Guide
What is AEO / GEO and why does my business need it?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) are the practice of making sure AI search tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI answers understand your business correctly and recommend you when customers ask for a local tradesperson. It is like SEO, but for AI instead of Google's blue links. As more people use AI to find businesses, AEO is becoming as important as traditional SEO.
Key facts
- AEO
- Optimising for AI answer engines
- GEO
- Same idea, different name
- Why now
- AI search is growing fast
- Key factors
- Clear content, schema, consistency
What AEO and GEO mean
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimisation. GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimisation. They are two names for the same idea: making sure your business is the answer that AI tools give when someone asks for a recommendation.
When a customer asks ChatGPT "what is a good plumber in Belfast?" or searches Google and gets an AI-generated answer at the top of the page, that answer comes from information the AI has found online about your business. If the AI cannot find clear, structured information about you, it will recommend someone else.
How AEO differs from traditional SEO
Traditional SEO is about getting your website to rank in Google's blue links. AEO is about making sure AI tools understand who you are, what you do, where you are, and why you are a good choice. The two overlap but are not the same.
With SEO, you optimise for keywords and links. With AEO, you optimise for clarity and structure. AI tools look for clear answers to questions, consistent business information across the web, and structured data that tells them exactly what your business does.
| Aspect | Traditional SEO | AEO / GEO |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank in Google links | Be quoted by AI tools |
| Optimises for | Keywords and backlinks | Clear answers and structured data |
| Where results appear | Blue links on Google | AI answers in ChatGPT, Gemini, etc. |
| Key factor | Links and content | Clarity, consistency and schema markup |
| Growing or shrinking | Stable | Growing fast as AI search grows |
Why it matters now
More people are using AI tools to find businesses instead of scrolling through Google results. When someone asks ChatGPT or Gemini for a recommendation, only one or two businesses are mentioned, not ten blue links. If your business is not one of them, you are invisible to that customer.
Google itself now shows AI-generated answers at the top of many search results pages. Even when someone uses Google, they may see an AI summary before they see any links. Being in that AI summary is increasingly important.
How to get your business recommended by AI
The key is to make sure AI tools can find clear, consistent information about your business. Here is what matters most:
1. Have a website with clear, well-structured content that answers common questions about your services and area.
2. Use schema markup (structured data) that tells AI tools your business name, services, areas, phone number and reviews.
3. Keep your business information consistent across Google Business Profile, your website and any directories.
4. Publish content that answers the questions your customers actually ask, in plain English.
5. Get reviews on Google, because AI tools read reviews to judge quality.
AEO for local trades
For a local trade business, AEO means making sure that when someone asks an AI tool for a plumber, electrician or roofer in your area, your business is the one it recommends. This requires a combination of a clear website, structured data, a strong Google Business Profile and consistent information across the web.
We build AEO into every website we create: structured data, clear question-and-answer content, and schema markup that tells AI tools exactly what you do and where. This is part of why our trade customers tend to appear in AI answers faster than competitors with older, less structured sites.
Frequently asked questions
Is AEO the same as SEO?
No, but they overlap. SEO gets you into Google's blue links. AEO gets you into AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI. A good website does both.
Do I need AEO if I already rank well on Google?
Yes. Ranking well on Google does not mean AI tools will recommend you. AI tools read the web differently, looking for clear answers and structured data, not just keywords and links. You can rank first on Google and still not appear in AI answers.
How do I get ChatGPT to recommend my business?
Make sure your website has clear, well-structured content about your services and area, use schema markup, keep your information consistent across the web, and get reviews on Google. AI tools read all of this to decide who to recommend.
Is AEO expensive?
It does not have to be. Basic AEO, like schema markup and clear content, should be built into any good website. More advanced AEO, like ongoing content and structured data management, is a monthly service. See our AEO service page for details.
How long does AEO take to work?
AI tools re-read the web regularly, so clear improvements can be picked up within weeks. Unlike traditional SEO, which can take months to move up the rankings, AI tools can start quoting your content as soon as they find it.
What happens if I ignore AEO?
As more people use AI tools to find businesses, you will become invisible to those users. Your competitors who have invested in AEO will be the ones AI tools recommend, even if your work is better.
Book a free discovery call
We will look at your business, answer your questions and show you what your website could look like, all for free.