AEO vs GEO: What’s the Difference?
Use AEO to win the answer box and GEO to get cited in AI answers. You need both.
Search is changing fast. If you only optimize for old-school rankings, you’ll miss where attention is drifting—AI answers. Prefer a deeper primer? See our take on AI SEO vs regular SEO.
Users ask a question. Machines give the answer.
More results now show AI Overviews (Google’s AI summaries) and other instant answers that reduce clicks to websites. In May 2024, Google began rolling out AI Overviews in the U.S., with broader expansion following in 2024–2025 (see Google’s announcement on AI Overviews).
It comes down to this: AEO gets you surfaced on the page; GEO gets you quoted inside the answer.
What is AEO?
Think of AEO as “make my page easy to extract.” It’s all about clean, direct answers.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring content so search engines can extract a direct answer often as a featured snippet, People Also Ask, or an AI Overview card. Google describes featured snippets as special answer boxes that show a short piece of a web page when it thinks people want a quick answer (see Google’s docs on Featured snippets).
What is GEO?
GEO is the “make my page easy to quote” twin. You’re helping AI systems retrieve, trust, and cite you.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of making your content retrievable, quotable, and trusted by AI systems (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) so your brand gets cited inside generated answers. GEO adds snippet-ready sentences, schema markup, provenance (author/date), and conversational Q&A that match how people prompt AI tools.
Early adopters can punch above their weight: Clear, structured content often gets surfaced by AI, even from smaller sites.
AEO vs GEO: the core differences
Same goal: win attention. Different mechanics. Use this chart to pick tactics without mixing signals.
| Dimension | AEO (Answer Engines) | GEO (Generative Engines) |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Win concise answers/snippets on SERPs | Be retrieved & cited in AI outputs |
| Gatekeeper | Google/Bing ranking systems | LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini), retrieval layers (RAG), AI search portals (Perplexity) |
| Content shape | One-sentence answers, lists, tables | Micro-answers, canonical phrasing, evidence, provenance |
| Primary signals | On-page SEO, intent match, structured data | Provenance, chunking/micro-answers, freshness, embedding-friendly phrasing |
| Measurement | Featured snippet count, PAA presence, CTR | AI citation/mention rate, share of voice across prompts, % of lifted micro-answers |
| Risks | Zero-click results erode CTR | Being summarized without credit if content lacks clear anchors/provenance |
Think “rank and extract” (AEO) vs “retrieve and cite” (GEO).
Where AEO and GEO overlap
The good news is that you don’t need two separate playbooks. If you nail these fundamentals once, both channels benefit.
Clear questions with short answers.
Schema markup (FAQ, HowTo, Article). Google documents these rich result types and how to implement them (see FAQPage structured data).
E-E-A-T style quality signals (helpful, people-first, trustworthy content) and transparent authorship (see Creating helpful content).
Topic clusters & internal links to prove depth and map your expertise.
The AEO playbook (step-by-step)
Use this when you want to win answer boxes. It’s simple structure plus ruthless clarity.
1) Target question-style queries.
Mine “People Also Ask,” support intent, and plan one H2 = one question.
2) Place a one-sentence answer under each H2.
Keep it short, direct, and unambiguous—this is your “snippet.” Google’s featured snippets lift concise answers (see Featured snippets).
3) Support with a list or a tight table.
Skimmable structures are easier to extract.
4) Use FAQ blocks and FAQ schema (when appropriate).
Only mark up real Q&A content with a single definitive answer (see FAQPage structured data).
5) Keep the reading level simple.
Short sentences, plain words. (You’re writing for phones—and for extractors.)
Mini AEO checklist
Question phrasing in H2s
One-sentence answer right after
Bullets/table for quick lift
Eligible FAQ schema
Consistent internal links to related answers
The GEO playbook (step-by-step)
Use this when you want to get quoted by AI tools. You’re building small, trustworthy “answer units” with proof.
1) Write micro-answers throughout the page.
Create 2–3 sentence “answer units” that stand alone. They’re easier for LLMs to isolate and quote.
2) Use canonical phrasing.
Add anchors like “X is defined as …” or “The best way to Y is …” so models can grab a clean sentence.
3) Add evidence next to claims.
Drop a stat, source, or example near each key sentence. (LLMs prefer content with proof and structure.)
4) Strengthen provenance.
Include author name/bio, publish & update dates, and citations to primary sources. This helps models assess trust.
5) Cover prompt variants.
Mirror how people ask: how, why, best, vs, step-by-step. Include paraphrases and disambiguators in headings and micro-answers.
6) Keep content fresh.
Update quarterly and expand FAQs with new prompts.
7) Measure AI visibility.
Track AI citations and brand mentions using emerging tools (e.g., Semrush AI Tracking, Ubersuggest LLM Beta, Ahrefs Brand Radar) and monthly manual tests in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
8) (Optional) RAG test your drafts.
Load content into a local retrieval system (LangChain + vector DB) to see which sentences get pulled—then refine those anchors.
Mini GEO checklist
3–5 micro-answers per page
Canonical sentences (“X is …”)
Evidence & citations inline
Author bio + dates visible
Prompt variants covered
Quarterly refresh & citation sweeps
Examples
Here’s how the same mindset shows up in the wild. One favors extraction; the other favors citation.
AEO example
Question (H2): What is bounce rate?
One-line answer: Bounce rate is the percent of sessions where a user views one page and leaves.
3 bullets: Why it matters, how analytics tools calculate it, common pitfalls.
GEO example
Prompt: Best CRM for solo consultants?
What your page needs: a criteria table (price, learning curve, integrations), a short verdict (2–3 sentences), and links/citations to credible sources. Add a micro-answer block like: “For solo consultants, the best CRM balances low setup time with strong inbox integration. Start with X for email-first workflows; pick Y if you need built-in invoicing.”
Include author/date and link to firsthand reviews or primary docs near the verdict.
Why Perplexity matters here: Perplexity searches the web in real time and surfaces inline citations so users can verify answers—your job is to be the source it cites (see Perplexity’s overview: How Perplexity works).
Measurement that matters
You don’t need to drown yourself in dashboards. Track the box for AEO and the mention for GEO plus a few sanity metrics.
AEO KPIs
These show whether your structure is extractable and visible on traditional results pages.*
Featured snippet count & % of priority queries
PAA presence
Impressions and CTR (page-level)
GEO KPIs
These tell you if AI systems can find, lift, and credit your work.*
Brand citation rate in AI answers across target prompts
Share of voice across variants (how, why, best, vs)
% of micro-answers lifted verbatim (spot checks)
Referral where available (some AI portals now pass traffic or show links)
Set a simple tracking sheet: 10 priority prompts × 4 variants per quarter; log where you appear and which sentence was lifted. Use the quarterly refresh cycle to improve your anchors and provenance.
Common mistakes (and quick fixes)
Most misses are a matter of formatting, not strategy. Fix these, and both AEO and GEO improve quickly.*
Walls of text with no extractable answers: Add one-sentence answers and micro-answers.
Schema without human phrasing: Write for humans first; schema just labels it.
Weak provenance (no author, no date, no sources): Add the trio where readers can see it.
Single-keyword bets: Cover prompt variants and paraphrases.
Conflicting claims across your site: Pick canonical statements and standardize them.
How you can quickly get started
Intro: Need momentum today? This is a practical, two-hour checklist to get traction fast.*
Pick 5 question keywords.
Add one-sentence answers under each H2.
Insert 3–5 micro-answers on the page.
Add FAQ schema + byline + last updated.
Link out to 2–3 credible sources.
Create a simple comparison table.
Test 10 prompts in ChatGPT/Perplexity; log where you appear and which sentence it lifted.
FAQ
These are the questions people actually ask—and the answers engines can lift.*
What is AEO in SEO?
AEO is optimizing pages so search engines can extract direct answers, often as featured snippets and PAA. Learn more in Google’s docs on Featured snippets.
What is GEO in marketing?
GEO makes your content retrievable, quotable, and trusted by AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini so your brand gets cited in answers.
Is LLMO the same as GEO?
LLMO sits inside GEO. LLMO focuses on what helps large language models retrieve and cite you; GEO covers that plus generative search engines and broader retrieval.
Will GEO replace SEO?
No. GEO complements SEO. You still want visibility on result pages and mentions inside AI answers.
How do I know if GEO is working?
Run monthly prompt tests in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. Track whether your brand is mentioned, which sentence is cited, and where you’re missing. Tools like Semrush AI Tracking, Ubersuggest LLM Beta, and Ahrefs Brand Radar can help.
Conclusion
Want help turning this into results on your site? We’ll do the heavy lifting and hand you a clean plan.*
Want help turning your site into an answer magnet?
Get a free AEO + GEO audit from Type and Tale. We’ll show you where to add micro-answers, schema, provenance, and cluster, so you win the box and the mention.
References
Google Search Central. Featured snippets and your website. Featured snippets
Google Developers. FAQPage structured data. FAQPage
Google Developers. Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content. Helpful content
Google Blog. Generative AI in Search: AI Overviews roll-out. AI Overviews
Perplexity Help Center. How does Perplexity work? Perplexity
Author: Noah Swanson
Noah Swanson is the founder and Chief Content Officer of Type and Tale.