How AEO differs from SEO and GEO
SEO aims to rank a whole page. AEO aims to have one passage from that page used as the answer. GEO focuses on generative AI tools in particular. The three overlap heavily, and one well-written page can serve all three.
How to write for answers
- Put the question in a heading, in the words people actually type.
- Answer it in the first 40 to 60 words, as a statement that makes sense on its own.
- Follow with the detail: steps, a table, an example.
- Add a short FAQ for the follow-up questions people ask next.
The technical basics come first. Google states that a page has to be indexed and eligible to show with a snippet before it can appear as a supporting link in AI Overviews (Google Search Central).
An example you are reading now
This glossary is written for AEO. Every entry opens with a two-sentence definition that works on its own, then explains the idea in more depth. If an assistant quotes only the first two sentences, the reader still gets a correct answer.