What's the difference between SEO, AEO and GEO?

SEO gets your pages ranking in Google's results. AEO gets your content pulled into direct answers and featured snippets. GEO gets your business mentioned and recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity. They overlap but are measured completely separately.

Do I need to do anything differently for AI search, or is it just SEO?

Mostly it's SEO done properly: clear, honest, well-structured content that answers real questions. Google's own May 2026 AI search guidance confirms there's no special technical trick or file needed, genuine content and consistent business information across the web matter more than any workaround.

How do I know if AI tools are already recommending my business?

Ask ChatGPT or Gemini the kind of question a customer would ask about your industry and location, and see whether your business comes up. It's a rough manual check, but it's a real starting point.

Is this only relevant for big companies?

No. Most of the coverage of this topic is aimed at enterprise marketing teams, but the underlying shift in customer behaviour applies just as much to a sole trader or small business, arguably more, since so few small businesses are paying attention to it yet.