Key takeaways
- The labels overlap heavily. There is no standard definition agreed across the industry.
- Focus on what is measured: mentions, citations and accuracy of description.
- GEO here means Generative Engine Optimization, not geography.
New acronyms appear faster than shared definitions. Here is how the main ones are commonly used, and how we use them.
| Term | Common meaning | Typical focus |
|---|---|---|
| SEO | Search engine optimization | Rank in classic results |
| AEO | Answer engine optimization | Direct answers, snippets, voice replies |
| GEO | Generative engine optimization | Being cited in written AI answers |
| LLMO | Large language model optimization | What the model knows and says about a brand |
| AI SEO | Umbrella marketing term | SEO adapted for AI features |
How they relate
All of them depend on the same inputs: pages engines can fetch, content that answers fully, facts that agree across sites and proof from other sources. The differences are mostly in emphasis and in which engine you test.
A note on the acronym GEO
The same letters mean geography in mapping and in science. If you search for GEO you can land on unrelated pages. That is one more reason to write the full phrase once on every page.
Which should you use?
- For a client or board conversation, say AI search visibility. It is clear to everyone.
- For a brief to an agency, ask for the method and the report, not the label.
- For your own team, pick one term and define it in a sentence.
Google does not use these acronyms in its guidance. It talks about AI features in Search, and says the basics of SEO still apply. Our GEO explainer goes deeper on the umbrella we use.