How Seattle Realtors Can Get More Leads with Google’s New AI Search in 2025

Table of Contents

1. What Changed with Google Search in 2025?
2. What Is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
3. What Is AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?
4. Why AEO Matters More Than Ever
5. The AEO Template You Can Use Today
6. Quick Steps to Make Your Content AEO-Ready
7. TL;DR – Key Takeaways

What Changed with Google Search in 2025?

At Google I/O 2025, the company announced that AI Overviews (formerly Search Generative Experience) are now rolling out globally. These are summaries generated by AI that answer searchers’ questions directly at the top of the results page.

Instead of clicking into ten blue links, users now see a paragraph-long answer — sometimes with a list or chart — generated from sites that Google’s AI deems most credible and useful.

This means if you’re a real estate agent, and someone types “What’s the best way to buy a home in Ballard?” — Google might show an AI summary… and if your website content fits what the AI wants, you could be the source behind that answer.

That’s what AEO is about.

What Is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

SEO is about helping your website show up in traditional Google search results.

You do this by:

• Using the right keywords (like “Seattle realtor” or “homes in Tacoma”)
• Writing clear, valuable content
• Making your site fast and mobile-friendly
• Earning links from other trusted websites

SEO helps your pages show up as links. But now there’s a new layer to think about.

What Is AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?

AEO is about making your content show up as part of the answers inside Google’s AI Overviews.

It’s not just about ranking a page — it’s about being the answer.

You do this by:

• Writing content that clearly answers real questions
• Formatting content in a structured way (using headings, bullet points, and schema)
• Making it easy for AI to extract key points
• Organizing content the way people talk (question → answer → detail)

Why AEO Matters More Than Ever

If your site isn’t structured for AEO, it might get ignored — even if your SEO is good.

With more people searching in natural language (like “best neighborhoods for tech workers in Seattle”), the sites that answer these directly — in a clear and structured way — are getting picked up by AI.

That means more visibility, more traffic, and more leads.

Especially in a tech-savvy region like Seattle, buyers and sellers are already using AI-enhanced Google to do their research. The agents who adapt now will win later.

The AEO-Optimized Page Template

Here’s a simple structure to use for any blog post, neighborhood guide, or FAQ page:

<title>: Clear, question-based title (e.g., What’s the Best Way to Sell a Home in Tacoma?)

<h1>Restate the question as your headline</h1>

Direct Answer Box:
Write a 1–3 sentence clear, conversational answer.

Table of Contents:
Use anchor links if the post is long.

Follow-up Questions (H2 or H3s):
Include other related questions with short answers.

Images/Data:
Use charts or diagrams. Add alt text.

Content:
Expand on the topic with internal links and outbound links to trusted sites.

Call to Action:
What should the reader do next? (Book a consult, schedule a showing, etc.)

TL;DR:
Summarize key takeaways in 4–5 bullet points.

Schema:
Use FAQPage, Article, and LocalBusiness schema if possible.

Quick Steps to Make Your Content AEO-Ready

1. Start with a question your ideal client might Google
2. Answer it clearly in the first 1–3 sentences
3. Break up content using H2s and bullet lists
4. Add internal links (to your pages) and outbound links (to trusted sources)
5. Use alt text on all images — AI reads them
6. End with a clear CTA (like “Contact me to talk about Queen Anne real estate”)
7. Add structured data (FAQ schema, etc.) if possible
8. Review page speed and mobile-friendliness

TL;DR – Key Takeaways

• SEO helps you get clicks. AEO helps you become the answer.
• Google now favors pages that answer real questions clearly.
• AEO is about formatting your content to be picked by AI.
• Use our AEO template to restructure old pages or write new ones.
• Get ahead of the shift. AI isn’t replacing Google — it’s changing how results appear.

Need help optimizing your site for AEO? Or want to see if your blog is AI-friendly? Reach out and we’ll walk you through it — or build you a template you can re-use for all your pages.