What is the difference between SEO, AEO and GEO?

Let's start at the beginning. SEO or Search Engine Optimization remains the foundation of any online strategy. With a well-constructed SEO strategy, you optimize your website for search engines such as Google or Bing. Consider technical SEO, the use of relevant keywords, fast load times, internal links and quality content.

Want to rank for certain terms? Then a strong SEO structure is crucial. It ensures that your website is indexed and appears high in organic search results.

• Sustainable visibility of your website
• Good long-term ROI
• Builds domain authority

• You have to be patient, it is not immediately visible
• Depending on algorithm changes
• Must continue to feed you with content and keep technically up-to-date

AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, revolves around one goal: making sure your content is the direct answer to a user's question, without requiring a click. Think of the Google snippets that appear at the top, the "People also ask" sections, or the answers voiced by voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant.

That's exactly where AEO makes the difference. So you optimize your content not just to be found, but more importantly to be chosen as the answer.

• You immediately build credibility as a company. You emerge as the expert
• Ideal for mobile and voice search
• Valuable clicks when users click through anyway

• Less focused on clicks to your website because you already get to see the answer
• Snippet positions are changing rapidly
• You need to update your content regularly to stay relevant

GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization and focuses on a new type of findability: no longer through classic search results, but through AI-driven search engines such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google Gemini.

Instead of simply ranking in Google, with GEO you ensure that your content is cited or summarized by these AI systems. So you're writing not only for humans or search robots, but also for the language models that generate answers based on existing online information.

• Good visibility on AI platforms
• You respond early to AI-driven search
• Your company or brand is seen as a trusted source

• Hard to measure
• The rules of the game are still evolving
• Requires in-depth content and data optimization, not only on your website but also on other platforms

So the three strategies are relevant to making your business and website visible on Google and AI platforms. How can you score well on both SEO, AEO and GEO? Here are a few concrete tips that will help you smartly build an all-round approach:

• Focus on smaller, targeted keyword clusters: don't pick dozens of keywords, but work around a few relevant themes with clear search intent.
• Keep your content up to date: Review and update your most important pages at least quarterly. Also, update your internal links regularly so that your visitors (and Google) can navigate your site logically.
• Perform technical SEO audits: regularly check that your website is in top technical shape: loading speed, mobile-friendliness, structured data (such as schema markup).

• Answer questions in 40 to 60 words: short, clear and to the point. AI and search engines like compact answers that are quick to scan.
• Optimize your content for "People also ask": capitalize on follow-up questions and related search intentions.
• Use a clear content structure: Work with blogs in question-answer principle, create an FAQ page or a HowTo.

Add a structured schema to your pages: extra code on your website that explains what your content is about.

• Base your content on facts: AI prefers to choose content based on facts, with clear references.
• Be present on external sources that AI consults: publish your content on other trusted platforms.
• Use a clear content structure: provide clear headings, tables in blogs, bulleted lists, blogs with question-answer principle, an FAQ page or a HowTo. This makes your content easy to analyze and summarize.

We're happy to list everything else:

One thing is certain: SEO remains essential to your website's online findability. AEO ensures direct visibility in search results, while GEO gives your brand a place in AI platforms. By cleverly combining these three techniques, you build a strong and forward-looking online presence. Whether you want to be found or cited, a smart mix of SEO, AEO and GEO is the way to go!

At Tunity, we're happy to help you get everything right, from strong website copy to a brand new, future-proof site. Whether you want to optimize or start from scratch: you can count on us!