SEO vs GEO vs AEO: The Complete Guide
The way people discover information is evolving rapidly. Understanding the differences between SEO, GEO, and AEO is crucial for staying visible in the AI age.
Quick Definitions
SEO Search Engine Optimization
Optimizing content to rank in traditional search engines (Google, Bing).
GEO Generative Engine Optimization
Optimizing content to be cited in AI-generated responses (ChatGPT, Perplexity).
AEO Agent Experience Optimization
Optimizing products to be discovered and used by autonomous AI agents.
The Complete Comparison
| Aspect | SEO | GEO | AEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Google, Bing | ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews | AI Agents (Devin, AutoGPT, etc.) |
| User Role | Human searches, clicks, decides | Human asks, AI suggests, human decides | Human delegates, AI decides & acts |
| Goal | Rank #1 in results | Be cited in AI answers | Be chosen by AI agents |
| Success Metric | Rankings, clicks, traffic | Citations, mentions | Agent adoption, API calls |
| Content Focus | Keywords, backlinks | Clear answers, citations | APIs, llms.txt, skill.md |
| Technical | Meta tags, sitemap | Structured data, E-E-A-T | llms.txt, ai-plugin.json |
| Timeline | Established (30+ years) | Emerging (2023+) | Early stage (2025+) |
How They Work Together
🎯 The Optimization Stack
SEO → Humans find you via search engines
GEO → Humans hear about you via AI assistants
AEO → AI agents choose you automatically
You need all three. They're layers, not replacements.
SEO: The Foundation
SEO remains important because:
- Billions still use traditional search
- Backlinks signal authority to AI too
- Good SEO practices overlap with GEO
Key tactics: Keywords, backlinks, technical SEO, content quality
GEO: The Present
GEO is critical now because:
- ChatGPT has 200M+ weekly users
- Google AI Overviews show in 30%+ searches
- Users increasingly ask AI instead of searching
Key tactics: Clear answers, citations, structured data, freshness
AEO: The Future
AEO will matter because:
- AI agents are becoming decision-makers
- Agents will book, buy, and build autonomously
- Products need to be "agent-readable"
Key tactics: llms.txt, skill.md, APIs, clear documentation
What You Should Do Now
1. Don't Abandon SEO
SEO is still the biggest traffic source. Keep doing it.
2. Start GEO Immediately
Optimize your content for AI citations. This has impact today.
3. Prepare for AEO
Add llms.txt and skill.md now. Be ready when agents take over.
Summary
| If you want... | Focus on... |
|---|---|
| Traffic from Google | SEO |
| Mentions in ChatGPT/Perplexity | GEO |
| AI agents to choose you | AEO |
| Maximum visibility | SEO + GEO + AEO |
The future belongs to those who optimize for all three.