# AEO agency vs software for a startup: which should own the work? - working worksheet

Reviewed alongside the Eli guide: https://hireeli.io/resources/aeo-agency-vs-software-startup

## Decision to make

Choose between an AEO agency, software or a hybrid operating model

Owner: ____________________
Review date: ____________________
Canonical page or destination: ____________________

## Buyer questions

- [ ] Should a startup hire an AEO agency or buy software?
- [ ] Which AEO work needs specialist judgment?
- [ ] Can software replace digital PR?
- [ ] What does a hybrid AEO model look like?

## Evidence-led work plan

### 1. Choose software for a recurring evidence loop

Software fits when the team needs to monitor a stable question set, preserve raw provider answers, rank supported actions, manage approvals and verify owned-site work repeatedly.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 2. Choose an agency for bounded expertise and relationships

An experienced agency can be valuable for complex migrations, technical architecture, original studies, creative campaigns, digital PR and executive positioning.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 3. Do not outsource the source of market learning

Keep access to the question portfolio, raw answers, cited sources, website history and outcomes.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 4. Use a hybrid when the work has two cadences

Let software handle daily or weekly observation, triage and standard owned-page work.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 5. Compare cost against completed interventions

Include software, retainer, internal review, development and distribution time.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

## Source ledger

- [ ] Google Search Central: AI features and your website: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
- [ ] Google Search Central: people-first content guidance: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content
- [ ] Eli: AI Visibility Index methodology: https://hireeli.io/ai-visibility-index/methodology
- [ ] Eli: current plans and free tier: https://hireeli.io/pricing

## Measurement boundary

Baseline date and exact context: ____________________
7-day observation: ____________________
14-day observation: ____________________
30-day observation: ____________________
Known limitations: ____________________

Keep technical eligibility, citations, recommendations, visits, leads and revenue as separate evidence. This worksheet does not guarantee an external ranking or commercial result.