How should performance be measured?

Ask precisely how the agency defines and tracks citation rate or visibility score, across how many test queries, and whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google, and Naver are tracked separately. There's no industry-standard method yet, so consistency and explainability matter more than any single number.

What's a realistic timeline for results?

ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google, and Naver each run independent crawling and indexing cycles, so timing varies by engine. Be wary of agencies promising results within a fixed number of months; a credible agency instead explains its measurement cadence and review checkpoints.

Should you avoid agencies that won't explain their methods?

Yes. If an agency can't concretely describe what it does — schema markup, content restructuring, crawl-accessibility fixes — or simply calls it a trade secret, treat that as a transparency red flag.

What Should You Ask Before Signing an AEO Agency Contract?

Before you sign, get four things in writing: how results are measured, a realistic timeline, transparent methods, and clear exit terms. A verbal promise is not a contract.

Updated 2026-07-07

Frequently asked questions

What Should You Ask Before Signing an AEO Agency Contract?: Before you sign, get four things in writing: how results are measured, a realistic timeline, transparent methods, and clear exit terms. A verbal promise is not a contract.
How should performance be measured?: Ask precisely how the agency defines and tracks citation rate or visibility score, across how many test queries, and whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google, and Naver are tracked separately. There's no industry-standard method yet, so consistency and explainability matter more than any single number.
What's a realistic timeline for results?: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google, and Naver each run independent crawling and indexing cycles, so timing varies by engine. Be wary of agencies promising results within a fixed number of months; a credible agency instead explains its measurement cadence and review checkpoints.
Should you avoid agencies that won't explain their methods?: Yes. If an agency can't concretely describe what it does — schema markup, content restructuring, crawl-accessibility fixes — or simply calls it a trade secret, treat that as a transparency red flag.