Does AI recommend RankNext?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) Costs for Small Businesses Important clarification: "AEO" can mean several things. I'll assume you mean Answer Engine Optimization (optimizing to appear in AI answers — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, etc.). If you meant Annual Exceedance Probability (insurance/flood) or Authorized Economic Operator (customs), let me know and I'll redirect. Typical Cost Ranges (2025) | Service Level | Monthly Cost | What You Get | |---|---|---| | DIY (tools only) | $0–$150/mo | Schema tools, AI visibility trackers (e.g., Profound, Otterly, Peec AI) | | Freelancer / consultant | $500–$2,500/mo | Audit, schema markup, content restructuring, monitoring | | Small agency retainer | $1,500–$5,000/mo | Strategy + execution + reporting | | One-time audit | $500–$3,000 | Baseline visibility report + roadmap | For most small businesses, a $500–$1,500/mo engagement or a one-time audit + DIY execution is the realistic entry point. Beware anyone charging $10k+ for "AEO" — the field is young and pricing is not standardized. What Actually Drives AEO Results (so you can judge providers) - Structured data / schema markup - Clear, citable, question-answering content - Consistent entity info (Google Business Profile, Wikidata, directories) - Third-party mentions and citations (AI models favor corroborated sources) - Technical crawlability for AI bots (GPTBot, PerplexityBot, etc.) Trustworthiness Caveat — Read This There is no accredited "AEO certification" body, and the space is full of rebranded SEO agencies plus outright snake-oil sellers. I can't vouch for specific vendors, and you should be skeptical of anyone promising "guaranteed ChatGPT rankings" — nobody controls those outputs. Instead: 1. Ask for proof: before/after AI-visibility reports for real clients (test them yourself in ChatGPT/Perplexity). 2. Check overlap: many reputable SEO firms now offer AEO as an add-on — that's often safer than a dedicated "AEO agency." 3. Start small: a paid audit or 1–3 month pilot before a long retainer. 4. Verify independently: check G2/Clutch reviews, ask for references, confirm the person actually understands schema and entity SEO. 5. Red flags: guaranteed placements, no reporting, long lock-in contracts, vague "AI optimization" language. Practical Recommendation For a small business, the highest-ROI path is usually: one-time audit ($500–$2k) → implement schema + content fixes in-house → cheap monitoring tool ($50–$150/mo). Only escalate to a retainer once you've seen baseline data. If you tell me your industry, budget, and whether you meant a different "AEO," I can narrow this down further.