Short answer: all four terms are about being found; they differ in where. SEO is ranking in Google's normal results. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is becoming the ready-made answer, such as featured snippets and voice assistants. AIO usually means Google AI Overviews, the AI answer box at the top of Google. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is getting AI such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity to use your site in its answers; in Japan it is often called LLMO. The work overlaps almost entirely, and at Daaistudio it all sits in one SEO GEO plan.
Many business owners meet AEO, AIO, GEO or LLMO and wonder whether they need to buy each one separately. In reality these terms came from different corners of the industry at different times, but they describe the same goal: getting Google and AI to choose your business as the answer. This guide explains each term, how they differ, and the work that actually matters.
What is AEO
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization: shaping content into answers that search systems can show directly, such as Google's featured snippets, "People also ask" and voice assistant replies.
- Answer first: the first paragraph answers the question in two or three sentences.
- Headings as real questions: use the words customers actually ask.
- FAQ and schema: so systems can read questions and answers clearly.
Note: in import and export, AEO also stands for Authorized Economic Operator, a customs certification, which has nothing to do with AEO in online marketing.
What is AIO in marketing
In SEO, AIO usually means Google AI Overviews: the AI-written summary at the top of the results page, with links to the sites it draws from. Google began rolling it out in the U.S. on 14 May 2024 and has since expanded it to more countries. Some people also use AIO to mean "AI Optimization" in general.
The key point: Google itself says "There are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, nor other special optimizations necessary." A site with solid SEO is the foundation for appearing in AI Overviews. More in Google AI Overviews: is SEO still needed.
What is GEO
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization: getting AI that writes its own answers, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, to cite or recommend your site. The term comes from the research paper "GEO: Generative Engine Optimization", published in November 2023, which found GEO methods can boost visibility in AI answers by up to 40%.
The step-by-step guide is in What is GEO.
What is LLMO
LLMO stands for Large Language Model Optimization, a term popular in Japan for getting language models like ChatGPT to know and recommend your business. It means almost the same as GEO; if your customers or head office are in Japan, you will hear LLMO more often.
AEO vs GEO vs SEO vs AIO: comparison table
| Term | Stands for | Where you appear | Main work |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEO | Search Engine Optimization | Google's normal results | Site structure, keywords, speed, content |
| AEO | Answer Engine Optimization | Answer boxes, People also ask, voice assistants | Answer-first content, FAQ, schema |
| AIO | AI Overviews (sometimes AI Optimization) | The AI answer box on Google | Solid SEO plus quotable content |
| GEO | Generative Engine Optimization | ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, AI Overviews | Clear facts and numbers, consistent business details, mentions on other sites |
| LLMO | Large Language Model Optimization | Same as GEO (common term in Japan) | Same as GEO |
Want to know how Google and AI see your business?
We check your Google rankings and ask the four main AI assistants the questions your customers really ask, then walk you through a plan with prices on the first call, free of charge.
Do you need AEO, AIO and GEO separately?
No. They share one foundation, and without it none of them works.
- Shared foundation: Google and AI can access the site, pages are clearly structured, one page answers one question, schema and real facts are in place.
- AEO emphasis: question-and-answer format and short answers that can be lifted directly.
- GEO emphasis: name, address and services consistent everywhere, plus mentions on other sites, reviews and Google Maps.
- AIO emphasis: pages must rank and be indexed by Google before AI Overviews can use them.
Real results from our SEO and GEO work
- Bangkok restaurant: +59.8% search clicks in one month, cited by four AI engines (Google AI, Perplexity, Gemini, ChatGPT).
- Inspection and engineering company, Rayong: the first recommendation in Google's AI Overview, and #1 for two main terms within 39 days of launch.
- Our own site: daaistudio.com ranks #1 on Google Thailand for "ทำเว็บภาษาญี่ปุ่น" and "ทำเว็บบริษัทญี่ปุ่น" (Japanese website and Japanese company website design, checked 4 Oct 2026).
See every case on our work page.
What AEO and GEO services cost
We handle SEO, AEO, AIO and GEO together in one plan rather than selling them separately. Site care + SEO GEO is 7,000 THB/month (first month 4,000 THB), including monthly articles, rank tracking, content tuned for AI citations and a report comparing each month with the last. Details on pricing and in website maintenance cost per year.
Summary
SEO, AEO, AIO, GEO and LLMO are names for being chosen as the answer in different places. The foundation is a site with correct SEO, content that answers real questions, and clear business details that match everywhere. To see where your business stands on Google and AI, start with a free plan.