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Original Research

The State of AEO Adoption Among US SMBs

We're surveying 300+ business owners on AI-search adoption, barriers, and plans. Take 4 minutes — get the full report free, plus a $499 48-hour audit.

Start Survey

4 minutes • Anonymous • Free report

300+

Businesses surveyed

June 23

Early access for participants

$499

Free audit offer

Why This Research Matters

AI search is reshaping how buyers find solutions. But most SMBs don't understand AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) — what it is, whether they need it, or how much to invest. This research will surface real market data on:

  • What % of SMBs are actually using ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity for buying decisions
  • How many have optimized for AI search (and how many haven't)
  • The biggest barriers stopping SMBs from investing in AEO
  • What SMBs would actually pay for AI-citation services

Take the Survey

Your data is anonymous and will never be sold.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the report be used?

The findings will be published in a comprehensive research report and pitched to Tier 1 industry outlets (HubSpot, CMSWire, TechCrunch, Search Engine Land). You will be named as a survey participant (or anonymous, your choice). The data informs industry conversations about AEO adoption and helps vendors understand SMB needs.

What's the free $499 audit?

A 48-hour written audit of your website's AEO readiness. We'll assess your schema.org implementation, FAQ structure, content extractability, entity graph completeness, and citation potential across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. You'll get a 12-15 page report with specific recommendations.

When do I get the report?

Survey participants get early access on June 23, 2026 — 7 days before the public release on June 30, 2026. The report will be sent via email as a PDF.

Do you sell survey data to vendors?

No. Survey data is aggregated for the report only. We never sell individual responses or contact information.

Learn the AEO Framework

Before you survey, read the NetWebMedia AEO Methodology — the 5-phase framework that powers citation generation.

Read the Methodology