Introduction

Search is splitting into two paths: classic SEO for clicks and AI-driven AEO for citations. To win, you need both.

The Problem It Solves

Marketers have relied on SEO to bring traffic from Google. But now AI tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews answer questions directly, often before a user even clicks a link. This means your brand risks disappearing unless you adapt.

Quick Summary

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your site rank on Google and bring in organic visitors. It’s about keywords, links, and page authority. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is different: instead of ranking for clicks, your content must be picked up, cited, and summarized by AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews.

Both share a foundation: strong site structure, expert content, and credibility signals. But AEO pushes things further. You need content that works in fragments, clear answers that AI can lift directly, and more frequent updates so AI sees your brand as fresh and reliable. You also need to build authority beyond your site, since AI tools validate answers by checking multiple sources.

To implement AEO, start with an audit: test your key queries in AI tools, see where competitors are mentioned, and adjust your content. Build hub pages with multiple related Q&As, refresh content monthly, and track citations in AI tools alongside your usual SEO metrics.

Key Takeaways

• SEO brings traffic, AEO brings citations and brand presence inside AI responses.
• They share the same foundation: structured sites, topical authority, and trust signals.
• AEO demands short, extractable answers, frequent updates, and external validation.
• Both are needed: SEO drives clicks, AEO keeps you visible in AI-driven search.

What To Do

• Test your brand’s presence in AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.
• Update top SEO pages with extractable answers (FAQs, definitions, bullet points).
• Create hub pages that answer a main question plus related sub-questions.
• Set a refresh cycle with monthly updates and visible “last updated” dates.
• Build authority outside your site with reviews, forums, expert roundups, and industry mentions.
• Track both SEO and AEO performance (traffic + AI citations).

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