TL;DR: Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) means structuring short, quotable answers supported by local proof and machine-readable structure. For home-service companies, build “Answer Pages” for each Service + City question, mirror GBP wording, add schema at the template level, and refresh review topics. Be the best two–four sentences plus the evidence.

Quick Answer

AEO is not a buzzword; it’s a production method. Write the answer first (2–4 sentences) that assistants can quote, then stack steps, proof, and FAQs underneath. Use explicit entities (service, city, method/tools, outcomes), align with GBP services/categories, and keep a clean internal link map so both Google and AI assistants can verify you.

The AEO Pyramid (What to Ship in This Order)

Entities – service types, sub-services, cities/ZIPs, tools/methods, outcomes.
Questions – timing, cost, safety, prep, outcomes, edge cases.
Answer Pages – one intent per page; answer at the top; proof below.
Evidence – job photos with captions, meter readings, review snippets naming entities.
Distribution – GBP Posts, social, email; point to the Answer Page with UTM.

7-Step AEO Playbook (Field-Tested for Local Pros)

1) Inventory High-Intent Questions (By Service & City)

Pull from PAA, call logs, chats, and tech notes. Prioritize questions that end in calls, messages, or bookings—not trivia.

High-intent examples

“How long to dry a ceiling leak in Encinitas?”
“Pet-safe German roach treatment in Jupiter—how fast does it work?”
“Do I need a permit for sliding door replacement in Carlsbad?”

2) Build an Entity Map You Can Prove

Write the exact nouns/phrases you want assistants to repeat:

Services & sub-services: water damage restoration, emergency extraction; ant control, German cockroach treatment; sliding door replacement.
Cities & neighborhoods: Encinitas (Leucadia), Jupiter (Abacoa), Carlsbad (Bressi Ranch).
Methods/tools: LGR dehumidifiers, gel baits, B&G sprayer, track/roller kits.
Outcomes/metrics: 48–72h dry time, 7–10 day roach reduction, smooth glide post-track swap.

If you can’t show a photo, reading, or review for an entity, lower its priority until you can.

3) Draft the Answer First (Answer Card)

A compact, quotable block placed above the fold:

Example (Water Restoration / Encinitas):
Most ceilings in Encinitas dry in 48–72 hours using LGR dehumidifiers and directed airflow, assuming insulation isn’t saturated. We verify with moisture meters and document for insurance. Call for same-day assessment.

4) Expand to an Answer Page (One Intent Per Page)

Structure:

H1 = the question (“How long to dry a ceiling leak in Encinitas?”)
Answer Card (2–4 sentences)
Steps / Decision tree (what to do first, when to escalate)
Local examples (neighborhood + metric change)
Pricing ranges + variables
FAQ (6–10)
CTA stack (call/text/estimate)

5) Encode Entities Everywhere (But Naturally)

Repeat key entities in H1, first 75–100 words, captions, and FAQs. Mirror wording in GBP services to trigger justifications (“Their website says…”).

6) Add Proof Assets

Job photos with captions that include service + city + outcome (“68% → 12% RH in 48h”).
Short before/after clips.
Review quotes that name the service and city.

7) Distribute With Measurement

Convert Answer Cards into GBP Posts (Urgent Tip, Before/After, What to Expect).
UTM-tag every button: utm_source=google&utm_medium=gbp-post&utm_campaign=yyyy-mm-[service]-[city].

AEO Production Checklist (Per Page)

Answer Card at the top (2–4 sentences, entities included).
Steps and a decision tree (“if X, do Y”).
At least two proof assets (photo/reading/review).
Pricing range + variables.
6–10 FAQs from call logs/PAA.
Internal links up (service hub), across (city hub), down (case studies/FAQs).
Wording matches GBP services and attributes.
Page is mobile-first with call/text above the fold.

Example Answer Pages (Three Trades)

Water Damage — How long to dry a ceiling leak in Encinitas?

Answer Card: 48–72h dry time with LGR + airflow; meter verification; insurance documentation.
Steps: shutoff, stabilize, extract, dry, verify, document.
Local proof: Leucadia job: 68% → 12% RH in 48h; before/after photos.
Pricing: $750–$2,500 typical; variables: material, area, after-hours.
FAQ: “Can I keep ceiling fans on?”, “Is dehumidifier noise normal?”
CTA: Call now; next arrival window.

Pest Control — How fast does pet-safe German roach treatment work in Jupiter?

Answer Card: Visible reduction in 7–10 days using bait-first protocol; 2–3 visits for full elimination; car/appliance cases require an extra follow-up.
Steps: bait placements (no spray conflict), sanitation, follow-up, sealing, monitor.
Local proof: Abacoa kitchen cleared in 10 days; review mentions German roach + Jupiter.
FAQ: “Do I need to empty cabinets?”, “Is gel bait safe for pets?”
CTA: Same-week scheduling.

Handyman — Do I need a permit for sliding door replacement in Carlsbad?

Answer Card: Often no for like-for-like swaps without structural changes; HOA rules may apply. We verify scope and remove old panels.
Steps: assess frame, remove panel, replace track/rollers, adjust, haul away, tune.
Local proof: Bressi Ranch install; “before sticking → after smooth glide” video.
FAQ: “How long does it take?”, “Heavy glass considerations?”
CTA: Book a time window.

AEO Copy Blocks (Paste-Ready)

Answer Card template

Most [service] jobs in [City] resolve in [timeframe] using [method/tool]. We confirm with [metric/test] and document [proof]. [Call/Message] to schedule the next available window.

Decision tree (mini)

Severe case? → Add follow-up within [X days].
Pets/infants present? → Start with reduced-risk method; escalate only if needed.
Multi-unit building? → Coordinate adjacents to prevent re-infestation/leak spread.

Photo caption

[Service] — [Neighborhood]: [metric before] → [after] in [time] using [tool].

AEO Table: Prompt Patterns for Production

Intent	2–3 sentence prompt starter	Where to publish
Emergency	“Write a 3-sentence ‘first 30 minutes’ tip for [service] in [City], include 1 safety step and the call CTA.”	Answer Page + GBP Post
Timing	“Explain how long until [outcome] after [service] in [City], with 1 variable that can extend timing.”	Answer Page
Cost	“Give a realistic $[low–high] range for [service] in [City], list 3 variables.”	Answer Page + Pricing explainer
What to expect	“List 4 steps and a result for [service] in [City]; plain language.”	Answer Page + Post

Editorial SOP (Team Roles & Cadence)

CSR/Dispatch: logs recurring questions by city in a shared sheet.
Techs: capture one photo/reading per job with service + city in the caption.
Content lead: drafts Answer Cards and pages; ensures entity wording mirrors GBP.
Designer: crops/labels photos; creates one simple graphic if needed.
Owner/GM: weekly review (10 minutes); approves next two pages.

8-week cadence

Weeks 1–2: publish two Answer Pages (two cities) per top service.
Weeks 3–4: publish 5–8 FAQs and a pricing explainer.
Weeks 5–6: add two case studies; refresh images.
Weeks 7–8: expand to new neighborhoods; rotate GBP posts that point to these pages.

Measurement Plan (Prove AEO Works)

Metric	Tool	Target	Action if missed
Answer page CTR	Search Console	Upward trend	Tighter titles/meta; more specific question framing
“Their website says…” justifications	Manual spot checks	Increasing	Mirror GBP phrasing; add exact terms to pages
Calls/messages from answer pages	UTMs + call tracking	Weekly growth	Move CTA higher; add click-to-call on mobile
Review topic match	Review monitoring	≥60% mention service/city/outcome	Rotate prompts; coach techs on neutral cues
Assistant citations/paraphrases	Spot tests in assistants	Appear over time	Shorten Answer Card; add proof & schema

Common Pitfalls (And Fixes)

Vague answers → Add numbers, tools, timeframes.
One page, many intents → Split into one intent per page.
No proof → Delay publish; collect at least one photo/reading/review.
Inconsistent wording vs GBP → Mirror exact service names.
Thin internal links → Link up/across/down with literal anchors.

FAQs

Do I need AI-written content?
No. Draft short, human-verified answers and provide proof. Assistants can summarize you.

Is schema required on every page?
Use FAQPage/Article at the template level (handled by your dev stack). Keep this Markdown clean.

How often should I update Answer Pages?
Quarterly or when methods/pricing/outcomes change—refresh the Updated date in your CMS.

Where should Answer Pages live?
Either /answers/<question>/ or as the primary Service + City page if it’s the core intent.

What if I serve many cities?
Clone the top pages to priority cities, swapping examples, neighborhoods, and proof.

AEO for Local Services: Make Your Content the Direct Answer in ChatGPT & Gemini