AEO and GEO: what actually changed in search

Classic SEO optimised for a ranked list of blue links. Answer engines optimise for a single synthesised response, and the citation slots inside that response are the new page one.

In practice this means shorter, self-contained answer blocks, explicit entity naming, and schema that removes ambiguity about who you are and what you sell. Long, meandering introductions get skipped entirely.

We audit every page for three things: does it answer one question completely, is the answer extractable without surrounding context, and is the claim attributable to a named source. Pages that pass all three get cited far more often.

Generative engine optimisation adds a distribution layer on top: your brand needs to appear in the corpora these models read — directories, forums, comparison pages and press — not just on your own domain.