A growing share of searches now end in an AI-generated answer — Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity — with no click at all. Ranking #1 in the classic ten links means nothing if the AI answer above them doesn't cite you. This guide explains AEO and GEO and exactly how to get your site quoted by AI. It's the discipline behind our own SEO agency in Bangalore.
What are AEO and GEO?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is optimising to be the source an answer engine cites. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is the broader practice of being visible and quoted across generative AI systems. They're not a replacement for SEO — they're an additional layer on top, and most businesses aren't doing them yet.
Why this matters now
AI Overviews already appear on a large share of Google searches, and tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are becoming first-stop research for millions. If you're not in the answer, you're invisible to that audience — and being cited by AI also builds trust and brand, because the model is effectively recommending you.
How to get cited by AI answer engines
The practical AEO/GEO checklist:
- Answer-first structure — lead each section with the direct answer, then expand
- Question-shaped headings that match how people actually ask
- Valid, emitted schema (FAQPage, Article, Organization) — not “implied” markup
- An llms.txt manifest telling AI crawlers what your site is and which pages matter
- Entity clarity — consistent name, address, sameAs links, so models know who you are
- Specifics over adjectives — models extract facts and numbers, not hype
- Freshness — updated dates and current information the model can trust
How AEO/GEO differs from classic SEO
Classic SEO optimises for a ranking position; AEO/GEO optimises to be the extracted, cited source. The overlap is large — fast, well-structured, well-marked-up, trustworthy content serves both — but AEO adds an emphasis on clean, self-contained, factual passages that a model can lift verbatim, and on entity signals that tell the model you're a credible source.
How SocialScript builds AEO/GEO in
We build every site answer-first, with validated schema, an llms.txt manifest, open AI-crawler access, and entity-clear content — so you're understood and cited as search shifts from links to answers. It's the same approach behind this page. See our SEO agency in Bangalore, or run a free SEO audit to check your AI-readiness.
Frequently asked questions
Does AEO/GEO replace SEO? No — it's an additional layer. The fundamentals (fast, structured, trustworthy, well-marked-up content) serve both ranking and being cited by AI.
How do I know if AI engines cite my site? Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google (with AI Overviews) questions your business should answer, and see who's cited. If it's competitors, that's your gap.
What's the single most important AEO factor? Clear, answer-first content backed by valid schema and strong entity signals. Models cite sources they can understand and trust.
Is llms.txt actually used? Adoption is early but growing, and it's cheap to add. It's a low-risk signal that positions you ahead of competitors who haven't bothered.
Get AI-ready
Want to be the answer, not just a link? Run a free SEO audit or see how our SEO agency in Bangalore builds AEO/GEO in — we reply within one business day.
