Choose an AEO agency that can show how it measures AI visibility, fixes the technical foundation as well as the content, writes schema that matches your pages, and is honest that no one can guarantee a citation. Ask for real examples, a clear scope and reporting you can check yourself, and be wary of agencies that simply renamed their SEO service.
How to choose an AEO agency
What a good AEO agency actually does
- Checks your current AI visibility: how ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews describe you and your competitors today.
- Researches real questions: the questions your buyers ask at each stage, not just keywords.
- Restructures key pages: a direct answer first, then the detail, with clear headings and FAQs.
- Adds accurate schema: markup that matches what is visible on each page.
- Fixes the technical foundation: crawling, indexing and speed, because AI tools still rely on pages they can reach and trust.
- Monitors over time: a fixed set of questions tracked month to month.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How will you measure AI visibility, and can I see the same data?
- Which AI assistants and search features do you track?
- What exactly is included each month, and who does the work?
- How does your AEO work fit with technical SEO?
- Can you show examples with measured results?
Red flags
- Guaranteed placement in ChatGPT or AI Overviews. No one controls what AI assistants say.
- AEO without any technical work. Content changes do little if pages are not crawlable or indexed.
- Mass-produced AI content. Thin pages at scale can dilute your site rather than help it.
- Fake reviews or paid mentions. These can damage trust with both search engines and customers.
- No baseline. Without a starting measurement, you cannot tell whether anything improved.
Specialist or full-service agency?
A specialist suits businesses that want deep technical and AEO work and direct access to the person doing it. A full-service agency suits businesses that also need ads, design and social media handled together. The trade-offs are covered in freelance SEO or SEO agency.
Local or overseas?
Local knowledge helps more than many expect. For New Zealand and Australian businesses, a provider who understands local search behaviour, local directories, Google Business Profile and the way people phrase questions in your market can find opportunities an overseas provider may miss. Remote work is fine either way; understanding the market is what matters.
Cynitek. provides AEO services for New Zealand and Australian businesses, measured in AI mentions and Google organic clicks. Tell us about your website.
How much does an AEO agency cost?
It depends on the size of the site and the scope. Most businesses start with an audit that shows where they stand, then move to ongoing monthly work. Be wary of fixed prices quoted before anyone has looked at your site.
Can an AEO agency guarantee ChatGPT will recommend me?
No. AI assistants decide for themselves what to say and change over time. A good agency removes the reasons you are left out and tracks how often you are named.
Do I need a separate AEO agency if I already have an SEO provider?
Not necessarily. If your SEO provider understands answer-first content, schema and AI visibility tracking, AEO can be part of the same work. If not, a specialist can work alongside them.