AEO is a new term that has emerged with the rise of artificial intelligence, and its importance is growing every day.
Since the way people ask and receive answers on the internet has changed—and the traditional method of searching on Google is being replaced by platforms like ChatGPT—a new concept called AEO has been introduced.
Google has also recently released an update where, similar to ChatGPT, answers to users’ questions are displayed directly under the search results.
AEO focuses on making artificial intelligence introduce your brand or content to users, rather than simply showing your website link in the search results.
This is exactly where the difference between SEO and AEO lies—the focus shifts from content ranking in search results to content being presented by AI systems.
Because AEO is still a new concept, some may think SEO has lost its importance in search engines. This assumption is completely wrong.
For AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others to reference your content when answering questions, your keyword SEO must be strong and your content must have high quality. That’s the foundation for entering the field of AEO—but it’s not the whole story.
As mentioned earlier, SEO is a prerequisite for AEO. Your website must have a solid technical structure, rank well for relevant keywords, and maintain strong domain authority and page quality. Only then can you move into AEO.
In essence, AEO is similar to SEO but with additional layers. Why?
Because the focus is on question-and-answer keywords rather than just keywords themselves.
For example, ranking first in Google for the keyword “website design” does not necessarily mean that AI systems will consider your brand as a reference.
Instead, you must rank high in AI-generated answers to user questions. For instance, if a user asks:
“Which is the best web design company in Tehran?”
If your website is among the top results or is mentioned in relevant content, AI will be more likely to suggest your brand as the answer.
The points above aimed to introduce AEO and clarify its differences from SEO.
As for how AEO is implemented, it works in both direct and indirect ways—similar to SEO, it is a technical and strategic process usually handled by digital marketing agencies like Itroz.
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