Google’s Gemini at the top, many shops think if old SEO still stands. The clear reply is yes—but it’s changing fast next to a new plan called Answer Engine Optimization (AEO).
The stats share a strong tale. ChatGPT now holds 400 million weekly users, up 30% in the last few months. As of January 2025, Perplexity AI packs 15 million active users each month, up from 2 million in 2023. Also, click links rose 44% from ChatGPT & 71% from Perplexity, showing a big change in how folks find & know info on the web.
The Shift: From Search Sites to Answer Sites
Old search sites give lists of links, with the hope users will click to find what they need. Answer sites, though, try to give full replies with sources—no more need for lots of clicks. Answer engine plans (AEO) are all about how data is set so AI can read, make sense of, & give a right reply.
This change shows more than just tech growth; it’s a whole new view of how data is found & read. Users now wish to get quick, right facts from known places.
SEO vs. AEO: Shared Points
Even with their shifts, SEO & AEO have core rules that tie them:
Content Level Stays Top: Both plans look to high-grade, strong content that serves real needs. No matter if it’s for Google’s rules or ChatGPT’s data, great content is key.
User Want Know-How: Both SEO & AEO need a deep grasp of what users aim for when they search. The keyword work that backs SEO guides the question-answer style that helps AEO.
To-The-Point & Trust: Search & answer sites both judge data based on how it fits user needs & how trusted the source is. Domain trust, links, & content skill count in both fields.
Tech Base: Both ways need strong tech work, be it site speed & mobile fit for SEO or set-up data for AEO.
Main Shifts: Where SEO & AEO Split
While the core is the same, how they deal with tasks varies a lot:
While the foundations remain similar, the execution strategies differ significantly:
Data Set & How it Looks
SEO Point: Usual SEO makes data fit for keywords, site plans, & meta info to lift ranks in search sites.
AEO Task: Answer engine plans (AEO) lift brand seen in AI-run answer sites like ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, & Microsoft Copilot. Top steps for gaining cites in these sites takes making data, schema marks, & backlinks.
How Data Shows
SEO Way: Data fits for folks who will click links from search sites.
AEO Way: Good schema kinds for AEO are FAQPage for common asks, HowTo for step-by-step tips, & QAPage for Q&A stuff. Set these right so answer sites can pull & show data from your work well.
How We Grade Wins
SEO Wins: Set by how high you rank, click rates, & no-pay hits to your site.
AEO Wins: Set by how much AI cites the data, direct answer marks, & brand spots in answer sites—even if users do not visit.
What to Fix First
SEO Musts: Key words, links, tech SEO, & user hints.
AEO Musts: Top plans take keyword checks, use of set data, & fit data for voice search. The mind sets hard on using set-up data & making data that gives clear replies to the real asks.
Which Is Hard To Fix?
AEO brings hard asks that seem more tough than old SEO:
Data Rule: With SEO, you can guide your site’s plans straight. With AEO, you’re fixing for AI that may have your data, making updates hard.
Not Sure of Cites: While SEO gives clean numbers & ranks, AEO hangs on unclear AI rules that may cite your data in ways that change with each ask.
Trust Needs: Answer sites put more care on proven, strong sources than old search sites, making it hard for new or small brands to be seen.
How Data Works: AEO ways use by pulling on set data & how words work (NLP) to give short, right replies made for user needs. This asks for more skill in set data work than basic SEO.
Examples: Where SEO & AEO Meet & Split
Where They Mix
Look at a health blog post on “top moves for lower back hurt.” Both SEO & AEO win from:
- Full, right medical data
- Clear titles & subs
- Strong sources & cites
- Mobile-easy style
- Quick loading times
Where They Split
SEO Fix would look at:
- “lower back pain moves” key word in title & meta
- Links in to other fitness posts
- Building links from health & fitness sites
- Fit for “People Also Ask” bits
AEO Fix would need:
- FAQ schema for common asks
- Step-by-step set data for moves
- Direct, easy to cite words in para form
- Clear medical pro details
- Cites in a style AI can pull & mark easy
What Shops Must Do Now for AI-Powered Seen
Shops at the top with AI web search use mix SEO-AEO ways:
Things to Do Now
- Check Your Set Data: Put in FAQ, HowTo, & QAPage schema marks across key content pages.
- Start Answer-First Data: Change current content to start with direct replies to common asks, then give more facts.
- Grow Trust Bites: AEO means to know what your crowd wants & be the top, firm source for it. Work on making site trust with top-class links & pro grade texts.
- Make it Fit for Voice Find: Lots of find tool asks are from voice finds. This needs real talk fill tweaks.
The Quick-Win Plan: The Citation Method
Here’s a quick trick that top brands use to get cited in AI search hits:
The E-A-T Citation Rule:
- Skill: List clear author skills & signs of know-how.
- Power: Show off awards, proofs, & nods from the field.
- Trust: Add date of post, fact checks, & source lists.
How to Do It:
- Make an “About the Author” area with real proofs.
- Put in structured data to show content type & author skill.
- Add a list of books or sources with strong refs.
- Use schema to mark the post date & how often you update.
- Write in Q&A style to answer exact questions.
This way is like how top sources like med journals set up—making it more likely that AI will see & cite your stuff as true.
The Top Edge: Know Both SEO & AEO
The best firms in 2025 use both SEO & AEO. The search game is changing, with AI in the lead. This shift needs know-how in both old SEO ways & new answer engine tech.
Firms that shift fast will grab hits from old search engines & new AI answer tools. Those that don’t will fade as users move to direct-answer sites.
Work With Pros: Sotavento Medios
The mix of SEO & AEO is hard. Sotavento Medios is a top name in both SEO & new Answer Engine Opt, helping firms stay seen on all search tools.
If you need to boost your SEO or get into AI answer tools, Sotavento Medios has the smart ways & tech skill to bring results.
Want to top both search engines & answer tools?
- Enhance your SEO strategy: Discover Sotavento Medios’ comprehensive SEO services
- Master Answer Engine Optimization: Explore our specialized AEO services
Don’t let your foes win in this new AI search age. Call Sotavento Medios now to build a top plan that grabs hits from every search tool where your clients seek answers.
The search of the future is here—and it’s time to get set for it.
