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AEO Canon · the reference for answer-engine optimization
Specialist6 lessons · ~2h · Specialist tier

AEO for Small Business

Get a small business found, recommended, and cited by AI on limited time and budget — the highest-leverage moves, a 30-day plan, and solo execution.

By Burke Atkerson, Founder & Principal AEO Strategist

What you'll learn

  • Sequence AEO for a small business: foundation first, authority over time.
  • Judge where a small business can realistically win citations.
  • Execute the cheapest, highest-impact moves before paying for tools.
  • Run a 30-day plan from audit to first citations.
  • Do AEO solo, without a marketing team or budget.
  • Get a service business recommended by AI.

Syllabus

  1. Where to StartBuild the foundation you control — readable, answer-first content — then earn authority over time. This is the order that fits a small business.Reuses: AEO for Small Business: Where to Start
  2. Can You Compete With Big Brands?On specific, well-answered questions, a small business can absolutely win AI citations. Here is why citations are not winner-take-all — and where to compete.Reuses: Can Small Businesses Compete in AI Search?
  3. The Cheapest High-Impact MovesThe free or near-free actions that move AI visibility the most — in priority order, so a small business spends effort where it counts.Reuses: The Cheapest High-Impact AEO Moves
  4. The 30-Day PlanA concrete, week-by-week ramp: audit and fix the foundation, publish answer-first pages, then start earning mentions and measuring.Reuses: The 30-Day Small Business AEO Plan
  5. AEO Without a Marketing TeamThe minimum viable routine a solo owner can sustain — the few moves that matter, free tools, and manual measurement.Reuses: AEO Without a Marketing Team
  6. Get Recommended by AIThe reviews, mentions, and clear service answers that make AI name your business when someone asks who to hire.Reuses: How Service Businesses Can Get Recommended by AI

Specialist tier · Tier 3 Specialist Certificate

Finish all 6 lessons to earn your Tier 3 Specialist Certificate.

Complete every lesson and pass the knowledge checks to claim a shareable Tier 3 Specialist Certificate — proof you've mastered AEO for Small Business. Practitioner certificates stack toward full AEO mastery.