AEO vs GEO vs AIO vs LLM SEO — what's actually different
If you've searched any of these four terms, you've probably noticed the definitions blur together depending on who's explaining them. The honest version is that they overlap heavily: they describe the same underlying shift in AI-driven discovery, but each one emphasises a slightly different angle. We don't sell four separate services under four separate labels — we use one practical methodology that covers structure, authority, schema, and visibility across AI systems.
Why it matters
- A clear explanation of what AEO, GEO, AIO, and LLM SEO actually mean in practice
- A structured, practical approach to content clarity, authority signals, and schema groundwork
- A single methodology that works across search, AI answers, and AI-assisted discovery
The four terms, plainly
AEO
Answer Engine Optimization
Focused on structured, direct-answer surfaces: featured snippets, AI Overview boxes, and voice search results. The goal is being the extractable answer, not just a ranked link.
GEO
Generative Engine Optimization
Focused on being cited within a synthesized answer — ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini pulling from your site alongside a few others to build a response. Less about winning one slot, more about being one of the trusted sources in the mix.
AIO / LLM SEO
Sometimes called LLMO — the broadest of the four
Less about a single query moment, more about how a model "generally regards" a brand — shaped by training data and ongoing retrieval.
What we actually do about it
We don't sell four separate services under these labels. Everything runs through one methodology — Cited By Design — because in practice, the work overlaps enormously: clear content structure, accurate schema, and a real presence across the web that AI systems can verify.
The acronym someone searches for tells us how they found this page. It doesn't change what we'd actually recommend doing.
A note on schema, since it comes up constantly
No overclaiming
Schema markup is necessary groundwork, not a guarantee. Multiple independent studies — including our own audit data — show schema alone doesn't reliably move citations. What it does is remove friction so other signals can work.
Anyone promising schema alone will get you cited is oversimplifying.
What you can expect
A practical delivery model designed to create momentum quickly.
AEO
We focus on structured, direct-answer surfaces such as featured snippets, AI Overviews, and voice search so your content is easier to extract and trust.
GEO
We optimise for citation within synthesized answers, making sure your brand is one of the trusted sources that AI systems can confidently reference.
AIO / LLM SEO
We work on the broader, long-term signals that shape how a model generally regards your brand across training data, retrieval, and ongoing surfaces.
How the options actually compare
Structured for a straight answer, not a sales pitch — a clean comparison across the realistic options.
| Litealign | DIY | Traditional SEO agency | Self-serve AI tool | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing cost | £180–2,800/mo, or none | Your own time | £600–5,000+/mo | £20–500+/mo |
| Includes website work | Yes | No | Rarely | No |
| Sampling methodology disclosed | Yes, published | N/A | Rarely | Rarely |
| Minimum commitment | None — audit is one-off | None | Usually 6–12 months | Monthly subscription |
| Does the actual fixing | Yes | You do | Usually | No — data only |
Written by Litealign's data & measurement lead
Master's in Artificial Intelligence · Designs the audit sampling methodology referenced throughout this guide
Find out where you actually stand
Start with a clear baseline.
Get your AI Visibility Audit — sampled, benchmarked, delivered in days.