SEO, GEO and AEO: what do these terms mean?
These terms focus on different aspects of search. A clear explanation helps with content planning without promising guaranteed results.
Quick answer
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, GEO for Generative Engine Optimization and AEO for Answer Engine Optimization. These concepts overlap; they should not be understood as three separate guarantees of success.
A practical framework for content planning
In our insights section, we use the following editorial definitions. They provide a planning framework rather than a fixed classification covering every search system.
| Term | Focus |
|---|---|
| SEO | Visibility and presentation in search engines. |
| GEO | Content in the context of generative search answers. |
| AEO | Clear answers to specific questions. |
What the concepts have in common
A useful answer needs a clearly defined question and information readers can understand and verify. The usual SEO fundamentals remain relevant to Google’s AI search features. Being mentioned in an answer is not guaranteed.
Sources & further reading
- Google Search Central: AI features and your website · accessed on