SEO vs AEO vs GEO: what's the difference?
SEO ranks pages in search results, AEO wins the direct answer (snippets, voice), and GEO gets you cited by AI engines. They share foundations but optimise for different outcomes. Here's how they compare and how to do all three.
SEO, AEO and GEO are three overlapping disciplines for getting found online. They are not rivals — they stack on the same foundation of clear, trustworthy, well-structured content.
The one-line difference
Think of it by the outcome each targets:
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization) → rank your page higher in the list of blue links
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) → be the single answer shown in a snippet, voice reply or 'People also ask'
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) → be cited and quoted by AI engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity and AI Overviews
What each adds
AEO adds answer-first formatting and Q&A/HowTo schema. GEO adds dated, sourced, stat-dense statements, entity schema, llms.txt and off-site authority so AI trusts and attributes you.
How to do all three at once
Write the genuinely best page on a topic, lead each section with a clean answer, mark it up with the right schema, keep every figure dated and sourced, and make sure both Google and AI crawlers can read it. Done well, one page can rank, win the snippet and get cited by AI.
Key takeaways
- ✓SEO = rank; AEO = be the answer; GEO = be cited by AI.
- ✓They share foundations: structure, speed, trust, schema.
- ✓Answer-first + dated, sourced facts serve all three.
- ✓Optimise once, thoughtfully, to win across search and AI.
SEO vs AEO vs GEO — FAQ
Should I focus on SEO, AEO or GEO?+
Start with SEO — it's the foundation. Layer AEO (answer-first + schema) and GEO (dated sources, llms.txt, entity markup) on top; they reinforce each other.
Is GEO replacing SEO?+
No. AI answers are growing, but classic search is still huge, and ranking well is usually a prerequisite for being cited by AI.
Related guides
Sources & data note
These guides explain widely-accepted SEO, AEO and GEO practice as documented by Google Search Central, schema.org and current industry research. Search and AI systems evolve continually — treat specific thresholds (e.g. Core Web Vitals targets) as current guidance and verify against the latest official documentation. Examples are tailored to Nepal's market.