SEO vs. AEO: Getting Found on Google and in AI Answers
People are asking ChatGPT and Google's AI for recommendations now, not just searching. Here's what SEO and AEO mean for your small business, in plain English.
You've probably heard "SEO" thrown around for years. Lately there's a new one: AEO. If your eyes glaze over at acronyms, don't worry. This is simpler than it sounds, and it matters for how customers find you.
First, SEO: getting found on Google
SEO stands for search engine optimization. All it means is making your business easy for search engines like Google to understand and recommend.
When someone types "dog groomer near me" or "brake repair near me," Google decides which businesses to show. SEO is everything that helps you be one of them:
- A website that clearly says what you do and where you do it
- Separate, clear pages for your main services
- A fully filled-out Google Business Profile
- Reviews from real customers
- Accurate business info (name, address, phone) everywhere you're listed
- Helpful content that answers real customer questions
None of that is a trick. It's mostly about being clear, accurate, and helpful.
Now, AEO: getting found in AI answers
AEO stands for answer engine optimization. It's about showing up when people ask a question instead of typing in a search.
Here's what's changed. More and more people are asking AI tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI-generated answers at the top of search results, and other assistants things like:
- "Who's a good landscaper in North Georgia?"
- "What should I look for in a house cleaning service?"
- "Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old water heater?"
Instead of a list of ten links, they often get a written answer, sometimes with a few businesses named. AEO is about giving these tools the clear, trustworthy information they need to understand your business and mention it.
How are they different?
Honestly, they overlap a lot. Here's a simple way to think about it:
| SEO | AEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Where people look | Google search results and Maps | AI tools and AI-generated answers |
| What they do | Type keywords, click links | Ask full questions, read an answer |
| What you want | To show up in the list | To be part of the answer |
| What helps | Clear website, Google profile, reviews, content | The same, plus content written as clear questions and answers |
The good news: the things that help with SEO usually help with AEO too. You don't need two separate strategies. You need one solid foundation.
What actually helps you show up in AI answers
AI tools pull from information that's available about your business online. To give them good material:
- Answer common questions on your website, in plain language. A simple FAQ page or helpful blog posts work well. Put the question as the heading and answer it directly.
- Be specific about what you do and where. "We install and repair residential HVAC systems across North Georgia" is much easier for an AI to understand than "Quality comfort solutions."
- Keep your Google Business Profile complete and current. It's one of the most visible sources of local business info out there.
- Keep your details consistent everywhere. Same name, address, phone, and hours on your website, Google, Facebook, and directories.
- Earn reviews that mention your services. When customers describe what you did for them, it reinforces what you're known for.
A word of caution
Nobody can promise you'll show up in a specific AI answer, and you should be wary of anyone who does. These tools change how they work often, and nobody outside those companies controls exactly what they say. What you can do is make sure the information about your business is clear, accurate, and easy to find. That's the part in your control, and it's the part that holds up over time.