What’s the Difference Between AEO and SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the practice of improving your website so it ranks higher in traditional search engines like Google. It focuses on keywords, technical optimisation, backlinks, content quality, and user experience to improve visibility in the classic list of search results.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is the next evolution of SEO, designed for AI-driven search engines such as Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot. Instead of ranking pages, these systems aim to deliver direct answers. AEO helps ensure your brand becomes the answer chosen by these AI systems.
Key Differences Between AEO and SEO
-
Goal:
SEO aims to rank pages. AEO aims to be the answer. -
Focus:
SEO focuses on keywords, content, links, and technical health. AEO focuses on entities, clarity, structured data, and topical authority. -
Search Experience:
SEO targets traditional search results. AEO targets AI-generated responses across multiple platforms. -
Content Style:
SEO content is often long-form and keyword-driven. AEO content is concise, direct, and answer-focused. -
Signals:
SEO relies heavily on backlinks and on-page optimisation. AEO relies more on trust signals, entity clarity, and structured data.
In short, SEO helps you rank. AEO helps you get chosen. Modern businesses need both — SEO for visibility and AEO for AI-driven discovery.
Want to Optimise for Both SEO and AEO?
If you want your business to appear in both traditional search results and AI-generated answers, Mad Hat Media can help you build a strategy that strengthens your SEO foundation while preparing your brand for the future of AI search.
From entity optimisation to structured data, content architecture, and AI-aware SEO, Mad Hat Media helps businesses stay visible across every modern search platform.
Talk to Mad Hat Media About AEO & SEO
The future of search belongs to brands that optimise for both engines and answers — and the shift is already happening.
