Answer engine optimization (AEO), explained
An answer engine replies with a written answer instead of only a list of links. AEO is the effort to be one of the sources that answer is built from, with a link back to your page.
Google’s guide groups AEO with GEO. It says both terms describe work aimed at being seen in AI search, and that for Google this work is ordinary SEO. It also warns that many AEO and GEO “hacks” sold online do not match how Google Search works.
How is AEO different from GEO?
In everyday use they mean almost the same thing. Google treats both as names for the same goal: being visible in AI search. We use AEO, GEO and SEO as one practice on this site.
What helps a page get cited in an AI answer?
Google’s advice is the same as for search: useful, original content, a clear structure, and a page Google can crawl and index with a snippet. A citation is not the same as a click, so it helps to measure both.
Questions
What does AEO stand for?
AEO stands for answer engine optimization. It is the work of getting your pages used and cited when an AI tool writes an answer.
Is AEO the same as SEO?
For Google Search, yes. Google says AEO and GEO are still SEO and that the usual best practices apply to its AI features.
Do I need a special file or markup for AEO?
Not for Google. Google says you do not need new AI text files, special markup or chopped up pages to appear in its AI features.
Where we use this term
Sources
- Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search. Google Search Central. .
Definition checked against these sources and our own pages on .