The AEO Divide: Why strategy and execution aren't matching up

AI is reshaping how people discover brands, pushing Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) from experimental tactic to executive mandate. Yet while 68% of marketing leaders report some level of AEO maturity, just 26% of practitioners say they’re actively implementing it — exposing a growing divide as organizations struggle with ownership, measurement, and defining what success actually looks like.

The AEO Divide captures insights from 400 marketers navigating this shift in real time. The report reveals how teams are approaching AEO in practice, where execution breaks down, and what separates early leaders from everyone else.

What you’ll learn from 400 marketers:

What high-maturity AEO teams are doing differently to minimize gaps in expectations and execution
How marketing leaders are restructuring teams and workflows to support AEO goals
Where agencies are playing a critical role in shaping AEO strategy and accelerating progress

Whether you’re building your AEO strategy or trying to operationalize it across teams, this report shows you the patterns across teams getting AEO right, and how to apply those patterns inside your own organization.

You’ll also see how modern marketing teams are using platforms like Webflow to move with the speed, flexibility, and control required to support successful AEO programs.

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Webflow is a Website Experience Platform (WXP) that empowers cross-functional teams of marketers, designers, and developers to visually build, manage, and optimize stunning websites with AI-driven personalization and a powerful composable CMS, enabling businesses to drive real, measurable results.