| Full form | Search Engine Optimization | Answer Engine Optimization | Generative Engine Optimization |
| Main target | Google/Bing search results | Answer boxes & voice assistants | AI search/chatbots |
| Goal | Rank higher in search results | Get your content used as a direct answer | Get your brand/content mentioned or cited by AI |
| Example | Rank for “best laptops under ₹50,000” | Appear for “What is the best laptop under ₹50,000?” | Have ChatGPT/Google AI recommend your brand |
| Key focus | Keywords, backlinks, technical SEO, content | Clear questions & concise answers, structured content | Authority, factual content, citations, brand mentions |
| Typical result | Website visit | Direct answer + possible click | AI-generated answer mentioning your brand |