What Are SEO and AEO? A Simple Guide for Business Owners
Quick answer: SEO (search engine optimization) helps your business show up on Google. AEO (answer engine optimization) helps AI tools, like ChatGPT and Google's AI answers, mention your business. Both matter because that's where customers look before they buy, book, or visit.
If someone has ever told you, "You need better SEO," and you smiled politely while thinking what does that even mean?, this one's for you. And now there's a new one, AEO, just to keep things interesting.
Don't worry. Neither is as complicated as it sounds.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It's everything you do to help your business show up when people search on Google.
When someone types "best tacos near me" or "organic dog treats," Google decides which websites to show first. SEO is how you help Google pick you.
A few things that help:
Using the words your customers use. If people search "vegan bakery" and your site only says "plant-forward pastry atelier," Google may not connect the dots.
A fast, mobile-friendly website. If your site takes forever to load on a phone, people leave, and Google notices.
Fresh, helpful content. Blog posts (like this one!) answer real questions and give Google more reasons to send people your way.
Other websites linking to you. When a respected site links to yours, it's like a vote of confidence. This is one place where PR really helps.
An up-to-date Google Business Profile. That's the box with your hours, photos, and reviews that shows up in Google and Maps. For local businesses, it's a big deal.
What is AEO?
AEO stands for answer engine optimization. It's SEO's younger sibling, and it's growing up fast.
More people are skipping the list of links and asking questions to AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or the AI answers at the top of Google. These tools are called "answer engines" because they give one answer instead of ten links.
So instead of asking "Can people find my website?", AEO asks: "When someone asks AI for a recommendation, does my business get mentioned?"
AI tools build their answers from information they find online. To show up, it helps to:
Answer common questions clearly on your website, in plain language.
Keep your business info consistent everywhere: website, Google, Yelp, social media.
Get mentioned by trusted sources like news sites, magazines, and review sites. (Yep, PR again.)
Earn good reviews, since AI often pulls from what real customers say.
Why should you care?
Because this is how your customers find you now. Before anyone walks into your shop, books an appointment, or buys your product, they usually search first. If you don't show up, someone else does, and they get the sale.
The good news? SEO and AEO keep working for you around the clock, even while you sleep. Unlike ads, you don't pay every time someone clicks.
Where do you start?
You don't have to do everything at once. A simple first step is to search for your own business the way a customer would. Try Google. Then ask ChatGPT something like, "What's a good [your type of business] in [your city]?" Do you show up? Is your info right?
If the answer is "not really," you're not alone, and it's very fixable.
SEO and AEO FAQs
What's the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO helps you show up in Google's list of search results. AEO helps you get mentioned when someone asks an AI tool for an answer or a recommendation. Many of the same things help both.
How long does SEO take to work?
It varies. Google says some changes show up in a few hours, while others can take several months. Most businesses see steady results after a few months of consistent work.
Do I need a blog for SEO?
It helps a lot. Every helpful post is another chance to show up when someone searches a question your business can answer.
What is a Google Business Profile?
It's a free listing that shows your hours, location, photos, and reviews on Google Search and Maps. For any business with a physical location, it's one of the easiest places to start.
How do I know if AI is recommending my business?
Ask it. Try questions like "What's a good [your type of business] in [your city]?" in ChatGPT or Google, and see who comes up.
Keep reading
What Is PR? Why Public Relations Still Matters for Your Business
Straight from Google: the SEO Starter Guide and how to set up a Google Business Profile.
The bottom line: SEO helps people find you on Google. AEO helps AI recommend you. Both start with a clear website, consistent info, and other people talking about you.
Want to know how your business shows up in search and AI? Ask Everything Branding about an AI Visibility Audit.
About Everything Branding: Everything Branding is an Inc. 5000 marketing and PR agency that helps brands and local businesses grow, from DTC products to restaurants, retailers, franchises, grocers, gyms, spas, and salons. Our team handles PR, email and SMS, social media, paid ads, SEO, branding, events, and more, all under one roof.
Visit everythingbranding.com or follow us on Instagram at @everythingbranding.
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