Forget “GEO”, I like AEO (Answer Engine) – people are looking for answers, not just websites. The result? Visitors from Answer Engines are converting at dramatically higher rates.
- Seer Interactive: ChatGPT traffic converts at 16% vs. Google organic’s 1.8%.
- Ahrefs: 0.5% of the traffic is from AI Search, it is responsible for 12% of signups.
- SEMrush: AI visitors are 4.4× more valuable on average than Google organic.
We are not an SEO or AEO or (sigh) GEO company per se. But this tells me you should probably do AT LEAST the bare minimum for making sure Answer Engines can find the information on your practice that they need.
- Add/Check Schema Markup: Make sure your site has basic structured data: business info, reviews, services, hours. This helps Answer Engines “see” your info the way people ask for it.
- Publish a Simple FAQ Page: List real customer questions in natural language. Example questions: “Do you accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance?”, “How soon can I get an appointment?”, “What should I bring to my first visit?” (These aren’t that great of examples but you get the idea)
- Optimize Your “About / Services” Pages for Clarity: Use plain language and specific keywords that clients actually type (again, not industry jargon). Instead of “Comprehensive diagnostic imaging services,” say: “We provide X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs in-office, with results in 24 hours.” Clear, direct phrasing is what AI tools lift when someone asks, “Where can I get an MRI near me?”
- Make Sure Your Contact Info Is Consistent Everywhere: The name, address, phone should be the same on your site and on your Google Business Profile. Keep them consistent across your Zocdoc and directories too. When someone asks, “What are the hours for Dr. Lee’s clinic?”, engines can confidently surface the right info.
- Write “Conversational” Summaries on Key Pages. At the top of your specialty pages, add a plain English summary. Example: “We provide dental implants in Chicago to replace missing teeth with natural-looking results. Free consultations and flexible payment options available.” This is the type of snippet AI engines tend to reuse in answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get my practice recommended by ChatGPT?
- Five things, in order. (1) Add structured data (Organization, MedicalBusiness, Service schemas) so AI engines can read your site cleanly. (2) Publish a clear llms.txt at your root with a structured summary and links. (3) Write content that directly answers questions, with the answer in the first 100 words. (4) Get cited by authoritative sources — local press, healthcare directories, professional associations. (5) Make sure your site loads fast and is technically sound (AI engines deprioritize slow sites just like Google does).
- What is AEO and how is it different from SEO?
- AEO — Answer Engine Optimization — is what SEO is becoming as users shift from Google's blue-link results toward AI assistants and AI Overviews. SEO optimized for ranking on a results page; AEO optimizes for being the source an AI engine cites or paraphrases. The fundamentals overlap (good content, fast site, structured data) but AEO favors definitive, scannable answers and structured facts over keyword-stuffed long-form content.
- Will AI replace Google search for healthcare queries?
- Replace, no. Reshape, yes. Google still gets the lion's share of search volume but AI engines are taking the highest-intent queries — "should I see a specialist", "what does this symptom mean", "best provider near me for X". Those are the queries that historically converted best on Google. The AEO-prepared site captures both, the SEO-only site loses ground over time.
- Does AI search benefit small practices or only big ones?
- It actually levels the playing field somewhat. AI engines cite based on authoritative answers and clean data, not on backlink budget or domain age the way Google does. A well-structured, well-cited small-practice site can show up alongside major health systems in AI responses if the answer is good. The catch: most small practices have not done the AEO work yet, so the field is still mostly enterprises by default.
More on AI & Search
- AI Modern Healthcare Search: Comparing ChatGPT Search, Google Search, and Perplexity AI
- AI LLMS.txt: The New Robots.txt for AI – What Healthcare Practices Need to Know
- SEO Zero-Click Searches and Your Physician Practice
- AI & Strategy Google's WebMCP Thing – What It Actually Means for Multi-location Healthcare Clients