What is AEO readiness and why does it matter?

AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are becoming the new search interface. AEO (answer engine optimization) readiness measures how likely an AI model will cite your content. Unlike traditional SEO, AEO focuses on structured data, content clarity, and technical foundation - not links. A site with AEO readiness can compete for citations even from new sources.

What does the Sonar scanner check?

Sonar scans five critical dimensions: schema markup coverage (structured data), content structure (clarity and organization), crawlability (technical accessibility), copy quality (precision and depth), and internal linking (semantic connection). We also measure traditional SEO health. Both scores reveal where your content stands against what AI models look for.

How do I improve my AEO score?

Start with schema: add JSON-LD markup for your content type. Then improve structure - use clear headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points. Ensure crawlability by fixing canonical URLs and meta tags. Strengthen copy with concrete examples and data. Add internal links to related pages. Use the Forge tool to generate schema for specific issues, or learn the fundamentals in the Academy.

Is the scanner really free?

Yes. Sonar is free forever - unlimited scans, no credit card required. Free tier scores cap at 65/100 to encourage progression to Merlin, which activates independent scoring and opens scores up to 100. But core AEO insights and technical audits are always free.

Why would I pay for Merlin if I get free scans?

Merlin ($39.99) is for AI agents that need verified trust identity. It binds your agent identity to a permanent BTS key on the Borealis Protocol network. Free keys cap at 65/100; Merlin keys reach 85+ with access to Aegis verification. If you're running an autonomous agent that other systems need to trust, Merlin moves you into W3C DID territory.

AEO Readiness Scanner

Your site is either cited by AI answer engines or invisible to them.

Until now.

Schema Structure Crawlability Copy Links Meta Headings Technical

Scroll

Two Ways of Seeing

Traditional search optimization and AI answer engines evaluate your content through completely different lenses.

Traditional SEO

keyword backlink ranking CTR

Keywords. Links. Rankings. The old map.

Answer Engine Optimization

Structure. Schema. Meaning. The new territory.

How AI Actually Sees Your Site

This is what happens when an answer engine evaluates your content for citation.

sonar_analysis.log

$ sonar scan https://example.com

This is what Sonar measures. Every dimension. Every signal. Every opportunity.

Three Steps to AI Visibility

Scan. Score. Fix. Repeat until AI has no choice but to cite you.

⚙

Scan

Paste any URL. Sonar crawls it in seconds, checking schema coverage, content structure, crawlability, copy quality, and cross-linking against what AI models look for.

$ sonar scan yoursite.com

✓ Page fetched (1.2s)

✓ 5 AEO dimensions scored

✓ 6 SEO dimensions scored

◆

Score

Get two scores: AEO Readiness (will AI cite you?) and SEO Health (traditional optimization). Each broken into dimensions with granular check-level detail.

AEO: 87/100 A+

SEO: 72/100 B+

! Schema coverage: 60%

Fix available via Forge

✓

Fix

Every issue comes with a specific fix. Low schema? Forge generates JSON-LD for you. Weak structure? Detailed guidance. Claim a free BTS key to track progress.

✓ JSON-LD schema generated

✓ BTS key: BOR-7x9...

Rescan in 48h to measure lift

+8 pts estimated gain

Initializing scan engine

Fetching page content

Analyzing structure + schema

Scoring AEO + SEO dimensions

Generating readiness report

Sonar engine warming up...

An error occurred. Please try again.

AEO Readiness

-- /100

SEO Health

-- /100

Dimensions

Top Issues

Priority Actions

Free BTS Identity Key

Your site scored --/100

Claim your free Borealis Trust Key to register this domain on the identity network and track your AEO progress over time.

JSON-LD Schema Generated

Need More Help?

Sonar gives you the diagnosis. Merlin helps you implement the cure.

Learn About Merlin

What is AEO?

Answer Engine Optimization is the practice of structuring your content so that AI models view it as authoritative and citation-worthy. Unlike traditional SEO, which optimizes for search rankings, AEO optimizes for the actual systems that AI use to synthesize answers from web content.

AI answer engines look for:

Structured data - Schema markup that identifies what your content is (Article, FAQ, Recipe, etc.)
Content hierarchy - Clear H1 > H2 > H3 structure with semantic HTML
Crawlability - No paywalls, no heavy JavaScript rendering, clean meta robots
Copy quality - Evidence-based writing with authoritative voice
Cross-linking - Internal links that show how your content relates to other pages
Author verification - Who wrote this? Can I trust them?

When an AI system evaluates your page for citation, it's not asking "Will this rank?" It's asking "Is this trustworthy enough to put my name behind it?" That's a completely different optimization target.

How to Improve Your AEO Score

Priority 1: Schema Coverage

If your content doesn't have structured data, AI models have to guess what it is. Add schema markup:

Articles: Use Article schema with author, datePublished, dateModified
FAQs: Use FAQPage schema with mainEntity for each question - answer pair
How-Tos: Use HowTo schema with step-by-step instructions
Product/Service pages: Use Product or Service schema with rating, price, availability

Priority 2: Content Structure

H1 > H2 > H3 hierarchy. One H1 per page. Semantic HTML (no div-only layouts). Clean meta descriptions.

Priority 3: Copy Quality

AI models detect thin content, keyword stuffing, and AI-generated spam. Write with authority. Use original research, data, examples. Answer questions completely. Show your expertise.

Priority 4: Cross-Linking

Link to other relevant pages on your site. Use descriptive anchor text (not "click here"). Show how your content relates to your broader knowledge base.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between AEO and SEO?

Traditional SEO optimizes for Google's ranking algorithm - keywords, links, mobile friendliness, page speed. AEO optimizes for AI answer engines like Perplexity, Claude, ChatGPT, and others that generate synthesized answers from multiple sources. The overlap is real (both like good structure and fast pages), but the target is different. SEO asks "Will I rank?" AEO asks "Will I be cited?" Learn more in the Academy.

Is Sonar free forever?

Yes. Sonar is a free public tool. Scan as many pages as you want. The BTS Identity Key is also free - claim it to register your domain on the network and track progress over time. The only paid feature is advanced integrations and priority support, which are coming later.

What's a BTS Key?

BTS stands for Borealis Trust System. A BTS Key is your domain's identity on the network. It lets you claim your site, track AEO progress, and participate in the trust network. Think of it like a W3C DID (Decentralized Identifier), but for content trust. Keys issued today will become W3C-compliant DIDs when the platform launches. Learn more about BTS.

How does Sonar analyze my page?

Sonar crawls your URL using a headless browser, parses the HTML, evaluates 50+ checks across 5 AEO dimensions and 6 SEO dimensions, then scores and ranks issues by impact. It doesn't store your content - results are deleted after 7 days unless you claim your site. No account required for scanning.

Can you generate schema for me?

Yes. Use Forge, our free schema generator. Click any "Schema" issue in your Sonar report and Forge will generate the JSON-LD you need - then copy it directly into your page's . Forge supports Article, FAQ, How-To, Product, Organization, Author, and more. It's one-click generation.

What happens after I claim my BTS Key?

You verify domain ownership via email, then your domain is registered on the identity network. You can rescan anytime to track progress, export reports, and (soon) integrate with Merlin for automated fixes. Your BTS Key is your permanent identity on Borealis - it carries forward when the platform upgrades.