Industry•Editorially reviewed September 5, 2026
How to Evaluate an AEO Agency
AEO has no standard service definition, so buyers should evaluate the work described in the proposal rather than the category label.
Set pass-or-fail requirements
- The provider distinguishes website checks from observed assistant output.
- Claims are sourced and outcome examples include raw evidence and limitations.
- The proposal states platforms, prompts, deliverables, owners, and exclusions.
- The provider will not guarantee citations, recommendations, rankings, or revenue.
Ask the provider to demonstrate the method
Supply one neutral sample question and ask how it would be selected, collected, coded, and repeated. Ask how contradictory runs and missing links are handled. A credible answer should expose the protocol rather than rely only on a dashboard score.
Inspect editorial and technical controls
- Who verifies factual claims and approves publication?
- How are visible content and structured data kept aligned?
- How are access, rendering, status, canonical, and internal links checked?
- How will regulated or confidential material be excluded?
Compare ownership and total effort
Record internal engineering, subject-matter, legal, and publishing time alongside fees. Confirm export formats, account ownership, data deletion, and what remains usable after the engagement.
Limits and next step
This scorecard identifies fit and process quality only. It cannot establish that one provider will produce better assistant responses than another.