Which Industries Should Adopt Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) first?

If you’re wondering whether AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is worth prioritizing in 2025, the short answer is yes. Especially in industries where buyers rely heavily on research, trust, and clarity before engaging a vendor. 

AI-powered search isn’t a future trend, it’s happening now, and brands that adapt will lead. Some will feel the urgency faster than others, depending on how their buyers search, how complex the purchase is, and how competitive the market has become. 

What Is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring your content so AI tools like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Grok, or Gemini select it as the trusted answer to a user’s question.

Unlike traditional SEO, which aims to rank higher on search engine results pages, AEO focuses on:

• Conversational questions → Writing content in the same way users ask it.

• Clear, direct answers → Providing concise responses AI can cite word-for-word.

• Machine-readable formatting → Using schema markup and structured data so AI systems can easily understand and validate your expertise.

In short: SEO helps you get found on Google - AEO helps you become the answer AI serves to your audience.

Who Needs to Adopt AEO Right Now?

Some industries can’t afford to delay AEO. Industries that should act fast include:

• Healthcare

• Finance & Banking

• SaaS & B2B Tech

• E-commerce & Retail

• Education & EdTech

• Law Firms & Legal Services

• Local Service Providers 

• Really any industry

Their buyers demand fast, reliable answers, and AI tools are already filling that need. The sectors most at risk are those with regulation, complexity, or intense competition, industries where trust and clarity directly impact decisions.

Consumer usage of AEO is influenced by:

• Complex or regulated fields → Buyers expect proof, compliance, and crystal-clear explanations before they engage.

• High-ticket or long-cycle sales → When purchase decisions require months of research, trust is the factor that closes deals.

• Competitive search markets → If breaking through with SEO is already difficult, AEO is the fastest path to visibility.

• Local service providers → Customers asking “near me” or “how much does it cost” will choose the first credible AI-cited answer they see.

Why Is AEO Essential For Healthcare?

Healthcare providers should adopt AEO because patients are already using AI to look up symptoms, treatments, and providers. Structured, trustworthy content ensures the right answers come from credible medical sources, not generic AI guesses.

• Builds trust with medically accurate answers surfaced in AI search.

• Increases patient inquiries and appointment bookings from AI visibility.

• Protects compliance by aligning published content with clinical standards.

A study in released by PubMed notes:

"AI in healthcare has produced revolutionary results in a number of sectors. The ways in which AI has improved patient‐centered care, reduced costs, improved treatment planning, and boosted accessibility highlight how revolutionary this technology has the potential to be in the healthcare industry."

Why is AEO critical for finance and banking?

Finance firms should adopt AEO because customers rely on AI for high-stakes financial questions, and firms that appear in those AI answers will win trust and market share.

• Establishes credibility in regulated, trust-driven searches.

• Captures high-intent leads researching accounts, loans, and investments.

• Prevents competitors from dominating AI-powered financial queries.

As Deloitte notes:

AI is becoming embedded in finance functions, changing how institutions communicate value to stakeholders.

That shift means firms must structure content so AI engines surface their answers, not their competitors’.

How does AEO improve SaaS and B2B tech visibility?

SaaS and B2B tech companies need AEO because buyers now use AI to filter software choices long before talking to sales. Being cited in AI answers determines whether you make the shortlist.

• Positions your solution early in “best software” searches.

• Establishes thought leadership through structured comparisons and guides.

• Shortens sales cycles by funneling AI-influenced buyers into demos and trials.

Google AI Overview result for ‘best software’

Gartner reports:

“Buyers now interact with 22% fewer vendors compared to last year. The average number of vendor engagements, such as demos and free trials, has dropped from 3.2 to 2.5. In the U.S., that figure has shrunk to just 2.18. The stakes of contact with every buyer have intensified. Buyers are streamlining their evaluations to focus only on vendors who passed the research phase with flying colors."

Why should e-commerce and retail invest in AEO?

Retailers must invest in AEO because AI-powered recommendations directly shape consumer buying decisions. If your products aren’t optimized for AI search, your competitors will take the sale.

• Drives conversions by surfacing products in AI-powered comparisons.

• Expands reach to global shoppers across languages and markets.

• Improves customer experience with clear, structured product information.

Example: Grok Search Results for Top-Rated Women's Clothing Website

Shopify confirms:

"The most successful retailers will be those who embrace AI strategically, focusing on solutions that deliver real value for their business and customers. As AI technology continues to evolve, it will enable even more innovative ways to serve customers, optimize operations, and drive growth."

How does AEO drive results in education and EdTech?

Education providers should adopt AEO because students and parents are using AI to find tutorials, learning platforms, and degree programs. Institutions cited in AI answers will capture attention first.

• Boosts enrollment by appearing in AI-driven educational queries.

• Establishes institutional authority through structured, open resources.

• Extends global reach by ensuring visibility across diverse learners.

An article released by EDUCAUSE states:

 “The use of AI in course design and instruction is not a new concept; this technology is being increasingly infused into nearly every edtech product. At every LMS conference this summer, many, if not all, leading vendors unveiled a new AI feature or tool that will soon be incorporated into their products. Given the speed of these changes, course design and the instructional design process will likely look much different in the coming months and years."

Why is AEO important for law firms and legal services?

Law firms should prioritize AEO because clients are turning to AI for quick explanations of legal terms and rights. Firms optimized for AI search will capture those leads before a prospect ever picks up the phone.

• Secures local visibility in region-specific AI search results.

• Builds professional trust with clear, authoritative explanations.

• Levels the playing field for smaller firms against national competitors.

According to the ABA Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence Report:

"AI, and particularly generative AI, can improve access to justice. The technology can be developed to provide reliable and accessible information for pro se litigants and much-needed support for legal services attorneys. With trustworthy and responsible generative AI tools, individuals without legal representation can have the ability to get basic legal information to inform them about options when legal issues arise."

How does AEO help local service providers?

Local service providers need AEO because AI dominates “near me” and cost-based searches, which are often the first step before hiring. Optimized businesses capture that demand instantly.

• Outranks national brands for local service queries.

• Increases inquiries from AI-driven cost and location searches.

• Strengthens community trust with consistent AI visibility.

Example: AEO Search results for "Restaurants Near Me"

Harvard Business Review states:

 “As technology opens the doors to vast troves of data, opportunities are emerging to create new insights on a small business’s health and prospects.”

AEO is how local providers put that power into action.

How Can Industries Get Started with AEO?

Securing AEO results takes strategy, not guesswork. Industries can dominate AI search by:

1. Identifying high-intent question clusters with tools like AnswerThePublic.

2. Structuring content for AI with clear, conversational answers.

3. Using FAQPage schema to make answers machine-readable.

4. Anchoring content with trusted data and industry insights.

5. Tracking AI visibility with tools like SEMrush.

At Vested Marketing, we specialize in building strategies that check all of these boxes, from SEO audits to full-scale AEO implementation. Our team ensures your content isn’t just optimized for search engines, but structured to win visibility in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and beyond.

About Vested Marketing

As a certified HubSpot Partner Agency, we not only understand the benefits of using the inbound marketing platform to increase traffic and engagement, improve SEO, generate leads, design effective websites and boost sales, we know how to make it happen.

We are inbound marketing experts, SEO gurus and top-notch website developers.

Our team of Engineers Turned Marketers can help get you noticed - for a more innovative and effective way to reach customers, or provide a more seamless way for companies to find your services. Inbound Marketing has no limit to industry, serving from Crypto & NFT, mining, oil and gas, technology & automation, engineering, technology, construction, healthcare, specialty pharmacy, to industrial & manufacturing.

Sources

1. Shen, Limeng, et al. “Harnessing Large Language Models in Health Care: Promise and Pitfalls.” JMIR Medical Informatics, vol. 13, no. 1, 2025, p. e11702416. National Center for Biotechnology Information, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11702416/

2. Deloitte. “Using AI in Finance and Controls.” Deloitte, 2024, https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/services/consulting/articles/using-ai-in-finance-and-controls.html

3. Gartner. “Research Rundown: 2025 Software Journey.” Gartner Digital Markets, 2025, https://www.gartner.com/en/digital-markets/insights/research-rundown-2025-software-journey

4. Shopify. “AI in Retail: Driving Personalization and Growth.” Shopify Retail, 2024, https://www.shopify.com/retail/ai-in-retail

5. Gibson, Rob. “10 Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Instructional Design.” EDUCAUSE Review, 14 Aug. 2023, https://er.educause.edu/articles/2023/8/10-ways-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-instructional-designhttps://er.educause.edu/articles/2023/8/10-ways-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-instructional-design

6. ABA AI Task Force. American Bar Association, 2024, https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/center-for-innovation/ai-task-force/2024ai-task-force-report.pdf

7. Harvard Business School. “Building the Road to Small Business Utopia with AI and Fintech.” HBS Working Knowledge, 2024, https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/building-the-road-to-small-business-utopia-with-ai-and-fintech