What are AEO and GEO? How to get your website cited by AI search

Short answer: AEO (answer engine optimization) and GEO (generative engine optimization) mean making your website easy for AI tools to understand, trust and quote. When someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini or Google's AI Overviews a question, you want your site to be one of the sources behind the answer. The basics are still good SEO, plus clear answers, structured data and visible proof.

Why does this matter now?

Because a growing share of searches end inside an AI answer. OpenAI reported more than 900 million weekly ChatGPT users in early 2026, and Google said in May 2026 that AI Mode had passed one billion monthly users. When an AI summary appears, people click fewer links. The sites that get cited still win attention, and visitors who do click through tend to arrive ready to act.

What is the difference between SEO, AEO and GEO?

✓ SEO helps your pages rank in classic search results.

✓ AEO helps your content get picked as the direct answer, in featured snippets, voice assistants and AI answers.

✓ GEO helps generative AI tools mention and cite your brand when they write an answer.

In practice they overlap heavily. A site that is fast, well structured and genuinely helpful does well on all three.

How do AI search tools choose their sources?

Nobody outside these companies knows the exact rules, and they change often. What consistently helps is content that is easy to extract and easy to trust:

✓ Pages that answer a specific question clearly, near the top.

✓ Facts stated plainly: prices, timelines, numbers, names and dates.

✓ A clear author or company behind the content, with real experience.

✓ Pages that already rank well and are cited elsewhere on the web.

✓ Content that is recently updated.

9 steps to get your website cited by AI

✓ 1. Lead with the answer. Start every page and post with a 2 to 3 sentence answer to its main question, then go deeper.

✓ 2. Use question headings. Write H2s the way people ask: "How much does X cost?", "Is X better than Y?"

✓ 3. Publish real numbers. Show prices, timelines and scope. AI tools can't quote a price you hide behind "contact us".

✓ 4. Add structured data. Use JSON-LD for your organization, services, FAQs, articles and breadcrumbs so machines read your facts without guessing.

✓ 5. Add FAQ sections. Short, direct answers of 40 to 80 words to the questions buyers ask.

✓ 6. Show who you are. An About page, author names on posts, your experience and where you're based.

✓ 7. Be consistent everywhere. Same name, description and services on your site, LinkedIn, directories and marketplace profiles.

✓ 8. Keep content fresh. Update key pages and show the "updated" date.

✓ 9. Earn mentions. Reviews, guest posts, podcasts and community answers give AI tools other sources that confirm you're legit.

How do you measure AEO and GEO?

It's harder than classic SEO. Start simple: ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google the questions your clients ask, every month, and note who gets mentioned. In your analytics, watch referrals from chatgpt.com, perplexity.ai and similar sources. Ask new leads how they found you. "ChatGPT recommended you" is becoming a common answer.

Can anyone guarantee AI citations?

No. Anyone who promises a guaranteed spot in ChatGPT answers is guessing. What you can control is a technically sound site with clear, structured, trustworthy content. That gives AI tools every reason to choose you.

Frequently asked questions

What is AEO?

AEO, or answer engine optimization, is the practice of structuring content so search engines and AI assistants can pick it as the direct answer to a question. It relies on clear answers near the top of the page, question-style headings, FAQ sections and structured data.

What is GEO?

GEO, or generative engine optimization, means making your website easy for generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews to understand, trust and cite. It builds on SEO with clear facts, structured data, visible expertise and consistent information across the web.

Is AEO different from SEO?

AEO builds on SEO rather than replacing it. SEO helps pages rank in classic results, while AEO helps content get picked as the answer. Fast, well-structured and genuinely helpful pages do well on both.

How do I get my business mentioned by ChatGPT?

Publish clear answers with real facts like prices and timelines, add structured data, show who is behind the business, keep your details consistent across the web and earn mentions on other sites. No one can guarantee a mention, but these steps make you a strong candidate.

Want AI search to recommend you?

I set up technical SEO, structured data and answer-ready content so Google and AI tools understand your business. Book a free 30-minute call or see SEO, AEO and GEO.