SEO vs GEO vs AEO
What's the difference, and why it matters.
SEO gets you ranked on Google's results and map. AEO gets you chosen as the direct answer to a question. GEO gets you recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. They are not three separate jobs. Good SEO is the foundation, and clear answers on top of it win the other two.
The difference in one line each
SEO, search engine optimisation: showing up in Google's normal results and on Google Maps when people search for what you do.
AEO, answer engine optimisation: being the direct answer, in Google's answer boxes, "People also ask" and voice assistants.
GEO, generative engine optimisation: being one of the businesses an AI names when someone asks it for a recommendation.
Why your business needs all three
Your customers no longer search one way. Some scroll Google. Some tap the map. Some ask their phone. More and more ask an AI. Each path ends with a short list of businesses, and whoever is on that list gets the call.
The good news is that the same work feeds all three: a fast site with a page per service, a complete Google Business Profile, plain-language answers to real questions, consistent details everywhere and steady reviews. You do not need three agencies. You need the basics done properly.
Where to start
1. Search for your main service and suburb on Google and check the map. 2. Ask ChatGPT and Gemini the same question. 3. Note who shows up, and whether you do. If you are missing from any of them, start with your Google Business Profile and one strong page per service with a straight answer at the top. Or get a free ranking report and we will show you where you stand.
Keep reading: What Is SEO? · What Is GEO? · What Is AEO?
Written by Justin Ripley, co-owner of Syvex, a father and son marketing business in Perth's northern suburbs.
Do I need GEO and AEO if I already do SEO?
If your SEO is done properly you are most of the way there. GEO and AEO add clear, quotable answers and consistent details so AI tools and answer boxes pick you, not just rank you.
Which one should a small business focus on first?
SEO, starting with your Google Business Profile and a page per service. It is the foundation the other two are built on.
Will AI search replace Google?
Nobody knows how far it will go. What is clear is that people are using both, and the businesses with clear, trustworthy information online show up in both.
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