# SEO vs. AEO: How to Get Your Business Cited by ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews > Search is changing. Learn the difference between SEO and AEO (answer engine optimization) and the practical steps that help AI tools recommend your business. Source: https://szbtechs.com/blog/seo-vs-aeo-get-cited-by-ai Last updated: 2026-09-19 Published: September 18, 2026 · Updated: September 19, 2026 · Category: SEO & AEO · Author: SZB Techs Team ## Key Takeaways - SEO gets your pages ranked in search results; AEO (answer engine optimization) gets your content cited by AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. - AEO builds on SEO rather than replacing it — AI systems lean heavily on pages that are already fast, crawlable, and well ranked. - Answer the question directly in the first lines under each heading, and use question-style headings. - Add structured data (schema markup) such as FAQPage, BreadcrumbList, and BlogPosting so machines can read your content. - Keep your business name, description, and contact details consistent everywhere online. For two decades, "SEO" meant one thing: get your page to rank on Google's results page. That still matters. But a growing share of people now ask a question and read a single AI-generated answer instead of clicking ten blue links. If your business isn't part of that answer, you're invisible to those customers. That's where **AEO — answer engine optimization** — comes in. ## What is the difference between SEO and AEO? **SEO (search engine optimization)** is about ranking your pages in traditional search results. **AEO** is about making your content easy for AI tools — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and others — to understand, trust, and quote. They overlap heavily. Good SEO is the foundation; AEO adds a layer on top: - **SEO** rewards relevance, authority, and technical health so a page ranks. - **AEO** rewards clear, direct answers, structured content, and unambiguous facts so a page gets _cited_. ## Why AEO matters for small businesses AI answers tend to name a handful of sources instead of ten. That makes visibility more winner-takes-most. A local service company or a small agency that gives clear, well-structured answers can be cited alongside far larger competitors. ## 6 practical steps to improve your AEO ### 1. Answer questions directly and early Put the short, plain-English answer right under the heading, then expand. If someone asks "how long does a website project take?", your page should say so in the first sentence, not the fifth paragraph. ### 2. Use question-style headings Headings like "How much does X cost?" or "What is Y?" mirror how people actually ask AI tools. They also make your content easier to extract. ### 3. Add an FAQ section with FAQ schema A real FAQ section, marked up with `FAQPage` structured data, hands AI systems and search engines your answers in a machine-readable format. ### 4. Implement structured data (schema markup) Schema tells machines exactly what your page is: an organization, a service, an article, a product. At minimum, add `Organization` or `ProfessionalService`, `BreadcrumbList`, and `Article` or `BlogPosting` schema where relevant. ### 5. Be consistent about who you are Use the same business name, description, and contact details everywhere — your website, social profiles, and directory listings. Link your social profiles from your site so machines can connect them. ### 6. Publish genuinely helpful, specific content Vague marketing copy doesn't get cited. Specific, first-hand explanations do: how you do something, what it typically involves, what mistakes to avoid. ## Do you still need traditional SEO? Yes. AI systems draw heavily from pages that already rank and are technically sound — fast, mobile-friendly, crawlable, and secure. Treat AEO as an extension of SEO, not a replacement. ## Where to start Audit your five most important pages. Do they answer a real question in the first few lines? Do they have structured data? Is there a real FAQ? Fixing those three things is a strong first step. If you'd like help, our [SEO and AEO services](/services/seo) cover technical SEO, content, and schema markup — or [get in touch](/contact) for a free quote. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is AEO? AEO stands for answer engine optimization. It means structuring your content so AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews can understand, trust, and quote it in their answers. ### Is AEO replacing SEO? No. AEO is an extension of SEO. AI systems draw heavily from pages that already rank well and are technically sound, so traditional SEO remains the foundation. ### What is the fastest way to start with AEO? Audit your most important pages: make sure each answers a real question in its first few lines, has structured data, and includes a genuine FAQ section.