SEO vs AIO vs AEO vs GEO: Stop Naming It, Start Doing It.

Key Takeaways

• AEO, GEO, and AIO are just SEO done right: these acronyms describe features and formats within modern search, not new disciplines. If you're already doing SEO well, you're already doing them.
• Search has changed, but the fundamentals haven’t: whether it's traditional search engine results, voice answers, or AI summaries, our job remains the same - to help people find useful, structured answers quickly.
• Don’t chase shiny acronyms: the industry doesn’t need more labels, it needs better execution. Focus on doing SEO right: fast sites, helpful content, proper schema, strong internal structure.
• You don’t need four strategies: one solid SEO strategy, adapted for how users search in 2025, will cover featured snippets (AEO), AI-generated summaries (GEO), and AI Overviews (AIO).
• It’s all about structure and clarity: write content that solves problems, uses natural language, includes schema markup, and is easy for both humans and machines to understand.
• Track what matters: forget vanity metrics. Optimise for organic visibility, conversions, and meaningful engagement, not just rankings or appearances.

Most marketers have heard the acronyms. SEO. AEO. GEO. AIO. Another week, another three-letter strategy you’re “supposed” to care about.

Let’s be honest, this space is noisy. Overcomplicated. Packed with hype. And full of agencies throwing around new terminology to sound smarter than they are.

We’re not here for that.

Because here’s the truth: all of these terms, Answer Engine Optimisation, Generative Engine Optimisation, AI Overviews, are just SEO done well, adapted to how people search today.

Search has changed. Engines have changed. But the core job hasn’t: show up when people are looking, and help them take the next step.

This isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about understanding what modern SEO really looks like and why you don’t need a new acronym every time Google adds a new feature.

Let’s break it down.

What These "New" Optimisations Really Are

It’s tempting to think you need a different strategy for every new feature in Google or LLM. But you don’t. You need one well-informed SEO strategy that covers how search works.

SEO - Search Engine Optimisation is Still the Foundation

Traditional SEO is still the backbone of online visibility.

SEO is about getting your website content found and ranked in traditional search engines like Google and Bing. It focuses on search engine optimisation tactics like keyword research, internal linking, structured data, link building, and technical excellence—all designed to boost visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs), where users still click blue links to find solutions.

Strong SEO includes:

• Clear content that matches user intent

• Smart use of structured data and schema markup

• Technical strength: page speed, crawlability, mobile performance

• Formatting that makes answers easy to scan, summarise, and reuse

When done properly, a digital marketing agency offering SEO services should already be covering what AEO, GEO, and AIO are trying to label.

Where Each Optimisation Method Fits in the Funnel

There’s no need to split your strategy. SEO powers every stage of the customer journey when it’s adapted to how users search today.

Top of Funnel: Awareness & Attraction

Your SEO should:

• Get your web pages seen in results

• Surface concise answers in featured snippets or voice search

• Be structured so AI tools can summarise your content clearly

You’re not just chasing keywords. You’re solving real user queries in ways that are readable by humans and machines.

Middle of Funnel: Consideration & Evaluation

Users here are asking smarter, more specific questions—and AI tools are doing more of the answering.

At this stage, SEO means content that’s:

• Clear and helpful for people comparing options

• Easy for AI crawlers to reuse

• Enriched with FAQ schemas or tables that explain things fast

AI tools are doing more of the explaining. So help them explain you.

Bottom of Funnel: Decision & Conversion

This is still SEO’s territory—but it’s supported by a strong UX strategy and CRO, and trust signals that influence AI engine ranking logic.

Double down on:

• Clear page structure and task-focused content

• Speed, technical excellence, and trust-building elements like reviews, FAQs, and CRO-friendly layouts

• Strong internal linking and logical site architecture

Still SEO. Still working—just better executed.

How to Optimise for Search in 2025

Here's the modern SEO checklist. No fluff. No reinvention.

✅ Use clear heading structures and answer questions fast
✅ Add schema for FAQs, how-tos, articles, reviews and more
✅ Keep summaries tight (35–60 words)
✅ Write with natural language processing in mind
✅ Structure pages with scannable headings and semantic HTML
✅ Focus on creating helpful content that earns trust
✅ Track what actually drives leads—not just where you “appear”

You don’t need separate strategies for traditional search, voice search, or AI-generated answers.

You just need SEO that’s up to date and a team that knows how to apply it across formats.