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GEO vs SEO: what's the difference?
And AEO, LLM SEO and AI SEO. Mostly the same job, with a few new parts.
Last updated October 2026.
Introduction
There are now five names for getting found in search and AI answers, and agencies sell some of them as new services. Here's what each one means and what actually changes for your website.
01 - The terms
The terms.
01SEO
Search engine optimisation. Getting your site to show up in Google's results.02GEO
Generative engine optimisation. Getting your business named and cited in AI-written answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews.03AEO
Answer engine optimisation. Structuring pages so a search engine or AI tool can lift a direct answer. The term is older, from featured snippets and voice search.04LLM SEO
Another name for GEO, focused on large language models like ChatGPT.05AI SEO
The umbrella term. It's also the one Australian business owners search for most.
02 - What stays the same
What stays the same.
A site that search engines can't read won't be cited by AI either. Clear pages, direct answers, reviews and mentions on other sites help with all of them. Google says its AI features need no special optimisation beyond normal SEO.
03 - What's different
What's different.
01Fewer winners
An AI answer names two or three businesses, not ten links.02Mentions matter more
What other sites say about you appears to carry more weight in AI answers than in a list of links.03Consistency matters
AI tools combine what they find across the web. Old addresses and mismatched service lists cause wrong answers.04No rank tracker
You can't see an AI ranking the way you see a Google position. You test real questions and track the answers over time.
04 - What to do
What to do.
If your SEO basics are weak, fix those first. Then add answer-first pages, FAQs, consistent listings and mentions on the sites AI tools cite, and test the answers monthly. The step-by-step version is in How to show up in Google, Maps and AI search.
05 - Do you need a GEO agency?
Do you need a GEO agency?
No, not a separate one. GEO without SEO is half the job. Ask any agency how their GEO work differs from their SEO work, and what they'll measure.
06 - FAQ
GEO questions.
Is GEO replacing SEO?
No. AI answers lean on the same pages that rank in search.
Is AEO the same as GEO?
Close. AEO is the older term for direct answers in search. GEO is about AI-written answers.
Doesn't GEO mean geographic targeting?
In advertising, yes. In search it now usually means generative engine optimisation.
What does GEO cost?
It's part of SEO, not a separate line item. Prices are on the pricing page.
08 - Contact
Want to be found first?
Tell me about your business and I'll tell you what's worth doing. If I can't help, I'll say so.
Prefer email? kate@foundfirst.com.au
Or call 0432 573 646