AEO Keyword Research: Mining Prompts and Conversational Intents

Stop treating keywords like static search volumes — mine prompts, map conversations

Feeling stuck: your traditional keyword lists show volume, but rankings and conversions keep stalling. In 2026, that’s because search is no longer only about discrete queries — it’s about prompts, follow-ups, and multi-turn answers. This guide shows how to build high-value keyword sets from prompt mining, question patterns, and AI intent clusters instead of relying on raw monthly volumes.

Why the shift matters in 2026

Late 2025 and early 2026 reinforced what many SEO teams suspected: major search and AI platforms are prioritizing conversational relevance and answer quality. Generative summaries, chat-style SERPs, and assistant integrations mean users expect immediate, context-aware answers. HubSpot’s recent AEO coverage called this change Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) — optimizing for AI-driven answers, not just blue links.

“AEO means optimizing content so an AI can surface the right answer, format it, and follow up — not simply matching a query to a page.” — HubSpot (AEO Guide, Jan 2026)

The practical consequence: raw query volume is an increasingly blunt instrument. A handful of low-volume, high-conversion prompts that lead to multi-turn interactions or purchases can be more valuable than thousands of low-intent searches.

Core concept: Build keyword sets from prompts and intent clusters

Instead of asking “How many searches for X?” start asking “What prompts do users give, how do they follow up, and what answer shapes satisfy them?” The workflow below converts conversational signals into prioritized keyword sets you can map to content templates and measurement plans.

Overview: The 7-step AEO prompt-mining workflow

1. Collect prompt signals from multiple sources
2. Normalize and expand prompts
3. Embed & cluster prompts into AI intent clusters
4. Label clusters by search vs. answer intent and question patterns
5. Map clusters to content templates and delivery format
6. Prioritize with AEO-specific ROI signals
7. Deploy, test, and iterate with A/B and generative-SERP KPIs

1) Collect prompt signals: where conversational intent lives

Start with data you already own. Then add external sources to fill gaps. The richer the conversational context, the better your clusters.

• Site search logs — high-intent queries, often phrased like prompts.
• Onsite chat and chatbot transcripts — explicit multi-turn prompts and reformulations.
• Support tickets and helpdesk transcripts — real user language and follow-ups.
• Search Console & server logs — query impressions and click behavior (for baseline signals).
• Community forums, Reddit, Stack Exchange — diversified phrasing and long-tail prompts.
• People Also Ask,

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