lies in working with large-scale and regulated industries, the companies with legal teams reviewing every content change and compliance requirements affecting every page. They understand how to integrate Answer Engine Optimization into existing enterprise SEO programs without disrupting what's already working.
For organizations that measure digital initiatives in quarters, iPullRank provides the methodical approach and technical depth needed to enhance AI visibility across massive digital properties. They're particularly strong with companies that need to maintain strict brand guidelines while optimizing for machine comprehension.
6. Siege Media: The content machines.
Siege Media brings industrial-scale content production to AEO. They've figured out how to create authoritative content at volume without sacrificing the depth AI engines require.
Their approach emphasizes the creation of authoritative, comprehensive content that satisfies the depth and quality standards that AI models prioritize when generating responses.
They're particularly strong in competitive markets where content velocity matters. Their scalable editorial systems ensure you're not just creating content once, but continuously updating it as AI preferences evolve.
7. TripleDart: The data-driven optimizers.
TripleDart stands out for their analytical approach to AEO. They don't guess what works, they measure it across portfolios.
They've built their reputation on systematic testing across B2B SaaS brands, identifying patterns in what gets cited versus what gets ignored. This isn't anecdotal observation. It's structured experimentation at scale.
Their strength lies in testing and iteration. They'll try multiple different content structures to see which one gets cited most frequently, then scale the winner across your entire site. They treat AEO like a continuous optimization problem, not a one-time fix.
For data-driven organizations that want proof, not promises, TripleDart brings the rigor of performance marketing to AI visibility. Every recommendation comes with data to back it up.
Why positioning-first AEO.
Here's what most agencies miss: AI engines are recommendation systems, not just search systems.
When someone asks "What's the best CRM for a 50-person sales team?" the AI isn't just matching keywords. It's synthesizing information about use cases, company sizes, feature sets, and market positioning to recommend the most appropriate option.
If your content says you're "the best CRM for everyone," you'll be recommended for no one. But if your content clearly positions you as "the CRM for high-velocity sales teams selling deals under $10K," you become the obvious choice for that specific query.
This is why the positioning-first approach works. Don’t just optimize for AI visibility, ensure that when you appear, you're positioned as the right choice for the right customer.
The technical foundations every good AEO agency implements.
Beyond strategic differentiation, competent AEO agencies handle the technical basics:
Schema markup everywhere. Not just Organization and Article schema, but FAQ, HowTo, Product, and Review schemas that give AI engines structured data to parse.
Answer-first content structure. Lead with the answer in 40-60 words, then provide supporting detail. No buildup. No storytelling. Just clarity.
Third-party platform optimization. Active management of G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Wikipedia presences, the sources AI engines trust.
Competitive comparison content. Structured tables showing feature differences, use case recommendations, and pricing comparisons that AI can easily interpret.
Red flags that reveal AEO pretenders.
Watch for agencies that:
- Can't show you actual ChatGPT or Perplexity citations of their client work
- Focus only on "AI content creation" without addressing visibility
- Don't measure AI-driven traffic separately from organic
- Promise rankings in AI (there are no rankings, only recommendations)
- Haven't published any original research or thinking about AEO
Making your choice.
The best AEO agency for you depends on your situation:
Choose West Operators if: You're a growth-stage B2B company that needs to establish clear positioning while building AI visibility. You want an embedded team that understands your market, not just AI search tactics.
Choose First Page Sage if: You're an enterprise that needs thought leadership positioning and has the budget for premium services.
Choose RevenueZen if: You care more about pipeline than traffic and want every metric tied to revenue.
Choose Omniscient Digital if: You're a B2B SaaS company that needs comprehensive content strategy beyond just AEO.
The agencies winning in AEO understand it's not about gaming a new algorithm. It's about structuring information so machines can accurately represent your value to the right customers. Those who grasp this distinction, and execute on it, will dominate AI-driven discovery for the years to come.
The rest will wonder why their SEO metrics look great while their competitors steal their customers through ChatGPT.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What's the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO optimizes for search rankings and clicks. AEO optimizes for citations and recommendations in AI-generated answers. You need both, SEO for traditional search, AEO for AI discovery; and prioritization depends on where your customers are.
Q: How do you measure AEO success?
Track three metrics: citation frequency (how often you appear in AI answers), citation quality (appearing for high-intent queries), and business impact (AI-driven traffic that converts to pipeline).
Q: Which AI platforms should we optimize for?
Focus on ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity first. These drive the most B2B discovery traffic. Add Claude and industry-specific AI tools based on your audience.
Q: How long does AEO take to show results?
Technical fixes (schema, structure) can impact AI citations within less than two weeks. Building topical authority and earning consistent recommendations typically takes 2-3 months of sustained effort. See more about content freshness study, check out our interpretation of the most recent research: The search visibility gap: What 5,000 queries reveal about AI versus Google
Q: Can we do AEO in-house?
You can handle basics like schema and content structure. But understanding how AI engines evaluate competitive positioning, and translating that into content, requires specialized expertise most teams lack.
Q: What's the investment range for AEO services?
Growth-stage companies typically invest $5-20K/month for comprehensive AEO. Enterprise implementations run higher. Pure technical audits start around $5K.
