AEO vs GEO in Digital Marketing: What They Mean and How to Use Them

Search is changing fast. Google results aren’t just “10 blue links” anymore, and people aren’t only going to search engines for answers, instead they’re asking AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

This shift has created two new marketing priorities:

• AEO (AI Engine Optimization) → making your brand visible inside AI assistants.

Image 1 shows NTUC FairPrice appearing in AEO when searched for “best grocery shop in Singapore”

• GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) → making your content show up in generative search results.

AEO: AI Engine Optimization

AEO is about making your brand part of conversations with AI tools.

When someone asks ChatGPT, “What’s the best project management software for small teams?”, the AI doesn’t list every website, it summarizes and recommends a few. If you want your product to be named in that answer, you need AEO.

Actionable AEO Tips

1. Answer real customer questions on your site
   
   • Example: ClickUp’s blog has posts like “Best Free Project Management Software” and “How to Manage a Remote Team”. The content is written in Q&A style, which AI can easily use.
     
2. Build your brand’s knowledge graph presence
   
   • Example: HubSpot has a strong Wikipedia page, LinkedIn profile, and structured company data. This makes it easy for AI engines to “know” them and refer to them.
     
3. Use structured data (schema markup)
   
   • Example: Recipe sites like AllRecipes and Tasty use schema markup (ingredients, cooking time, ratings). That’s why they often show up when you ask AI for “easy 30-minute pasta recipes.”

👉 Notes: Write in clear, conversational language and make your brand easy for AI tools to understand.

GEO: Generative Engine Optimization

GEO is about being cited in generative search engines.

If someone searches on Google SGE or Bing AI for “best CRM software for small businesses”, the AI-powered summary appears at the top. Instead of just a list of links, you see a paragraph answer—and only a few sources get cited. You want to be one of them.

Actionable GEO Tips

1. Create fact-rich, structured content
   
   • Example: NerdWallet often shows up in Google Search Generative Experiences (SGE) because their articles are packed with data tables, comparisons, and clear rankings. Generative engines love structured info they can pull from.
     
2. Publish unique insights and research
   
   • Example: Statista is frequently cited in Perplexity and SGE because it provides original charts and statistics. Generative engines reward unique, verifiable data.
     
3. Write clear summaries inside your articles
   
   • Example: Reuters includes a summary section. When SGE generates an answer, it often pulls directly from those short, well-written sections.

👉 Notes: Think less about ranking on page 1, more about becoming the “go-to source” generative engines cite.

AEO vs GEO: Quick Comparison

How Businesses Can Start Now

1. Audit your content for AI readiness
   
   • Does it answer questions clearly?
     
   • Is it easy to summarize?
     
2. Add structured data
   
   • Recipes, FAQs, reviews, products—make your content machine-readable.
     
3. Create “snackable” summaries
   
   • Add TL;DRs, bullet-point takeaways, or key stats to help AI pull sources from your site.
     
4. Build authority
   
   • Publish research, cite sources, and keep your content fact-based. AI engines don’t want fluff.
     

SEO is still essential, but AEO and GEO are the new future. To ensure your business appears in AI-powered answers be it from chatbot responses to generative search summaries, combine traditional SEO methods with both AEO and GEO. This approach will keep your business relevant and visible in the ever evolving digital market.

👉 AEO gets your brand into AI conversations.
👉 GEO gets your content cited in AI-powered search.

The smart move? Start building both into your digital strategy now! Contact us to get started.