What is AEO?
Agentic Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the work of making product information easier for AI shopping systems to find, understand and compare.
Start with accurate product data. Then review the shopping queries and AI answers relevant to your store.
A useful product record explains what the item is, who it is for and the facts a shopper needs to choose it.
Why AEO matters for Shopify stores
A shopper comparing products needs specific answers: the right size, a compatible model, the pack quantity or where an item can be delivered.
Check that information in your product record, storefront and relevant feeds. Missing or conflicting details make the product harder to evaluate.
For Google shopping experiences, product-page markup and Merchant Center feeds can both supply product information. Google recommends using both where available.
Start with the product-data quality checklist. Its worked examples cover electronics, pets and food and beverage.
The 16-factor AEO scoring model
OptAEO assesses products using a 16-factor model. The score combines applicable catalog and store checks with AI-response signals where sufficient evidence is available.
The result is a score out of 100. Use the factor breakdown to see the gaps behind the number.
AI mention rate, answer position and factual accuracy need measured AI responses. Missing evidence is not proof that a product is invisible.
A higher score does not guarantee an AI recommendation, a search position or a sale.
What to fix first
Start with one product you know well. Check its information against the supplier record before applying the same approach across your catalog.
1. Identify the exact product
Confirm the brand, model, variant and product identifier. A Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) identifies a trade item; verify it against the supplier record.
2. Answer the buying questions
Use the facts that matter for the category. These are example checks, not promises that OptAEO can automatically fill every field.
- Electronics: model, power requirements and verified device compatibility.
- Pets: intended species, size measurements and manufacturer usage guidance.
- Food and beverage: ingredients, declared allergens, pack quantity and storage instructions.
- Fashion: material, fit, sizing and care instructions.
- Home: dimensions, materials, fittings and assembly requirements.
Use the manufacturer's information for the exact item and market. Do not invent missing specifications, ingredients, safety claims or compatibility.
3. Check what shoppers and sales channels see
Compare price, availability and variant details across the product page, structured data and feed. Check shipping information for the relevant market.
For Shopify delivery settings, use the shipping-readiness guide.
4. Verify the saved change
Review the updated product page and feed. Keep the source used to confirm each fact, then check the next scan for remaining issues.
How OptAEO improves your AEO score
Scan
Connect your store and review the product issues identified by the scan. Choose a product to inspect in detail.
Fix
Review suggested changes against reliable product information. Apply supported fixes individually or in bulk when your plan and connection allow it.
Score
Review the score and factor breakdown after the product has been re-evaluated. Check which issues remain and which signals have measured evidence.
Monitor
Recheck as your catalog changes. Compare AI answers using the same query, engine and market, and record when each check was made.
On Business and Enterprise, compare OptAEO readiness scores for ChatGPT, Claude, Meta Muse, Grok Bot, Gemini and Perplexity.
Find connection details on the platform pages and product instructions in the help centre.
AEO vs SEO
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) helps search engines discover and understand your pages. AEO focuses on how product information supports AI-assisted shopping.
They share useful foundations: accessible pages, descriptive content, accurate product facts and structured data that matches the visible page.
For Google AI Overviews and AI Mode, Google says ordinary SEO requirements still apply. Special AI files or schema are not required.
OptAEO includes llms.txt and agents.txt readiness in its own assessment. These checks are not universal entry requirements for AI shopping systems.
Meeting technical requirements does not guarantee that Google will index or show a page.
How to measure progress
Product readiness
Use your score and outstanding issues to review the state of your product data. Keep the scan date with any comparison.
Mentions and citations
A mention names your product or store. A citation links to a source. Record the query, engine, answer and date behind each observation.
An observed answer describes that check. It does not measure how many shoppers saw your product.
Visits and orders
Use analytics to check recorded referral traffic and attributed purchases. Attribution depends on the tracking and reporting setup.
An attributed order does not by itself prove that an optimisation caused the sale.
Start with one product
Run a scan, review one product and verify a proposed fix. Use the next check to see what changed and what still needs attention.
The product-data guide provides the field-by-field checklist. The AI shopping agents guide is further reading.