How long does AEO take to work?

AI answer engines re-crawl the web and re-synthesize their answers on their own schedule, so changes aren’t instant. Once the prerequisite is in place (a readable, plain-text page answering the exact question, with an inline FAQ and machine-readable pricing), the engines have something to extract, and a business typically begins showing up over the following weeks.

Two things speed it up: a corroborating second source (a directory or local listing that agrees on your details and price), and being early in a city where few clinics have done the work. Two things slow it down: heavy local competition that already publishes readable content, and a thin or hard-to-read existing site.

Be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed citation by a fixed date: AI answers shift and no honest provider controls them. The durable approach is to publish the readable content, add corroboration, and keep it fresh, which is exactly what compounds a lead over time.