AEO
What is the difference between SEO, AEO, and GEO?
Short answer
SEO optimizes for ranking in traditional search results, AEO optimizes for being cited by AI answer engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and GEO optimizes for being recommended by name inside generative AI responses. All three run in parallel and require different signals to win.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) competes for position in a list of blue links. The user sees ten results and picks one. Winning signals: backlinks, page speed, keyword relevance, domain authority.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) competes to be the source cited when an AI generates an answer. The user sees your name attached to a fact. Winning signals: front-loaded direct answers, FAQPage and Article schema, entity clarity, topical depth, and structured content that AI extractors can lift cleanly.
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) competes to be recommended by name inside a generated response. The user reads 'a good option is X' with your business as X. Winning signals: cross-platform entity consistency, third-party validation, named brand mentions across trusted sources, and comprehensive topical authority that makes a model confident enough to recommend you by name.
The mistake most businesses make is treating these as sequential (do SEO first, then AEO later). They are not. A well-optimized page can win all three at once. Direct answers help AEO. Consistent branding helps GEO. Fast, well-structured pages still help SEO. Modern search visibility is a stacked play, not a linear one.
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