Backbone Launches Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Service for Brands

Carbondale, Colo.—Backbone announced the launch of an Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) service, designed to help brands earn visibility where more and more modern buying journeys begin: search powered by AI platforms. 

Backbone’s AEO offering is a strategic integration of search engine optimization (SEO), public relations (PR) and affiliate marketing, tied together with AI visibility intelligence to strengthen discoverability and credibility as answer engines synthesize and recommend information for consumers.

• SEO: optimizes owned content, site structure and technical performance to ensure search engines and AI systems can read, index and retrieve content effectively. 
• PR + Affiliate Marketing: drives external authority and relevance through earned media, third-party coverage, expert mentions, influencer content, and press releases, all which feed AI’s confidence in recommending or citing a brand. 
• AI Visibility Intelligence: uses platforms like SEMrush AIO to benchmark and track brand presence in AI-generated answers. This includes analysis of brand mentions across ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and other LLM-powered systems. 

AEO comes at a pivotal time where people are no longer relying solely on traditional search engines to navigate the internet. Last year, ChatGPT reached over 800 million monthly users (Forbes, 2026) and Gemini surpassed 650 million users (Google, 2025). Of the links cited by AI, 82% were from earned media sources (Muck Rack, 2025). To stay competitive, brands need to think about how they’re going to show up in the AI-dominated search landscape.

“In 2026, brands need to understand that search is evolving to new surfaces, and new methodologies are required to capture and maintain visibility,” said Leah Shaffran, SEO Director at Backbone. “Our AEO service offering ensures your brand is trusted, cited and recommended across search and AI interfaces. AI doesn’t ask how you want to be seen, it looks at what the world already says about you. AEO is how you shape that story.”

Interested in learning more about Backbone’s AEO service? Read our latest Insights post, “Why AEO is Critical to 2026 Marketing Planning”.

About Backbone

Backbone is an integrated marketing agency with capabilities in public relations, paid media, search marketing, affiliate marketing, social media, influencer marketing, SEO & AEO, strategy, data & analytics and creative & content. Through a strategic approach anchored in Brand, Community and Performance efforts, Backbone builds influence from the inside out with deep community roots, scales that story across channels, and connects all efforts to measurable impact. Visit us in person in Denver or Carbondale, Colorado or online at Backbone.Media.