AEO for Singapore SMEs: What Google Says Works and What to Skip

You may have been told your business needs "AEO" or "GEO". The pitch usually goes like this: AI tools now answer your customers' questions, so you must change your website fast, or you will disappear.

We looked at what Google itself says. The short version: most of this is still plain SEO. Some of the popular tricks are not needed for Google at all.

This article covers what Google has said, what we would do on a Singapore SME website, and how to judge an AEO pitch.

What are AEO and GEO?

AEO means "answer engine optimization". GEO means "generative engine optimization". Both terms describe work meant to help your business appear in AI-written answers.

Google's view is direct. In its guide for site owners, it says that "optimizing for generative AI search is optimizing for the search experience, and thus still SEO."

Source: Google Search Central, "Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search", announced 15 May 2026, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide

This applies to Google's own AI features, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode. Other AI tools may work differently, and Google does not speak for them.

How do Google's AI answers pick pages?

Google says these features draw on its normal Search index and ranking systems. It also describes "query fan-out": the AI runs several related searches at once to build one answer. Google's own example is someone asking how to fix a lawn full of weeds. The AI may also search for the best herbicides, how to remove weeds without chemicals, and how to prevent weeds.

Here is our own illustration, not a client case. A homeowner might ask, "Can I renovate my HDB kitchen and keep my budget under control?" An AI answer could look for pages on permits, timelines and contractor checks. A site that explains those topics clearly gives the AI more to work with.

Which five tactics can you skip?

Google lists several "hacks" it says you can ignore for Google Search. In plain English:

llms.txt files and special markup. Google says you don't need AI text files or special markup to appear, and Google Search ignores them. We keep an llms.txt on our own sites for other AI tools.
"Chunking" your content. You don't need to cut pages into tiny pieces for AI. Write for your reader.
Rewriting pages just for AI. Google says its systems understand synonyms and meaning. You don't need to chase every keyword variation.
Seeking fake "mentions". Google says inauthentic mentions across the web are not as helpful as they might seem.
Over-focusing on structured data. It is not required for AI features, and no special markup is needed.

Source: Google Search Central, "Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search", announced 15 May 2026 (llms.txt note added 15 Jun 2026), https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide

Note that this is Google's guidance for Google Search. We are not saying no other tool will ever read an llms.txt file.

What should a Singapore SME do instead?

Here is the order we would work in.

1. Make sure Google can find and index your pages. Google says a page must be indexed and eligible to show with a snippet to appear in its AI features. Check that your robots.txt and hosting do not block crawling. Google's guide also says a site "must be included in Search generative AI features in Search Console to be eligible for display".

2. Say things only your business can say. Google calls generic advice "commodity content" and says original, experience-based content matters most. Its example of the weak kind is "7 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers". Think about what your team has seen first-hand, and write that. For a renovation firm, that might be how your process runs, or the questions clients ask most.

3. Keep your Google Business Profile accurate. Google says AI answers can include local business details, and that a Business Profile helps. Google's help page says complete, accurate details make a profile more likely to appear in local results. Check your address, hours and business category.

4. Make pages easy to read on a phone. Google asks for good page experience on all devices. Use clear headings and short paragraphs. Put important information in text, not only in images.

5. Check Search Console. Google says its Generative AI performance report shows how your content does in AI features. It also warns that no third-party tool has access to Google's internal ranking data.

Source: Google Search Central, "AI features and your website", undated, accessed 3 Nov 2026, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features

Source: Google Business Profile Help, "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google" (accessed 3 Nov 2026), https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091

What happened to FAQ markup?

If you have heard "add FAQ schema to win AI answers", be careful. Google stopped showing FAQ rich results in Search on 7 May 2026. Google says AI features don't need special schema.

You can still keep an FAQ section on your page. It helps real readers. Just don't expect Google to show it as a special result.

Source: Google Search Central, "Latest Google Search Documentation Updates" (entry of 8 May 2026, "Deprecating the FAQ rich result feature"), https://developers.google.com/search/updates

Source: Google Search Console Help, "Data anomalies in Search Console" (entry "May 7 onwards"), 2026, https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6211453

How can you judge an AEO pitch?

Google has published advice on this, too. It says good advice either marks its claims as opinion based on data or experience, or backs them up with official Google guidance. It also says that using a tool or service "doesn't guarantee ranking success", and that Google doesn't evaluate third-party services.

Source: Google Search Central, "Google Search's Guidance on Third-Party SEO Tools & Advice", added 5 Jun 2026 (per Google's changelog), https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/third-party-seo

Three questions to ask any provider:

Which Google guidance does this step come from?
How will we measure it in Search Console?
What happens to my site if this step turns out not to matter?

Frequently asked questions

Is AEO different from SEO?
For Google Search, no. Google says optimizing for its generative AI features "is optimizing for the search experience, and thus still SEO." Other AI tools may behave differently.

Do I need an llms.txt file?
Not for Google Search. Google says Google Search ignores these files. Other AI tools may read them.

Do I need special schema markup to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode?
No. Google says there is no special schema.org markup you need for these features.

Does FAQ markup still show special results in Google?
No. Google stopped showing FAQ rich results on 7 May 2026. An FAQ section can still help your readers.

What helps a Singapore SME show up in Google's AI answers?
Pages that Google can crawl and index, original content based on what your team knows first-hand, and an accurate Google Business Profile. There is no guarantee. Google says indexing and serving aren't guaranteed.

How can I see if my site appears in AI features?
Use the Generative AI performance report in Google Search Console, which Google recommends.

Sources

Google Search Central, "Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search", announced 15 May 2026 (llms.txt clarification added 15 Jun 2026), https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
Google Search Central Blog, "A new resource for optimizing for generative AI in Google Search", 15 May 2026, https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026/05/a-new-resource-for-optimizing
Google Search Central, "Google Search's Guidance on Third-Party SEO Tools & Advice", added 5 Jun 2026 per changelog, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/third-party-seo
Google Search Central, "Latest Google Search Documentation Updates" (entries of 8 May, 5 Jun and 15 Jun 2026), https://developers.google.com/search/updates
Google Search Console Help, "Data anomalies in Search Console", 2026 entry "May 7 onwards", https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6211453
Google Business Profile Help, "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google" (accessed 3 Nov 2026), https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091
Google Search Central, "AI features and your website", undated, accessed 3 Nov 2026, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features (used for: indexed with snippet; robots.txt and CDN crawling)

Your next step

Want a second pair of eyes on your site? Book a free website audit with AAA Digital & AI Studio. We will talk through your site and your goals, and tell you what is worth fixing first.

This guide is general information based on published Google Search guidance, which can change. It is not legal or professional advice.