TL;DR: SEO makes your site discoverable, while AEO ensures AI presents your brand accurately and positively. Together, they give you full visibility, control your narrative, and build trust earlier in the buyer’s journey.
By 2026, 25% of organic traffic will shift to AI chatbots and virtual agents—meaning fewer clicks, and higher stakes for your brand.
Search Has Changed—And AI Controls the Answers Now
Traditional SEO is still critical, but the rise of AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini means customers are forming opinions before ever clicking your site. These zero-click searches can either help your brand shine—or let competitors take the spotlight.
Key takeaway: SEO gets you found. AEO makes sure AI represents you correctly when it matters most.
The numbers tell the story:
By 2026, 25% of organic traffic will shift to AI chatbots and virtual agents.
By the time a customer lands on your site, AI may have already shaped their perception of your brand.
Bottom line: If your brand isn’t optimized for AI, you risk losing control of how it’s represented.
AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of shaping how AI interprets, positions, and presents your brand.
💡 Plain language note: Think of AEO as “teaching AI what your brand stands for, so it recommends you in conversations, not just search lists.”
Key takeaway: AI Engine Optimization does not replace SEO—it extends it. Optimized content that ranks well becomes trusted content that AI can reference, boosting your brand across both traditional and AI-powered search.
For a deep dive on SEO fundamentals that complement AEO, see our guide: Search Engine Optimization: A Comprehensive Guide to Ranking Higher
Curious about how AI perceives your brand? Test your AI visibility with HubSpot’s free AEO Grader and uncover actionable insights.
Think of SEO as the foundation and AEO as the next frontier:
Together, they give your brand full visibility across both traditional search and AI-powered results.
Without SEO, AI has little high-quality content to draw from. Without AEO, your competitors may control the AI narrative.
Tip: Combining SEO + AEO gives your brand full visibility in both traditional search and AI-driven results.
For additional guidance on optimizing SEO specifically for AI-powered search, see: SEO for AI Search Optimisation.
Here’s how to merge SEO best practices with AEO strategies:
For on-page optimization tactics, see On-Page SEO Best Practices
Key takeaway: Think beyond rankings—focus on how AI interprets your brand’s identity, trust, and authority.
☐ Publish authoritative EEAT-driven content
☐ Earn backlinks from trusted sources
☐ Keep information updated & transparent
☐ Define brand entities (company, products, services) clearly
☐ Monitor AI brand mentions regularly
☐ Align SEO + AEO strategies for full visibility
Key takeaway: AEO is about visibility + trust. This checklist keeps your brand future-ready.
Not sure if your SEO is strong enough to get noticed by AI? Let our experts show you how — book a free strategy session today
Search is no longer just about clicks—it’s about perception.
Together, they help you:
For broader insights into trends shaping SEO and AI visibility, read: SEO Trends You Can’t Miss in 2025
Start strengthening your SEO foundation and expanding into AEO—before your competitors take the lead.
Not sure where to start? Schedule your free consultation today and discover how your brand can integrate SEO and AEO for maximum visibility and impact.