Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about AEO, pricing, timelines, and how The Midnight Garden helps businesses get recommended by AI.
The Midnight Garden provides AI Engine Optimization (AEO) services that make businesses visible to AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI, and Claude. Services include an AI Visibility Audit ($97), full AEO implementation ($497), ongoing monitoring ($47/month), and strategy sessions ($297/hour). The methodology is the same premium approach agencies charge $5,000 to $15,000 for, delivered at accessible prices using AI-augmented workflows.
The Basics
About AEO
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
AEO is the practice of making your business show up when customers ask AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI who to hire in your area. It involves structured data implementation, entity engineering, answer-ready content, and authority signal alignment so AI systems can understand, trust, and recommend your business.
How is AI Engine Optimization different from regular SEO?
SEO optimizes for Google search rankings and drives clicks. AEO optimizes for AI recommendations and drives authority. SEO gets you listed in ten blue links. AEO gets you named as the recommended choice inside AI-generated answers. They work together. AEO builds on top of strong SEO.
Will AEO replace my current SEO work?
No, it enhances it. Think of SEO as your storefront and AEO as the digital concierge who tells everyone your store is the best place to go. Strong traditional SEO remains the foundation. AEO adds the structural, schema, and entity signals that AI retrieval systems specifically evaluate.
Is AEO just for big businesses?
Actually, small local businesses have an advantage. AI engines prefer clear, specific answers over corporate marketing speak. Justice-impacted founders building focused, authentic businesses are exactly what AI systems reward. Justice-impacted is the focus, not the fence.
Services & Pricing
What You Get
What do I get in the AI Visibility Audit?
Screenshots of what AI recommends today, who it names instead of you, why you're not being named, a fix list ranked by impact, competitor analysis showing who AI is naming in your category, a schema pack with ready-to-deploy JSON-LD files, and a 30-day execution plan. Delivered in 7 days for $97.
How much does AEO cost?
AI Visibility Audit: $97 one-time (7-day delivery). Full AEO Implementation: $497 one-time (structured data, answer-ready content, authority alignment, 30-day monitoring). Ongoing Monitoring: $47/month (monthly tracking, schema updates, quarterly competitor analysis). Strategy Session: $297/hour (one-on-one deep-dive with Troy).
How do you keep prices this low?
AI tools collapsed the cost of delivery. The methodology is the same premium approach that agencies charge $5,000 to $15,000 for. The difference is Troy uses AI to handle what used to take a team of five. The savings get passed to the client. This is a market play, not charity.
What exactly do you measure with AEO?
AI recommendation frequency across multiple models (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI, Claude, Gemini), citation accuracy, competitor positioning in AI answers, AI-driven traffic increases, schema validation, and entity consistency across platforms. Monthly screenshots and analysis are provided.
Implementation
How It Works
How long until I see results in AI search?
Unlike traditional SEO which can take 6+ months, AI engines update their knowledge more quickly. Most businesses see measurable changes in AI citations within 2 to 4 weeks of implementing the audit recommendations. Results depend on your starting point and how quickly you implement.
Do I need a new website for AEO?
Usually no. The Midnight Garden typically works with your existing site, adding the structured data, content organization, and entity signals that AI engines require. If your site has fundamental technical issues, we will tell you, but most businesses can get AI-visible without a rebuild.
What is The Mirror?
The Mirror is a multi-stage interactive audit presentation showing exactly how AI sees your business versus your competitors. Built from real data: 5 AI engines, 15 queries per business, 60 opportunities to be recommended. It shows real numbers, not promises. This is what the $97 AI Visibility Audit produces. See a sample.
What is the AEO Snapshot tool?
The AEO Snapshot is a free instant health check. Enter your domain and get a report covering DNS, sitemap, schema markup, page speed, llms.txt, and AI answerability. No signup required. It shows what's broken. The full $97 audit shows who's beating you and why. Try it free.
Working Together
Getting Started
Is this only for justice-impacted businesses?
No. Justice-impacted entrepreneurs and the organizations that serve them are the primary focus, but the methodology is universal. AEO works for any business that gets found through recommendations. The competitive thesis is straightforward: modern AI tools make premium methodology deliverable at accessible prices. Justice-impacted is the focus, not the fence.
Is the first conversation really free?
Yes. No catch. We talk, Troy learns about your situation, and gives you an honest assessment. If he can help, he'll tell you how. If he can't, he'll tell you that too. No pitch, no pressure.
Who is Troy Richard Carr?
Troy is the founder of The Midnight Garden, based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Former correctional facility supervisor, creator of Steel Man Resumes (900+ resumes for justice-impacted job seekers), FICGN fellowship recipient, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, 15+ years in blue-collar operations. He is the only AEO practitioner building dedicated infrastructure for justice-impacted markets. Read more.
How quickly do you respond?
Within 24 hours on business days. Usually faster. Troy doesn't do the "make them wait to seem important" game.
Still Have Questions?
The first conversation is free. No pitch, no pressure. Just an honest assessment.
Or start with a free AEO Snapshot to see where you stand.