What is AEO (answer engine optimization)?
AEO is the practice of structuring content so that a search engine or AI assistant can lift a short, accurate answer from it. It grew out of featured snippets and voice search and now applies to AI answers too.
In practice it means question-led headings, a direct answer in the first sentences under each heading, and clear lists, steps and tables.
What is GEO (generative engine optimization)?
GEO focuses on generative AI systems — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot and Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode — that write their own answers from many sources.
The aim is that these systems describe your business correctly and mention or cite you when people ask relevant questions. That depends on whether they can read your pages and whether other trusted sites describe you consistently.
SEO vs AEO vs GEO
| Aspect | SEO | AEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Rank pages in search results | Be the direct answer | Be described and cited in AI-written answers |
| Where it shows | Google and Bing results | Snippets, voice, AI answers | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Overviews |
| Key signals | Relevance, quality, links, technical health | Clear questions and concise answers, structure | Entity clarity, consistent info, third-party mentions, crawl access |
| Measured by | Rankings, clicks | Snippets and answer appearances | Mentions and citations for test prompts |
AEO and GEO checklist for your business
- Let search and AI crawlers read your public pages (check robots.txt and any firewall bot rules).
- Start each important page with a 40–60 word direct answer.
- Use headings phrased as the questions your customers ask.
- Put comparisons in tables and processes in numbered steps.
- Use the same business name, address, phone and description everywhere online.
- Add Organization, Service and Article structured data that matches the visible page.
- Name the author and show when content was published and updated.
- Earn mentions on directories, review sites and trusted publications in your field.
- Check monthly what major AI assistants say about your business for a fixed set of prompts.