Answer Engine Optimization
AEO vs SEO vs GEO
Key answer
SEO ranks pages in classic search results; AEO optimizes content so AI answer engines can cite you; GEO focuses on generative engines and LLM retrieval. The most effective strategy combines all three: technical SEO foundations, answer-first AEO structure, and GEO-aware content for ChatGPT-style systems.
Founder, Anthroly
Sarath Kavuru is the founder of Anthroly. He runs a human-led SEO and AEO practice that turns founder expertise into AI-search citations, authority content, and qualified conversations. Full bio
How do AEO, SEO, and GEO compare?
| Dimension | SEO | AEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Rank & earn clicks | Get cited in AI answers | Appear in generative engines |
| Success metric | Rankings, organic traffic | Citations, AI referrals | LLM mentions & share of answers |
| Content style | Comprehensive pages | Answer-first + fan-out | Retrievable, entity-rich chunks |
| Technical focus | Crawl, index, Core Web Vitals | Schema, extractability | llms.txt, clean structure for LLMs |
| Authority signals | Links, E-E-A-T | Brand mentions + cite-worthy facts | Primary-source data & consensus |
When should you prioritize each?
- SEO first if the site has crawl/index errors or thin foundations.
- AEO next when rankings exist but AI Overviews omit your brand.
- GEO emphasis when buyers research in ChatGPT/Perplexity as much as Google.
Related guides
FAQ
Should I choose AEO or SEO?
Do both. SEO builds crawlable, authoritative pages; AEO makes those pages citation-ready for AI answers. GEO focuses specifically on generative engines and LLM retrieval patterns.
Is GEO the same as AEO?
They overlap. GEO emphasizes generative engines and LLM citations; AEO is the broader discipline of optimizing for answer surfaces including Google AI Overviews. Many teams use the terms together.