The quick read: Your next customer will come from ChatGPT, not Google. Do you really need someone to pay for an AEO fix? Is AEO just SEO with a new patina? Your solution is mostly free and checkable right now. We checked the data for anyone who can prove AEO really works and it's surprising. Your free check, seller question and our receipts below.
“Can ChatGPT find your business? One question before you pay someone to fix it.”
who’s making the noise
TAAFT sponsor slots and Tool of the Week (Aug 22-23, 2026) · Google preferred-sources button (Aug 20, 2026) · MMA AEO debate slated Sep 9, 2026
the spin
Someone's about to pitch you AEO. Get recommended when customers ask ChatGPT what to buy. The pitch is half right, customers really are asking. Here's the part they skip: what gets you cited is pages that answer real questions, fresh listings, and mentions on sites the AI already trusts. That's SEO with a new reader, and most of it's free. The paid dashboards hand you a visibility score you can't check anywhere else, and nobody in public has proven one works yet. Before you pay anyone, ask one question: how would I catch this not working? If the answer is their dashboard, walk. Run the free check first. Tonight.