By Ethan LafranceFounderUpdated ·
AEO vs SEO: what is the difference?
SEO is the work of being a result Google lists. AEO is the work of being the answer an AI assistant gives. They reward different evidence, so a business can win one and lose the other, and 45% of consumers now use AI to find local businesses.[1]
Side by side
The same goal, different game
Why it matters
The answer has no page two
On Google, a weaker position still gets some clicks; someone scrolls. In an AI answer there is no scrolling. You are one of the names it gives, or the customer never learns you exist. Fewer than half of the businesses leading traditional local search are also among the most AI-recommended.[2]
That is why AEO is its own discipline now. What is AEO? covers the foundations, and how to get recommended by ChatGPT walks the steps. To see where your business stands in AI answers today, the free analysis measures it.
Questions
Related questions
Is AEO replacing SEO?
Not replacing, layering. Search results still exist and still send traffic, but a growing share of customers take the AI answer without clicking. You now need both, and the two reward different evidence.
If I rank on Google, am I covered in AI?
Not automatically. Fewer than half of the businesses leading traditional local search are also among the most AI-recommended, because assistants weigh listings, reviews, and trusted mentions rather than search position.
Which should a local business focus on first?
Fix the foundations that help both: a readable website, consistent listings, and fresh reviews. Then measure where you stand in AI answers specifically, because that is the channel growing fastest and the one most owners cannot see.
Find out if AI recommends you
Book a 15-minute call and we’ll walk you through your full analysis, live, and show you exactly where you stand.