AEO vs SEO: what's the difference?
SEO ranks your pages in a list of search results. AEO gets your business named inside a single AI-generated answer, where there is no list to scroll. They share inputs like clear content and structure, but only a minority of AI-cited URLs also rank in Google's top 10 — so strong SEO does not automatically make you visible in AI answers.
What is SEO optimizing for?
SEO optimizes for ranking position in a search engine results page — the ordered list of blue links. The goal is to appear as high as possible for queries your buyers type, so they click through to your site.
What is AEO optimizing for?
AEO optimizes for citation inside an AI-generated answer. When an engine responds to "recommend a family lawyer," it names a few options. AEO is about being one of the named options, and being cited as a source.
That depends heavily on entity clarity, schema, and third-party corroboration. Roughly 85% of AI brand mentions come from third-party sources, not the brand's own site.
Does ranking in Google get me into AI answers?
Not reliably. Only a minority of the URLs AI engines cite also rank in Google's top 10. Ranking and being cited are related but reward different work, which is why AEO is treated as its own discipline rather than a byproduct of SEO.
Do I need both?
Usually, yes. SEO still drives the bulk of search traffic today. AEO captures a small but high-converting and fast-growing channel. The two coordinate well — the same accurate content and structure helps both — but each needs deliberate attention.
Frequently asked
- Should I stop doing SEO and switch to AEO?
- No. AI referral traffic is still only about 1–2% of sessions for most businesses. SEO remains the larger channel; AEO is the emerging one. Treat AEO as an addition, not a replacement.
- Will my SEO agency handle AEO?
- Some are adding it; many aren't yet. The skills overlap but aren't identical. Ask specifically how they measure citations across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and AI Overviews.
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