Answer engines · definitions

AEO vs GEO vs SEO: what's the difference?

Q: What is the difference between AEO, GEO and SEO?

SEO optimises pages to rank in search results. AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) optimises to be cited in direct AI answers. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) shapes how generative AI represents and recommends you. They share the same foundations and work best together.

Last updated 14 August 2026

SEO, AEO and GEO are three layers of the same goal: being found and recommended. SEO ranks your pages in search results; AEO gets your business cited in direct AI answers; GEO shapes how generative AI represents and recommends you. They share foundations — clean schema, a clear entity and trusted content — and work best together.

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Side by side

The three approaches compared

Dimension	SEO	AEO	GEO
Full name	Search Engine Optimisation	Answer Engine Optimisation	Generative Engine Optimisation
Goal	Rank a page in results	Be cited in a direct answer	Shape how AI represents and recommends you
Where it shows	Google search results	AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity	Any generative AI response
Success looks like	Higher position, more clicks	Named or quoted in the answer	Accurately recommended across answers
Main levers	Keywords, links, technical health	Schema, answer-first content	Entity clarity, trusted third-party sources

The overlap

Where they meet — and why order matters

The three are not competitors; they are a stack. SEO is the foundation: without a crawlable, fast, clearly structured site, neither answer engines nor generative models can read you cleanly. AEO and GEO share almost all of the same technical work, which is why most practitioners treat "AI visibility" as one discipline.

The practical sequence is to fix the shared foundations first — technical SEO, structured data, a consistent entity and an accurate Google Business Profile — because those improvements pay off across search, answer engines and generative AI simultaneously. Then you layer on answer-first content and earned trust signals.

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We do not guarantee rankings or AI mentions. We improve the public signals AI, Google and Maps use to understand, trust and recommend a business.

FAQ

AEO, GEO and SEO — common questions.

What is the difference between AEO, GEO and SEO?SEO optimises pages to rank in search results. AEO optimises to be cited in direct AI answers. GEO shapes how generative AI represents and recommends you. They share the same foundations and work best together.

Are AEO and GEO the same thing?They overlap so heavily that many teams use them interchangeably under the umbrella of AI visibility. AEO stresses being cited in answers; GEO stresses how generative models represent you. Both depend on schema, entity clarity and trusted sources.

Do I still need SEO if I do AEO and GEO?Yes. SEO is the foundation. A crawlable, fast, well-structured site with a clear entity is a prerequisite for both AEO and GEO. You add the AI layer on top of solid SEO, you do not replace it.

Which should a local business prioritise?Fix the shared foundations first — technical SEO, structured data, a consistent entity and Google Business Profile — because they benefit search, answer engines and generative AI at once. Then extend into answer-first content and trust signals.

How do I know where my business stands across all three?Start with a free AI Visibility Snapshot. It scores how AI, Google and Maps understand your business today across SEO, AEO and GEO signals and names the three fixes to make first.