AEO for SaaS: Get Cited When Prospects Ask "Best [Your Category] Software"
Your competitors rank below you. But when decision-makers ask ChatGPT for software recommendations, AI names them — not you.
Every day, thousands of SaaS buyers ask AI assistants:
AI responds with 2-3 recommendations. If you're not one of them, you're not in the conversation.
Answer Architecture for SaaS ensures you're in the answer.
You're Winning SEO. You're Losing AI.
"We rank on page one for our core keywords. Our content is solid. But in sales calls, prospects keep mentioning competitors who 'came recommended.' We couldn't figure out where."
— The pattern we see from SaaS companies
The answer: AI assistants.
When we audit their queries in ChatGPT and Perplexity, we find competitors with:
But they have structured data, Q&A content, and expert attribution. So AI cites them.
The Math
| Your Status | AI Behavior |
|---|---|
| Rank #1, no AEO | AI might cite you. Might not. |
| Rank #5, strong AEO | AI cites you by name with a recommendation |
Rankings help. But structure determines citation.
The Queries Your Buyers Are Asking AI
Comparison Queries
- "Best [category] software for [use case]"
- "[Product A] vs [Product B] vs [Product C]"
- "Top [category] tools in 2026"
Fit Queries
- "Which [category] is best for [company size]?"
- "Best [category] for [industry]?"
- "[Category] that integrates with [tool]?"
Problem Queries
- "How do I solve [problem]?"
- "What tools help with [pain point]?"
- "Software for [specific need]?"
These aren't hypothetical. Run your category queries in ChatGPT right now.
Who does it recommend? If it's not you, that's the gap Answer Architecture closes.
Answer Architecture for SaaS: The 60-Day Playbook
SaaS Citation Audit
Week 1-2
We run your top 20 category queries through ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overview.
You'll know:
- - Who AI recommends for your keywords
- - Why they're getting cited
- - Your citation readiness score
Priority Page Mapping
Week 2-3
Not all pages matter equally. For SaaS, these drive 80% of citations:
- - Product/features pages
- - Comparison pages
- - Use case pages
- - Integration & pricing pages
Implementation
Week 3-6
We implement Answer Architecture across your priority pages:
- - FAQ schema deployment
- - Comparison content restructure
- - Expert attribution markup
- - Citeable differentiators
Tracking & Optimization
Ongoing
Weekly citation monitoring. Monthly optimization. We track:
- - Citation count by query
- - Citation sentiment
- - Competitive citation share
- - New query opportunities
Logistics SaaS: 0 → 43 AI Citations in 60 Days
A Series B logistics SaaS company ranked #3 for "logistics software for mid-market." Good SEO. Solid content. But sales kept hearing about a competitor "that came recommended."
When we tested their queries in ChatGPT: the competitor was getting cited. They weren't. The competitor had FAQ schema, Q&A structured content, and CEO credentials on technical articles. Our client had none of this.
60-Day Implementation Sprint
- 1. FAQ schema on 12 product/use case pages
- 2. Comparison page restructure (vs. 4 main competitors)
- 3. CEO bio + credentials added to technical content
- 4. Integration pages reformatted with Q&A structure
- 5. Citeable stats pulled from proprietary data
AEO amplified their SEO — same rankings, new discovery channel.
SaaS AEO Packages
60-Day Pilot
$5,000
- Citation audit (20 priority queries)
- Implementation on 5 priority pages
- 30-day citation tracking
Best for: Testing before full commitment
Join Waitlist4-6 Month Engagement
From $10,000
per month
- Full citation audit + strategy
- Onsite optimization (daily publishing)
- Link building & offpage AEO
- Weekly citation monitoring
Best for: Comprehensive Answer Architecture
Get StartedPricing varies based on site size and competitive intensity. The free audit will give you a specific recommendation.
SaaS AEO FAQ
No. For most SaaS companies, optimizing 10-15 pages delivers 80%+ of citation lift. We focus on core product pages, top comparison pages, and highest-traffic use case pages.
Schema is necessary but not sufficient. Common issues include: FAQs answering the wrong questions (not what AI users ask), answers that are too vague or promotional, missing expert attribution, and content structure that doesn't support AI extraction. We audit all of this.
Answer Architecture complements SEO — it doesn't replace it. Your SEO drives rankings. AEO ensures those rankings translate to AI citations. Most clients run both in parallel. Some even see SEO improvements from AEO work (structured content helps traditional search too).
Depends on your ACV and sales cycle. But consider: AI citations reach buyers before they hit Google, cited companies enter the consideration set automatically, and sales conversations start warmer ("I saw you recommended by ChatGPT"). For SaaS with $20K+ ACV, a single AI-sourced deal covers a full engagement.
Most SaaS clients see first citations within 30-45 days. Full citation coverage for priority queries typically takes 60-90 days.
Related Resources
Your Buyers Are Asking AI for Recommendations Right Now
"Best project management software for agencies."
"Top CRM for early-stage startups."
"Which [your category] is best for [your ICP]?"
These queries are happening today. AI is answering with 2-3 recommendations. If you're not in the answer, you're leaving pipeline on the table — and you'll never see it in your analytics because those buyers never reach your site.
We'll run your top queries live and show you exactly who AI is recommending instead of you.