SEO, AEO and GEO explained for business owners
Three acronyms, one goal: getting customers to find you. Here is what each one means and which matters most.
SEO: showing up on Google
Search engine optimization is everything that helps your website appear when someone types a search like "plumber near me". It covers your pages, your Google Business Profile, and how other sites link to you.
It is still where most local customers come from, so it is the foundation for everything else.
AEO: being the answer
Answer engine optimization means writing your pages so that Google, Siri-style voice search and AI tools can lift a direct answer from them. Think "How much does a water heater cost in Austin?" answered in two clear sentences on your site.
- Clear questions as headings
- Short, direct answers right underneath
- Prices, areas and hours stated plainly
GEO: getting recommended by AI
Generative engine optimization is about being named when someone asks ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude or Copilot for a recommendation. These tools pull from websites, reviews and directories they trust.
The businesses that get named have consistent details everywhere, plenty of genuine reviews, and pages that explain exactly what they do and where.
Which one should you focus on?
All three. The good news is that they reward the same work: accurate business details, helpful pages for each service and town, and steady reviews. Do that well and you improve on Google, in answers and in AI recommendations at the same time.