Three names, one foundation
Search engine optimization (SEO) gets pages crawled, indexed and ranked. Answer engine optimization (AEO) shapes content so it can be used as a direct answer. Generative engine optimization (GEO) aims to get a brand mentioned and cited in AI-generated answers.
They overlap more than the acronyms suggest. AI search engines retrieve from web indexes, so a page that can't be crawled or indexed can't be cited either.
What stays the same
- Crawlable, fast, server-rendered pages
- Clear structure and headings
- Accurate, useful content written by people who know the subject
- Links and mentions from reputable sites
What AI search adds
- Answer-first sections that can be quoted on their own
- Specific facts, sources and dates in place of general claims
- Entity signals: Organization markup, consistent naming, sameAs profiles
- A deliberate policy for AI crawlers
- Measuring mentions and citations, not only rankings and clicks
Where to start
Fix access first: crawler rules, rendering and indexability. Then make your most important pages answer the questions buyers ask, with specifics. Then work on how the rest of the web describes you. Measure throughout, so you know which changes worked.
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