Search has changed. People now ask not only Google but engines like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. These engines produce a single answer instead of ten blue links — and they choose who gets cited in that answer.
What are GEO and AEO?
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is optimizing your content so generative AI engines cite it. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is answering questions directly to appear in featured answers. Both rest on the same principle: clear, verifiable, citable information.
Who do AI engines cite?
- Answer-first content that answers the question in the first sentence.
- Pages whose meaning is machine-clear via structured data (schema).
- Consistent entity info: same name, address and definition everywhere.
- Trust signals: real author, date, sources and expertise.
Practical steps
Get a free digital analysis for your brand — no sales pressure.
Free analysis →- 1.Add a TL;DR / answer-first summary to every page.
- 2.Use question-style headings and an FAQ section; add FAQPage schema.
- 3.Define your brand as an entity with Organization, Person and Service schema.
- 4.Add an llms.txt and keep your content open to AI crawling.
- 5.Keep information consistent: the same facts on every source.