AI SEO, AEO and GEO: what’s the difference?
SEO, AEO, GEO and ‘AI SEO’ compared in plain English, and how a small business should approach them together.
SEO
The original discipline. Make your site technically sound, genuinely useful and trusted, so it ranks and earns clicks.
AEO
Answer engine optimisation. Shape content so search features and assistants can lift a direct answer from it.
GEO
Generative engine optimisation. Improve how generative AI tools describe and recommend you, including signals beyond your own website.
“AI SEO”
A catch-all term people use for any of the above in the context of AI search. Useful for conversation, vague for planning.
How they fit together
Think of it as layers. SEO builds the foundation. AEO makes your content quotable. GEO extends your reputation across the sources AI relies on.
A practical plan
- Fix technical SEO and site structure
- Write clear answers to real customer questions
- Add structured data across the site
- Make your business facts consistent everywhere
- Earn reviews and mentions on trusted sites
- Test AI tools regularly to track progress
Frequently asked questions
Do I need separate agencies for SEO and AI optimisation?
Not usually. The work overlaps so much that one integrated strategy is more efficient.
Is SEO dead because of AI?
No. AI tools depend on the same signals of quality and trust that SEO builds.
What does AI SEO mean?
It’s an informal term for optimising your visibility in AI-driven search and assistants.
