SEO vs AEO: Comparing the Future of Digital Search and Optimisation

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Written by Sumathi GanapathyUpdated on Dec 9, 2025

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If you have opened LinkedIn lately, you already know the vibe. Everyone is convinced something big is happening in search. One week it is SGE, the next week it is GEO, then suddenly everyone is talking about Answer Engine Optimisation. On top of that, Google says over 65 per cent of searches end without a click, and Ahrefs reports that AI Overviews have more than doubled since early 2025. When AI Overviews appear, the top organic result loses nearly 34 per cent of its clicks. Those numbers are enough to shake even seasoned marketers.

But here is the truth, said best by a speaker at a recent SEO summit in Singapore, “Search is not dying. It is evolving, just like it always has.” The real shift is not about SEO disappearing, but about how businesses adapt to a world where search engines and answer engines share the same stage. That is why SEO and AEO now matter together if you care about visibility across the entire future of search.

Search Engine Optimisation is the long-trusted method of helping websites rank higher on Google and Bing. It has been around since the 90s, and even with all the noise today, SEO still drives more than 40 per cent of online revenue globally, according to BrightEdge.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the long-trusted method of helping websites rank higher on Google and Bing. Even with recent shifts, SEO still drives a large share of online revenue.

SEO focuses on:

Detailed, long-form content
Keyword-focused strategies
Backlink quality and domain authority
Core Web Vitals
Metadata and schema
Optimised site architecture

Example: A business optimises a full guide for “best CRM for small businesses”, builds internal links and backlinks, and earns a top-3 position. SEO drives sustained organic traffic for months.

Typical SEO metrics:

Keyword rankings
Organic sessions
Click-through rate (CTR)
Conversions from organic search

What is AEO?

Answer Engine Optimisation is newer. Instead of focusing on ranking in traditional search, AEO focuses on being selected as the answer in:

AEO emphasises:

Short, structured explanations
Q&A formatting
Schema markup
Concise definitions and fact-based statements
Credibility signals across the web

Example: A fintech firm publishes a clear, three-sentence definition of “invoice financing” plus schema. Copilot starts citing that content repeatedly.

Typical AEO metrics:

Citations in AI Overviews
Visibility in People Also Ask
Mentions in generative search tools
Frequency of answers sourced from your content

SEO vs AEO: What business owners need to know

Category	SEO	AEO
Objective	Rank higher and attract clicks	Be selected as the direct answer
Focus	Keywords, backlinks, long-form depth	Structured answers, clarity, schema
Devices	Desktop & mobile browsers	AI tools, voice search, chat assistants
Metrics	Organic sessions, CTR, rankings	Mentions, citations, AI visibility
Content style	Detailed and exploratory	Concise and answer-first

Takeaway: SEO builds visibility. AEO builds authority. You need both to stay competitive.

Will AEO replace SEO?

No. Not now, and not in the foreseeable future.

AEO is not a replacement. It is an evolution layered on top of SEO. You still need SEO to help AI systems understand your site in the first place. AI assistants cannot cite your content if they cannot crawl it.

Most importantly, people still search traditionally. As of 2025, Google sees more than 8 billion searches per day, and companies continue to rely on SEO for stable traffic. What is changing is that AI Overviews, ChatGPT and Perplexity are becoming the second layer of search.

So AEO does not replace SEO. It strengthens it.

The evolution: How SEO and AEO work together

The future of search will be hybrid, combining both discoverability and answer readiness. Here is how the shift is unfolding.

Users want fast answers

With AI Overviews on Google, users get instant summaries. If your content is not structured clearly, AI tools will not pick it up..
AI tools depend on your site as the source

AI reads your website. If your site lacks structure, facts or clarity, AI tools skip it.
Authority signals matter more than ever

Mentions across platforms, YouTube transcripts, and thought leadership all influence SEO and AEO.
The funnel is changing

Users discover answers via AI, then validate credibility on your site — making the website the trust anchor.

Practical strategies: How to optimise for SEO and AEO together

1. Structure content for both depth and clarity

Add short, answer-first blocks at the top of long-form pages (35–45 words) before the deep dive.

2. Add FAQ sections to every important page

FAQs are prime candidates for People Also Ask and AI Overviews. Use real customer questions.

3. Implement schema markup consistently

Use FAQ, HowTo, Article, Review, Product and Organization schema to help AI and search engines parse your page.

4. Build authority across the web

Guest posts, YouTube explainers, podcasts, Reddit/Quora answers and digital PR increase citations that AEO trusts

5. Prioritise credibility signals inside content

Cite stats, add original data, include expert quotes, testimonials and authored bylines with credentials.

6. Write content that gets to the point quickly

Lead each section with a one-sentence answer, then expand with context and examples.

7. Improve technical performance

Fast, mobile-friendly sites improve both SEO ranking and AEO crawl quality (page speed, clean architecture, compressed assets).

8. Track both SEO and AEO visibility

Monitor rankings, AI citations, mentions in ChatGPT/Copilot, People Also Ask visibility and branded query performance. Use tools like Semrush, Ahrefs and others.

The role of AI Overviews in the future of search

AI Overviews change how users interact with content and how businesses earn visibility. Optimising for AEO positions content for higher visibility even if your traditional ranking is not top.

A small note from the Wisoft Team in India

At Wisoft Solutions India, we help brands navigate this exact shift across SEO, AEO and content strategy. Our blogs covers the latest updates in AI Overviews, generative search and the future of search from a business-first perspective. If you ever need help creating search-ready, answer-ready content, our team would be happy to support you.

Conclusion

SEO is not dying. AEO is not replacing it. The real future of search is a blend of both. You need SEO to be found, and AEO to be chosen. One brings the visitor. The other brings trust.

If you want your business to stay visible in both traditional search and AI-driven answer engines, now is the time to optimize for both. Build depth. Build clarity. Build trust across the web.

And if you need a partner to walk with you through this shift, our team at Wisoft Solutions India is always here. Book a quick call, tell us about your challenges, and we will help you shape a search strategy that works for the next five years, not just for today.

FAQs

1. How do AI Overviews affect the future of search?

They reduce some organic clicks but increase demand for high-quality, answer-ready content. Brands that adapt will gain visibility across AI platforms.