The search landscape is rapidly shifting. Users no longer click through individual search results pages. Instead, they ask questions and immediately consume the answers summarized by AI. At the heart of this shift is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). The problem is that most corporate websites are still optimized solely for human reading. While their designs have become more sophisticated, they are often structurally disadvantaged for AI to understand and interpret. From an AEO perspective, many corporate websites, while rich in information, are structured in a way that prevents them from generating answers.

The fundamental reason why corporate websites are vulnerable to AEO.

The biggest limitation of corporate websites is that their information is often focused solely on "explanation." In the AEO environment, what matters most is not explanation, but clear answers to questions. However, most corporate pages suffer from the following structural problems.

First, the key information is buried deep in the paragraph.

Second, there are too many messages mixed on one page.

Third, the relationship between questions and answers is not explicitly revealed.

This structure is easy for humans to read, but it is difficult for AI to determine which sentence is the answer.

Limitations of 'Page-by-Page Design'

Traditional corporate websites have been designed around pages, with menu-centric information structures like company introduction, service introduction, business areas, and contact information pages. However, in the AEO environment, the answer unit, not the page, becomes more important. AI seeks out readily available sentences for questions like, "What does this company do?", "Who is this service suitable for?", and "What problem does it solve?" Clear blocks of answers are needed, not entire pages. Page-centric design or flashy interaction design simply cannot meet this need.

The Problem with Corporate Language-Centric Content

Corporate websites still contain a lot of abstract language. Phrases like "the best solution," "differentiated service," and "innovative technology" are familiar to brands, but from an AEO perspective, they are ambiguous. AI doesn't value flowery language and exclamations. Instead, it requires specific conditions, targets, and outcomes. Content dominated by corporate language is ambiguous even to humans, and for AI, it provides insufficient information to provide answers.

Structural transformation required from an AEO perspective

To comply with AEO, the website structure must be fundamentally redesigned. The three key points are as follows.

First, we need to shift to a question-centered information structure.

Second, you need to create a block of readily quotable answers for each question.

Third, these answers should be linked to structured data across pages.

That is, you need to organize enough content on your homepage to be close to the answer library.

Question-centered content design approach

The starting point for AEO response is real questions. Content should be restructured based on the questions customers pose to search engines or AI. For example, sections should be divided around questions like, "What kind of company is this suitable for?", "What preparations are needed for adoption?", and "How is it different from existing methods?" Under each question, a summarized answer in a paragraph or sentence should be presented first. This structure is both friendly to people and clear to AI.

The Relationship Between Structured Data and AEO

AEO isn't just about content structure. Structured data (schemas) signal to AI that this information is "official and usable as an answer." Schemas like FAQ, HowTo, Organization, Product, and Service aren't just SEO elements; they're key tools for increasing citation likelihood in an AEO environment. The problem is that many corporate websites only partially implement this structure or don't consider it at all.

The need for change in corporate website operation methods

AEO response doesn't end with a single overhaul. New questions constantly emerge, and AI's preferred response methods also evolve. Therefore, a corporate website shouldn't be a static asset, but rather a continuously updated knowledge system. Content shouldn't be solely the domain of the marketing department; it should connect information from sales, customer support, technology, and legal departments. Only then can AI understand the company as a three-dimensional entity.

Summary of Response Strategies from an AEO Perspective

The structural limitations of corporate websites aren't a matter of design or technology. They're a matter of information design philosophy. A strong corporate website in the AEO environment possesses the following characteristics.

• Put the question out there, not hiding it.
• Give your answers briefly and clearly.
• Prioritize user language over corporate language
• Strengthen trust with structured data
• Manage content as an operational asset

Insight: The website has evolved from a 'space for explanation' to a 'space for answers.'

From an AEO perspective, the role of a corporate website becomes clear. It should be more than just a place to present a polished brand image; it should be the first and official source for answers to AI and user questions. Websites that fail to make this transition will disappear from search results, while those that succeed will become benchmarks in the AI era. Ultimately, AEO isn't about technology; it's about a strategy for how a company presents itself.