What Is AEO? What Is GEO? And Why Should Marketers Care?

I've spent the better part of the last year explaining AEO and GEO to marketing teams, and I've noticed something interesting…

Everyone asks almost the exact same questions. Which makes sense, we're all navigating this shift from traditional search to AI-driven answers together, often feeling like we're building the plane while flying it.

So rather than have this same conversation individually with every marketer I meet, I figured I'd write it down once. Consider this the FAQ I wish existed when I was first wrapping my head around answer engines and generative engines and all the acronyms that come with them.

The good news?

You probably already know more than you think. If you've ever optimized for featured snippets, written clear FAQs, or structured content logically, you've been doing proto-AEO without realizing it. Now we're just formalizing these practices and extending them into the world of ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews.

Let's dig into the questions you're actually asking.

The Basics: What Are We Even Talking About?

What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of optimizing your content to be selected as the direct answer when users ask questions—whether that's in Google's featured snippets, voice assistants like Alexa or Siri, or AI-powered search features.

Think of it this way: traditional SEO gets you on the list of search results. AEO gets you chosen as the answer before anyone even looks at the list. It's the difference between being one of ten blue links on a page and being the single response that appears in a featured snippet, knowledge panel, or voice search result.

AEO emerged when search engines started doing more than just returning lists of websites. According to Comscore, voice search is projected to account for 50% of all searches by the end of 2025. When someone asks Siri "What's the best time to plant tomatoes?" the AI doesn't read them ten different websites—it gives them one answer. AEO is about being that answer.

Key characteristics of AEO-optimized content:

• Question-focused structure - Content directly addresses specific user queries

• Concise answers - 40-60 word responses that can be extracted easily

• Clear formatting - Headings, lists, tables that machines can parse

• Schema markup - Structured data (especially FAQPage and HowTo) that helps search engines understand your content

• Authority signals - Credibility markers that make AI systems trust your information

What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is optimizing your content to be cited by AI systems that generate answers from scratch—like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google's AI Overviews.

While AEO focuses on being selected for pre-existing answer slots (featured snippets, knowledge panels), GEO is about becoming source material that AI models use when they synthesize information. When ChatGPT writes a response about marketing strategies and mentions your framework, or when Perplexity cites your article in its generated answer—that's GEO working.

ChatGPT alone processes 2.5 billion prompts daily, and these systems are fundamentally changing how people discover information. Google's AI Overviews now appear in 16% of all U.S. searches, and when they appear, they reduce website clicks by 34.5%. But here's the twist: traffic from AI assistants converts at 4.4X the rate of traditional organic search.

The goal with GEO isn't just visibility—it's being recognized as a trusted, authoritative source that AI models want to reference and cite.

So... are AEO and GEO the same thing?

Short answer: They're closely related but not identical.

Longer answer: Both aim to make your content visible when people ask questions. The difference is in how that visibility manifests:

AEO = Optimizing for AI-assisted search

• Featured snippets in Google

• "People Also Ask" boxes

• Voice assistant responses

• Knowledge panels

• Direct, extracted answers from existing search engines

GEO = Optimizing for AI-generated search

• ChatGPT citations

• Perplexity references

• Google AI Overviews (which blend both approaches)

• Claude mentions

• Synthesized responses across multiple generative AI platforms

Think of AEO as the evolution of traditional SEO for the snippet era, while GEO is adaptation for the generative AI era. As one expert put it, "Despite the confusion around GEO vs AEO, the fundamental goal hasn't changed: getting your content in front of users as a trusted answer when they ask a question".

The practical reality? You need both. Featured snippets and AI overviews coexist. Traditional search isn't disappearing overnight, but AI-powered discovery is rapidly gaining ground.

How This Differs From Traditional SEO

How is AEO/GEO different from SEO?

SEO aims to rank your content among multiple results. AEO/GEO aims to make your content the answer—or a cited source in a synthesized answer.

Here's the fundamental shift:

Traditional SEO:

• Goal: Rank high in search results pages (preferably position 1-3)

• Metric: Organic traffic, click-through rates, rankings

• User behavior: Search → Review multiple results → Click → Browse website

• Competition: You're competing for position among 10 blue links

• Optimization: Keywords, backlinks, technical SEO, content length

AEO/GEO:

• Goal: Be selected as the answer or cited as the source

• Metric: Featured snippet appearances, AI citations, zero-click satisfaction

• User behavior: Search → Get immediate answer (often without clicking)

• Competition: You're competing to be the single answer or one of 2-7 cited sources

• Optimization: Question-focused content, structured data, authority signals, citation-friendly formatting

As one analysis notes, "Traditional SEO has centered on finding ways to make your website appear high up within the search indexes... GEO/AEO/GSO is more about ensuring the AI crawlers have enough information to be able to answer a potentially more complex question."

An important distinction: AEO/GEO doesn't replace SEO—it builds on it.

Research by Semrush shows that ChatGPT users don't abandon Google Search; using generative AI actually expands overall search behavior. You need the foundation of good SEO (authority, clear structure, quality content) for AEO/GEO to work.

Do I still need traditional SEO if I optimize for AEO and GEO?

Yes. Absolutely yes. And anyone telling you otherwise is selling you something.

Here's why traditional SEO remains essential:

Foundation for AI Trust: AI systems evaluate content using many of the same signals Google's been using for years—domain authority, backlinks, E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), content quality, site speed, mobile optimization. Strong SEO fundamentals directly support your AEO/GEO efforts.

Not Everyone Uses AI: While AI adoption is accelerating, Google still commands ~89% of search traffic. Millions of people still search the traditional way, scroll through results, and click links. Abandon SEO and you abandon these users.

Long-Tail Discoverability: AI systems excel at answering direct questions, but traditional SEO remains important for long-tail discovery, niche topics, and the "browse rather than search" behavior that drives much of the web.

Click-Through Still Matters: Even when AI provides an answer, traffic from AI assistants that does click through converts at 4.4X the rate. These are highly qualified visitors—the kind you definitely want landing on your site.

Think of it as concentric circles: SEO is the outer circle (broad discoverability), AEO is the middle circle (featured answers), and GEO is the inner circle (AI citations). Each builds on the previous one. You can't skip to GEO without having solid SEO and AEO foundations in place.

Practical Implementation

How do I actually start optimizing for AEO and GEO?

The beauty of AEO/GEO is that the core principles align. Here's your practical starting playbook:

Step 1: Identify Question-Based Content Opportunities

Start by finding the questions your audience is actually asking. Tools that can help:

• Google's "People Also Ask" boxes for your target keywords

• AnswerThePublic to discover question variations

• Your own site search data to see what visitors are looking for

• Google Search Console to find queries that generate impressions but low clicks (opportunities for featured snippets)

• AI platforms themselves—ask ChatGPT or Perplexity about your topic and see what questions they suggest

Create a list of 10-15 high-value questions you want to be the answer for. Prioritize questions with high search volume and clear commercial intent.

Step 2: Structure Content for Answer Extraction

Both AEO and GEO prioritize content that directly addresses user intent. This means:

• Lead with the answer: Put the most direct, concise answer in the first 40-60 words after each question heading

• Use question-based H2/H3 headings: "What is X?" "How do you Y?" "Why does Z matter?"

• Format for scannability: Bullet points, numbered lists, tables—structures machines can easily parse

• Add context below: After the concise answer, provide deeper explanation for readers who want details

• Include an FAQ section: Dedicated FAQ content is highly effective for both snippet capture and AI citation

Here's a practical example structure:

## What is the best time to plant tomatoes?

The best time to plant tomatoes is 2-3 weeks after your last spring frost date, when soil temperatures consistently reach 60°F (15°C). This typically means late April through June in most regions.

### Why Timing Matters
[Detailed explanation...]

### How to Determine Your Planting Date
[Step-by-step instructions...]

### Common Timing Mistakes
[Helpful warnings...]

This format gives AI systems the quick answer they need while providing human readers with comprehensive information.

Step 3: Implement Schema Markup

Schema markup is your secret weapon. It's structured data that tells search engines and AI systems exactly what your content represents.

Priority schema types for AEO/GEO:

• FAQPage schema: For FAQ sections (most important for AEO)

• HowTo schema: For step-by-step guides and tutorials

• Article/BlogPosting schema: For editorial content

• Organization schema: For brand authority

• Person schema: For author credibility

JSON-LD is the format Google prefers because it's cleanest to implement. Here's a basic FAQ schema example:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "What is AEO in marketing?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization, the practice of optimizing content to be selected as the direct answer in search results, voice assistants, and AI-powered features."
    }
  }]
}

Tools to help implement schema:

• Google's Structured Data Markup Helper

• Schema.org Markup Generator

• Merkle's Schema Generator

• WordPress plugins like Yoast or Rank Math

Always validate your schema with Google's Rich Results Test to ensure proper implementation.

Step 4: Build Authority and Citation Signals

For GEO specifically, authority matters more than ever. AI systems want to cite trustworthy sources. Strengthen your authority by:

• Clear author bios: Show who wrote the content and why they're qualified

• Original research: Create data, studies, surveys that others will cite

• External citations: Link to reputable sources—it signals you're part of the authoritative conversation

• Consistent brand mentions: Ensure your organization appears consistently across the web with proper Organization schema

• Expert quotes: Include insights from recognized experts (bonus: this often leads to social shares and backlinks)

• Media mentions: Seek earned media coverage—being cited by major publications signals authority

Step 5: Optimize for Multiple AI Platforms

Don't assume what works for Google works everywhere. Different AI platforms have different citation patterns. For example, early research shows Perplexity is more brand-friendly than Claude in terms of citations.

Test your content across platforms:

• Search for your target topics in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews

• Note which brands and sources get cited

• Analyze what these cited sources do differently

• Ask follow-up questions to see when your brand appears

This competitive intelligence reveals gaps you can fill.

What's the role of schema markup in all this?

Schema markup is fundamental to both AEO and GEO. It's the language that helps AI systems understand your content's structure, meaning, and context.

Think of your content as a conversation.

Schema markup is like providing an outline, glossary, and table of contents simultaneously—it makes your content dramatically easier for machines to interpret and extract information from.

Why schema matters for AEO:

• Increases your likelihood of winning featured snippets by 20-30% according to various studies

• Powers voice search responses by making answers machine-readable

• Enables knowledge panel appearances

• Helps search engines understand question-answer relationships

Why schema matters for GEO:

• Provides context that helps LLMs understand what information is trustworthy

• Identifies entities (organizations, people, places) that AI systems use for attribution

• Clarifies relationships between content pieces

• Signals content type (is this a how-to? A comparison? A definition?)

The most impactful schema types for AEO/GEO:

1. FAQPage Schema – The heavyweight champion for both AEO and GEO. Explicitly marks question-answer pairs so AI systems know exactly what information answers what query.

2. Article/BlogPosting Schema – Establishes content authority by identifying authors, publication dates, and organizational backing.

3. HowTo Schema – Perfect for tutorials and guides. Structures step-by-step content in a way that AI loves.

4. Organization Schema – Builds brand entity recognition. Helps AI systems understand who you are, what you do, and why you're authoritative.

5. BreadcrumbList Schema – Clarifies site hierarchy and content relationships, helping AI understand context.

Implementation tip from industry experts: "Lead with entities, not pages. In AEO, the real question is often 'Who is the best source for this answer?' rather than 'Which page contains these keywords?'" Your schema should identify the organization, the people behind it, the services offered, and the content that demonstrates expertise.

Do I need different content for AEO vs. GEO?

No—and this is one of the most misunderstood aspects. The same foundational content works for both AEO and GEO; you're just optimizing for slightly different manifestations of the same goal.

The overlap is substantial:

• Both require clear, direct answers to user questions

• Both value structured, scannable formatting (headings, lists, tables)

• Both prioritize authority and trust signals

• Both benefit from schema markup

• Both reward comprehensive yet concise information

Where the optimization differs slightly:

AEO-specific considerations:

• Extreme conciseness for snippet capture (40-60 words for direct answers)

• Question-and-answer format that mirrors how featured snippets display

• Schema markup that explicitly supports featured snippet types (FAQPage, HowTo)

• Optimization for voice search queries (natural language, full sentences)

GEO-specific considerations:

• Contextual completeness—AI needs enough substance to synthesize useful responses

• Clear attribution signals (author bios, organizational identity, publication dates)

• Citation-friendly formatting (quotable statements, clear claims with supporting evidence)

• Presence across multiple content formats and platforms (not just one great blog post)

• Semantic richness and topical comprehensiveness

But here's the practical reality: When you structure content well for humans—clear headers, direct answers, logical organization—you're simultaneously optimizing for both AEO and GEO. As writer and SEO expert noted, "The principles we follow for SEO content creation already set us up for success in generative and answer-based engines."

What tools help with AEO and GEO optimization?

The AEO/GEO tool landscape is still emerging, but here are the most useful resources right now:

Research & Identification Tools:

• AnswerThePublic: Discovers question-based queries around your topics

• Google Search Console: Shows queries generating impressions, identifies featured snippet opportunities

• SEMrush/Ahrefs: Tracks featured snippet wins and losses, analyzes competitor snippet capture

• Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude: Test how AI systems answer queries in your niche

Schema Markup Tools:

• Google's Structured Data Markup Helper: Free, easy schema generator

• Schema.org Markup Generator: More advanced schema creation

• Merkle's Schema Generator: Comprehensive markup tool

• WordPress plugins (Yoast, Rank Math, Schema Pro): Automated schema implementation

Validation & Testing:

• Google's Rich Results Test: Validates schema markup

• Schema Markup Validator: Checks technical implementation

• Google Search Console: Monitors schema errors and rich result performance

AI Visibility Tracking:

• Profound: Tracks brand mentions across AI platforms

• OmniSEO solutions (various vendors): Monitors AI citations

• Manual monitoring: Regular searches in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude for your target topics

Emerging Tools:

• As AI search grows, expect more specialized tools for tracking AI citations, optimizing for specific platforms, and measuring GEO performance. The market is developing rapidly as 85% of marketers plan to increase AI usage by 2026.

Honestly? Much of this work is still done manually. We're in the early days. The most valuable "tool" is consistently testing your target queries across platforms and analyzing what content gets cited.

Measurement and Success

How do I measure AEO/GEO success?

Measurement for AEO/GEO requires shifting your metrics away from traditional SEO KPIs. Here's what to track:

For AEO:

• Featured snippet wins: Number of queries where your content appears in featured snippets

• People Also Ask appearances: How often you appear in PAA boxes

• Zero-click search impressions: Queries where users see your answer without clicking (visible in Google Search Console)

• Voice search share: Percentage of voice queries mentioning your brand (harder to measure but increasingly important)

• Schema markup rich results: Count of pages with active rich results in Search Console

For GEO:

• AI citation frequency: How often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude cite your content (requires manual tracking currently)

• Brand mention rate: Percentage of relevant AI queries that mention your brand

• Referral traffic from AI platforms: Direct traffic from ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc. (track via UTM parameters where possible)

• AI-referred conversion rate: Traffic from AI assistants converts at 4.4X the rate of traditional search—measure this premium conversion

• Share of AI voice: Your proportion of AI-generated answers in your category

Quality over quantity metrics:

• Answer accuracy: Are AI systems citing your information correctly?

• Brand sentiment in AI responses: Is the context positive, neutral, or negative?

• Citation context: Are you cited as the primary source or supplementary information?

As one expert notes, "Track citations in AI responses, brand mentions in generated content, referral traffic from AI platforms, and conversion rates from AI-referred visitors rather than traditional ranking metrics."

The honest truth? Measurement is the hardest part right now. We don't have clean, automated reporting for AI citations the way we do for Google rankings. Most companies are supplementing automated tools with regular manual checks across AI platforms.

How long does it take to see results from AEO/GEO efforts?

Like traditional SEO, AEO/GEO is not instant gratification. But the timelines vary:

For AEO (Featured Snippets):

• Fast wins possible: Some sites capture featured snippets within 2-4 weeks of optimization

• Typical timeline: 1-3 months for established domains with good authority

• Variables that speed it up: Existing page-one rankings, strong domain authority, perfect answer formatting

One case study showed: "A retail brand added FAQ schema to product pages and optimized for 'What are the best running shoes?' This captured snippets within two months."

For GEO (AI Citations):

• Established domains: 4-6 weeks to start seeing citations

• New domains: 8-12 weeks minimum

• Authority buildup: Consistent citations can take 6-12 months

The compounding factor is authority. Once AI systems start citing you regularly in one topic area, they're more likely to cite you in adjacent topics. Early adoption creates momentum.

Factors that accelerate results:

• Strong existing SEO foundation (domain authority, quality backlinks)

• Clear author expertise and organizational credibility

• Comprehensive content that thoroughly covers topics

• Proper schema markup implementation

• Active presence across multiple platforms (not just your website)

What slows things down:

• New or low-authority domains

• Thin or superficial content

• Poor technical SEO (slow sites, mobile issues)

• Lack of structured data

• No external validation (no backlinks, media mentions, or expert credentials)

The realistic expectation: Plan for 3-6 months before seeing significant AEO/GEO impact, with incremental improvements starting around weeks 4-8. This is a marathon, not a sprint—but the long-term payoff is worth the investment.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

What are the biggest AEO/GEO mistakes marketers make?

After reviewing dozens of implementations, these are the most common and costly mistakes:

1. Treating AEO/GEO as Separate from SEO

The biggest misconception is that you can optimize for AI search independently of traditional SEO. You can't. AI systems rely on the same authority signals, quality indicators, and trust factors that Google's been using for years. Neglecting SEO fundamentals will torpedo your AEO/GEO efforts.

Fix: Build on a solid SEO foundation—domain authority, quality backlinks, fast site speed, mobile optimization, E-E-A-T signals.

2. Ignoring Structured Data

Missing schema markup drastically reduces AI's ability to understand your content's purpose and structure. Without it, you're making AI systems guess what your content means.

Fix: Implement at minimum Organization, FAQPage, and Article schema. Use Google's Rich Results Test to validate implementation.

3. Focusing Only on Google

Early research shows different AI platforms have different citation patterns. Optimizing solely for Google's AI Overviews means missing opportunities in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and other platforms.

Fix: Test your target queries across multiple AI platforms and optimize for the platforms your audience actually uses.

4. Writing for Machines Instead of Humans

The irony of AI optimization is that the best approach is still to write for humans first. Over-optimized, robotic content that's clearly written for snippet capture often performs worse than naturally excellent content.

Fix: Lead with clarity and value for human readers. The technical optimization (schema, structure) should support great content, not replace it.

5. Not Providing Context

AEO rewards conciseness, but GEO needs contextual completeness. If your content is too thin or only provides surface-level information, AI systems won't find enough substance to synthesize useful responses.

Fix: After the concise answer, provide depth. Include examples, supporting evidence, alternative perspectives, and related information.

6. Neglecting Mobile Optimization

70% of voice searches occur on mobile, and mobile performance directly impacts how AI systems evaluate content quality. Poor mobile experience can significantly hurt AI visibility.

Fix: Ensure responsive design, fast load times (aim for sub-2 seconds), and mobile-friendly formatting.

7. Keyword Stuffing for AI

Some marketers try to game AI systems by cramming in question keywords repeatedly. This backfires. AI systems prioritize semantic relevance and natural language, not keyword density.

Fix: Focus on comprehensively answering questions with natural language. One well-structured, thorough answer beats ten keyword-stuffed attempts.

8. No Author or Organizational Identity

Anonymous content struggles with GEO because AI systems need to attribute information to someone or something. Clear authorship and organizational backing significantly improve citation rates.

Fix: Add author bios with credentials, use author schema markup, implement organization schema, and include "About Us" information.

9. Static Content That Never Updates

AI systems value recency. Content that's never updated signals staleness, especially for topics where information changes.

Fix: Regularly review and update your most important content. Update publication dates when you make meaningful improvements.

10. Not Testing in AI Platforms

The most common mistake? Never actually checking if your optimization is working. You can't improve what you don't measure.

Fix: Manually test your target queries in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews monthly. Track which sources get cited and why.

Can I just use AI to generate content for AEO/GEO?

Yes... but probably not the way you're thinking.

AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or specialized content generators can help with AEO/GEO content creation, but they shouldn't replace human expertise and oversight. Here's why:

What AI does well for AEO/GEO:

• Identifying question patterns: AI can brainstorm dozens of related questions around a topic quickly

• Creating content outlines: Good at structuring logical flows and identifying subtopics

• Drafting FAQ sections: Can generate initial versions of common questions

• Writing schema markup: Tools like ChatGPT can create JSON-LD schema from your FAQs

• Reformulating answers: Helps rephrase content for different formats (voice search, snippets, detailed explanations)

Where AI-generated content fails:

• Lack of originality: AI synthesizes existing information; it doesn't create truly novel insights

• Authority signals: AI content without expert authorship struggles to build the trust needed for citations

• Accuracy risks: AI can confidently present incorrect information, which destroys credibility if caught

• Homogenization: Pure AI content looks like everyone else's AI content, reducing your differentiation

• Missing voice and perspective: AI can't replicate your specific expertise, experience, or brand voice

The right approach:

Use AI as a collaborator, not a replacement. This is exactly where platforms like Averi shine—combining AI's speed with human marketing expertise. Rather than choosing between AI efficiency and human insight, you get both.

A smart workflow:

1. Use AI to generate question lists and content outlines

2. Have humans (either your team or expert marketers) provide the actual insights, examples, and strategic thinking

3. Use AI to help format and structure the content for AEO/GEO

4. Have humans review for accuracy, add unique perspectives, and ensure brand voice

5. Use AI tools to generate and validate schema markup

The content that wins in AEO/GEO combines AI's efficiency in structure with human expertise in substance. Neither alone is enough.

Getting Started: Your 30-Day AEO/GEO Action Plan

Ready to move from theory to practice? Here's a realistic 30-day plan you can implement immediately:

Week 1: Research and Audit

Days 1-3: Identify Opportunities

• List 10-15 questions your audience frequently asks

• Use Google Search Console to find queries with high impressions but low clicks

• Check which of these queries trigger featured snippets (your competitors might already own them)

• Test your target questions in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude to see who gets cited

Days 4-7: Content Audit

• Review your existing content for AEO/GEO friendliness

• Identify your top-performing pages that could be optimized

• Check for schema markup (most sites have almost none)

• Note pages that answer questions but aren't structured clearly

Week 2: Quick Wins

Days 8-10: Restructure One High-Value Page

• Take your best-performing page on a high-value topic

• Add clear question-based H2 headings

• Provide 40-60 word direct answers immediately after each heading

• Add an FAQ section with 5-8 common related questions

• Implement FAQPage schema for the FAQ section

Days 11-14: Create Comprehensive FAQ Page

• Build a dedicated FAQ page answering your top questions

• Structure it properly with question headers and direct answers

• Add FAQ schema markup

• Submit to Google Search Console for indexing

• Cross-link from relevant content pages

Week 3: Technical Foundation

Days 15-17: Implement Core Schema

• Add Organization schema to your homepage

• Implement Article/BlogPosting schema on content pages

• Add author schema with credentials

• Validate everything with Google's Rich Results Test

Days 18-21: Optimize for Multiple Platforms

• Test your optimized content across AI platforms

• Ask related questions to see if your content gets cited

• Document which platforms cite you and which don't

• Adjust content based on patterns you notice

Week 4: Measurement and Scale

Days 22-24: Set Up Tracking

• Configure Google Search Console to monitor featured snippet performance

• Create a spreadsheet to manually track AI citations monthly

• Set up alerts for brand mentions

• Establish baseline metrics

Days 25-30: Plan Next Phase

• Document what worked and what didn't

• Identify 5 more pages to optimize

• Create a content calendar for new AEO/GEO-focused content

• Build your ongoing testing and optimization rhythm

This plan gives you tangible results within a month while building the foundation for long-term success.

The Bottom Line

Look, AEO and GEO aren't magic—they're just the next evolution of making sure people can find you when they need what you offer. The medium has changed (AI instead of blue links), but the principles haven't: be clear, be useful, be authoritative, and make it easy for both humans and machines to understand what you're saying.

The marketers panicking about AI search are usually the same ones who never fully adapted to mobile, or who are still chasing keyword density like it's 2010. Meanwhile, the marketers thriving are those who see each shift as an opportunity to get better at the fundamentals.

Here's what I want you to take away:

You don't need to do everything at once. Start with one well-optimized FAQ page. Implement schema on your top-performing content. Test your target queries in ChatGPT and see what gets cited. Small, consistent improvements compound faster than you think.

The techniques that work for AEO and GEO are largely the same. You're not building two separate strategies; you're building one content approach that works across both traditional search and AI-powered discovery.

Authority matters more than ever. AI systems want to cite trustworthy sources. Building genuine expertise, earning quality backlinks, and demonstrating E-E-A-T isn't optional—it's the foundation everything else builds on.

And perhaps most importantly: This is still early days.

Only 35% of companies currently have an AI governance framework in place. The marketers who start optimizing for AEO/GEO now—even imperfectly—will have significant advantages over those who wait for perfect playbooks that may never arrive.

The shift to AI search is happening whether we're ready or not. By 2028, Gartner predicts a 50% reduction in traditional organic traffic due to AI search. The question isn't if you should adapt—it's whether you'll lead or follow.

So pick one thing from this guide. Implement it this week. See what happens. Then do it again next week.

Because in the end, the best AEO/GEO strategy is the one you actually execute.