Did the web just close to AI crawlers?
No. A month of data shows the web closing off free AI training while staying open to the crawlers that put businesses in search results. Under 1 percent of sites block search; 17 percent block training…
Fernwell Answers:
Direct answers to the questions you're asking about AI search and being visible where buying decisions now start.
How long does AEO take to work?
There isn’t a universal timeline. Fixes can reach answers at the next crawl, naming takes months, and visibility wins decay with a 31-day half-life. AEO is a practice, not a project…
Can a free tool measure my AI visibility?
No. A free scan can measure whether an engine can read and quote your page. Whether engines actually name you lives in their answers, and the only way to measure it is to ask…
What is llms.txt and do I need one?
Yes, and it’s a cheap yes. A nearly 14,000-domain study found the file barely moves AI visibility. Ten minutes can’t hurt, but it’s documentation, not a ranking lever…
Do I need AEO if I already invest in SEO?
Probably. A 14,000-site study shows what actually predicts AI citations, and why strong SEO still leaves a gap AEO has to close…
Is my web host blocking AI from seeing my site?
Quite possibly, and you would be the last to know. Your site can look perfect in every browser while a security layer you never turned on challenges the AI crawlers deciding who gets named…
Do people actually use AI to decide what to buy?
Yes. Half of B2B software buyers now start product research in an AI chatbot more often than in Google, and a third have bought from a company they’d never heard of because an AI suggested it…
Why does AI recommend my competitors instead of me?
AI engines recommend the businesses they can understand, verify, and name with confidence. If you’re not in the answer, the engine can’t read you, can’t tell who you are, or has stronger evidence for a competitor…
Does ranking on Google get me into AI answers?
Mostly, no. When Ahrefs studied 15,000 real questions, only 8 percent of pages ChatGPT cited also ranked in Google’s top ten. Ranking and being named are different contests…
Why is my website traffic dropping if my rankings haven’t changed?
Because fewer searches send clicks at all. In early 2026, 68 percent of US Google searches ended without a click. Your rankings can hold steady while the road beneath them narrows…
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
AEO is the practice of making you understandable, citable, and nameable by the AI engines answering your customers’ questions. SEO competes for rankings; AEO competes for the answer…
