SEO vs AEO
SEO ranks your website in search results. AEO gets you cited in AI-generated answers. Here's how they compare — and why most businesses now need both.
SEO
Rank in search results
AEO
Get cited in AI answers
| SEO | AEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you appear | Google search results (the blue links) | AI answers — ChatGPT, Gemini, AI Overviews |
| Primary goal | Rank your page near the top | Be the source the AI quotes |
| Content focus | Keyword-relevant, authoritative pages | Direct answers, FAQs, structured data |
| Key technique | On-page SEO, links, technical health | Query fan-out coverage, entities, citations |
| Maturity | Established, well understood | Newer — low competition right now |
| Measurement | Rankings & traffic (precise) | AI mentions & citations (newer, less exact) |
Lead with SEO if…
- You're starting from scratch and need foundations
- Most of your customers still search Google directly
- You want precise, trackable ranking data
Add AEO if…
- Your customers are starting to ask AI tools
- You want a head start while competitors ignore it
- You answer lots of questions in your category
Our honest take
They're not either/or. AEO is built on the same foundations as good SEO — so the smart move is solid SEO first, then layer AEO on top so you're visible whether someone uses Google or asks ChatGPT. We do both as one strategy.
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Common questions
What is the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) gets your website ranking in Google's search results — the blue links. AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) gets your business cited inside AI-generated answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews. SEO targets rankings; AEO targets being the source the AI quotes.
Do I need both SEO and AEO?
For most businesses, yes. AEO is built on the same foundations as good SEO, so doing them together is efficient rather than double the work. Start with solid SEO, then layer AEO on top so you're visible whether someone searches Google or asks an AI tool.
Is AEO replacing SEO?
No. AEO complements SEO — AI answers still draw on the same authoritative, well-structured pages that rank in search. Skipping SEO to chase AEO removes the foundation AI engines rely on to cite you.
Which should a new business start with?
Usually SEO first, because it builds the authoritative, crawlable content AI engines also use. AEO is a strong early-mover advantage to add quickly, since competition for AI citations is still low in most categories.