AEO in 2026: 7 Tips from a PE-Backed Portfolio Roundtable
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) has emerged as a distinct discipline alongside SEO as LLMs and AI-powered search reshape how patients and consumers find healthcare services. A roundtable hosted by the Summit portfolio—a PE-backed operator group—surfaced key themes: LLMs are reducing direct web traffic but opening new influence channels; most organizations are building short-term tactics to shape what AI says about them; SEO fundamentals remain essential as a foundation; and monitoring off-site signals is increasingly critical for measuring down-funnel impact. The post shares seven actionable tips and argues that AEO and SEO are complementary, with long-term success requiring brands to be present everywhere that matters to their audience.
Healthcare marketing teams investing in SEO and paid search need to adapt now. LLMs are influencing patient decisions before they ever reach a website—meaning AEO isn’t a future consideration, it’s a current gap that PE-backed operators and growth teams should already be measuring and actively addressing.
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