SEO (Search Engine Optimization) gets you ranked on Google's results page. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) gets you cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
The fundamental difference:
- SEO optimizes for clicks on a list of results
- AEO optimizes for being THE answer in a synthesized response
What SEO focuses on:
- Keyword rankings
- Backlink profiles
- Page speed and Core Web Vitals
- Click-through rate optimization
- Featured snippets
What AEO focuses on:
- Direct, quotable answers
- Structured data (FAQ, HowTo schema)
- Authoritative, specific content
- Question-matching titles
- Being the source AI models cite
Why you need both:
Google isn't going away. But 30%+ of B2B research is now happening in AI tools. If you optimize only for Google, you're invisible to a growing segment of your buyers.
The good news: AEO-optimized content often ranks well in traditional search too. The skills overlap, but the execution details differ.