AEO vs AIO vs SEO vs GEO: Why it’s all bullshit

Feb 11

Written By Tiffani

AEO is just basic SEO, and I'm gonna need you guys to STOP falling for this "rebranding" of SEO.

It’s pissin’ me off.

AEO vs SEO: The rebranding trick of the decade

As an SEO strategist, it’s my JOB to keep up with news in the SEO market.

And as a Forever Student, it’s my PLEASURE to research AEO, AIO, GEO, E-I-E-I-O to make sure I’m providing the best SEO service to my clients and students as I can!

Imagine my surprise when I read through:

Semrush’s catalog of AIO content tutorials
SEO.com’s explanation of AEO
Search Engine Land’s breakdown of GEO

To be left thinking,

“Isn’t this all just basic SEO?”

Because it is.

Here's what people *position* as AEO and how it's REALLY just SEO 101:

AEO Tip 1:“Answer the question RIGHT away”

How it’s really SEO:

AI reads and can pull from *anywhere* in your copy. Is it "best" to answer the question right away for human purposes? Sure. Or you can just *bold* it a sentence or 2 under your heading.🔎 Cluster coverage i.e. answer more than one question👉 This is called keyword clustering and is SEO 101

AEO Tip 2: “Make it easy to read”

How it’s really SEO:

Headings, bullet points, bold words, etc should have been a standard part of your copy practice anyway.

AEO Tip 3: “You need brand coverage across multiple platforms”

How it’s really SEO:

So...backlinks? The most basic SEO thing of all SEO things?

Most of these "AIO" tips are taught in THIS Semrush blog, by the way.

So it's EVERY SEO company trying to push this "new" version of SEO.

And, in my opinion, it's bullshit.

SIDE QUEST: SEO for ChatGPT: How I rank websites in ChatGPT Search

AEO is just SEO copywriting rebranded as a “new” strategy

The more I look into "AIO" the more I'm thinking it's SEO experts who are NOT writers who are JUST now learning they should be writing for humans. 🙄

So, yeah. Maybe you've just needed an SEO copywriter this entire time.

(hi, it's me. the SEO copywriter who is sick of this AIO bullshit)

SIDE QUEST: SEO Copywriting vs Regular ol’ Copywriting: Here’s the REAL Difference