GEO vs SEO vs AEO: what is the difference?
Published 4 min read
Mostly the same work, with a different scoreboard. SEO counts rankings and clicks. GEO and AEO count whether AI names and cites you.
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The short answer
GEO, SEO and AEO all work on the same pages. SEO (search engine optimization) aims for high rankings and clicks in search results. AEO (answer engine optimization) aims to be the direct answer. GEO (generative engine optimization) aims to be named and cited in AI answers. Good pages help all three.
How do SEO, AEO and GEO compare?
The table puts the three side by side, with what they share.
| Term | Goal | Where it shows | What is measured | What overlaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEO | Rank high and get clicks | Search results pages, such as Google and Bing | Rankings, impressions, clicks | Pages bots can read, clear text, links from other sites |
| AEO | Be the direct answer to a question | Featured snippets, voice assistants, AI answers | How often your page is used as the answer | Question headings with short answers |
| GEO | Be named and cited in AI answers | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and AI Mode | Share of answers that name you, and the pages cited | The same pages SEO works on |
What changes for one page?
Take one pricing page. The work is the same, the scoreboard is not.
Example: SEO view
The page ranks third on Google. You count clicks.
Example: GEO view
You ask AI which payroll tools fit a team of 40. You check if it names you and cites this page.
Is GEO replacing SEO?
No. GEO builds on SEO and adds one more scoreboard.
- Google says there are no extra requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode.
- A page can rank well and still not be named in the AI answer above it.
How is each one measured?
SEO uses search data, such as Google Search Console. GEO and AEO need the answers themselves.
- AEO: how often your page is the direct answer.
- GEO: how many AI answers name you, and which pages they cite.
More: what generative engine optimization means.
Questions about GEO, SEO and AEO
What is answer engine optimization (AEO)?
AEO means shaping your pages so search or AI can use them as the direct answer. Short answers under question headings are the core of it.
Is AEO the same as GEO?
They overlap a lot. AEO grew out of featured snippets and voice search. GEO is named after AI engines that write full answers.
What do AIO and LLM SEO mean?
More names for similar work. AIO can mean AI optimization, or Google AI Overviews, so check the context. LLM SEO means SEO for large language models.
See both scoreboards for your questions
Your Google rankings and your AI answers can differ. The trial shows the AI side: who is named, and which pages are cited.
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Read your Google data next to what AI says.