SEO vs AEO vs GEO: How to Get Found in Google and AI Search

A few years ago, getting found online meant ranking on Google. Now people also ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Copilot for recommendations, and Google itself shows AI-written summaries above the results.

That has created new acronyms: SEO, AEO and GEO. They sound like jargon, but the ideas behind them are simple. Here's what each one means, how they overlap, and what you can do about them.

SEO, AEO and GEO in one minute

SEO (search engine optimisation) is about helping your pages rank in traditional search results, such as the list of blue links on Google or Bing.

AEO (answer engine optimisation) is about making your content easy to use as a direct answer, such as featured snippets, voice answers and "People also ask" boxes.

GEO (generative engine optimisation) is about being mentioned or cited when AI tools write their own answers, such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google's AI summaries.

These names are still evolving, and different people define them in slightly different ways. What matters is the goal: be the source people and AI systems trust and use.

How they differ

The good news: the foundation is the same

You don't need three separate strategies. All three rely on the same core things:

• Content that genuinely answers real questions
• A technically healthy website that's easy to crawl
• Clear signs of who you are and why you're credible
• Mentions and links from other trusted sites

If your SEO is strong, you already have a head start on the rest.

What AI tools seem to look for

Nobody outside these companies knows the exact rules, and they change. But a few patterns are consistent in practice.

Clear, direct answers

Pages that answer a question in the first few lines, then add detail, are easier to quote. Use plain headings that match how people ask, such as "How much does a website cost?"

Specific, original information

Generic summaries are everywhere. Pricing ranges, real examples, your own data and honest opinions give AI systems and readers a reason to choose your page.

Trust signals

Named authors, a real About page, contact details, customer reviews and mentions on respected sites help. AI systems tend to prefer sources that look established and accurate.

Structured pages

Descriptive headings, short paragraphs, lists and tables make content easier to understand and extract.

Technical access

If search bots or AI crawlers can't reach your pages because of blocked settings, slow loading or content hidden behind scripts, they can't use them. Check your robots.txt and make sure important content appears in the page's HTML.

A practical checklist

• List the questions your customers actually ask. Use sales calls, support emails and Google's "People also ask".
• Answer each one clearly in a short opening paragraph, then expand.
• Add FAQ sections where they genuinely help the reader.
• Use structured data (schema) for articles, FAQs, organisation details and reviews. It helps search engines understand your page. It doesn't guarantee any result.
• Keep your business details consistent across your website, Google Business Profile and directories.
• Publish original content, such as case studies, comparisons and pricing guides.
• Earn mentions through guest articles, partnerships, interviews and industry directories.
• Keep content fresh. Update key pages when facts change.
• Fix the basics: page speed, mobile layout, broken links and clean site structure.

How to check whether AI tools mention you

There's no perfect tool yet, but you can still get a picture.

• Ask the main AI tools questions your customers would ask, and see which brands and websites appear.
• In Google Search Console, watch queries and pages for changes in impressions and clicks.
• Check your analytics for traffic from AI platforms, which sometimes shows as referrals.
• Repeat every month and keep notes. Answers vary, so look for trends, not single results.

Common myths

"SEO is dead." It isn't. AI tools still depend heavily on web content, and search remains a major source of traffic.

"There's a secret trick to get cited." There isn't. Anyone promising guaranteed AI citations is guessing.

"Just add schema and you're done." Schema helps with understanding, but quality content and trust matter far more.

"More content is always better." Thin, repetitive pages can hurt. A smaller number of excellent pages beats hundreds of average ones.

Where Sloctech fits

We help businesses with technical SEO, content planning and AI search visibility, together with the website work that makes it possible, from speed fixes to structured data. We'll also tell you when you don't need a paid service and a few fixes will do.

Want a clear view of where you stand?

Send us your website address. We'll look at the basics and tell you which fixes would make the biggest difference.