AEO, GEO and AIO: what the terms mean
AEO (answer engine optimization) is about being the source an answer is taken from. GEO (generative engine optimization) applies the same idea to AI-written responses in tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity. AIO is often used for optimising for AI Overviews in Google Search. The tactics overlap heavily, so most sites treat them as one programme.
How AI search picks sources
AI search systems retrieve pages that look relevant, then pull short passages that answer the question clearly. Pages that state a direct answer near the top, define terms, use specific facts and come from an identifiable, trustworthy source are easier to quote. No one can guarantee citations, but you can remove the obstacles.
Ten tactics that help
- Open each page with a two or three sentence direct answer.
- Write headings as the questions customers actually ask.
- Add a short FAQ section with concise, self-contained answers.
- Use specific facts, definitions and examples instead of vague claims.
- Show who wrote the page and when it was last updated.
- Add Article, FAQPage, Organization and BreadcrumbList schema.
- Link related pages together so topics are clearly connected.
- Keep pages fast and readable as plain HTML.
- Refresh important pages when facts change.
- Be consistent about your name, services and contact details across the web.
Technical setup
Allow search and AI crawlers in robots.txt unless you have a reason to block them, publish an XML sitemap and make sure content is in the initial HTML. You can also publish an llms.txt file that lists your best pages in plain language. No major search engine has confirmed llms.txt as a ranking signal, so treat it as a low-cost extra rather than a requirement. Our technical SEO checklist covers the rest.
How to measure it
Ask your customers’ top questions in major AI assistants every month and record whether your site is cited. In analytics, watch referral traffic from AI platforms, and in Search Console, track impressions for question-style queries.
What not to do
Do not stuff keywords, hide text, mark up reviews you cannot show or invent statistics. These tactics hurt trust with both search engines and AI systems. If you want a team to build this into your site, see our SEO service and website development.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO earns rankings in a list of links. AEO earns a place inside the answer itself, whether in featured snippets, AI Overviews or assistants. The foundations overlap.
Does llms.txt improve rankings?
No search engine has confirmed it as a ranking factor. It is a low-cost way to point AI tools to your best pages, so treat it as optional.
How do I know if AI assistants cite my site?
Ask common customer questions in the major assistants, record which sources appear, and watch your analytics for referrals from AI platforms.