If you’ve built your traffic on classic SEO, AI Overviews (AEO) can feel like a moving target. The good news: people still want fast, trustworthy answers. This guide shows how to shape content that wins AEO vs SEO—without resorting to gimmicks. Want help turning your sources into answer-first pages? Start your free trial (see pricing).
The simple difference for writers and editors
SEO prioritizes comprehensive, crawlable pages with clear structure, links, and signals. AEO prefers a page that answers first (a ~50-word summary), then expands with scannable sections and FAQs. The overlap is big: both reward people-first, source-backed content with obvious intent and clean markup.
When each matters most
- Use AEO patterns (H1 → ~50-word answer → FAQ) when the query expects a direct response: definitions, “how it works,” comparisons, quick steps.
- Keep SEO depth for research narratives, buying guides, or multi-step workflows—then still include an answer block up top for scanners.
One page that wins both
Think in layers:
- Answer-first layer (AEO) — a literal 40–60 word paragraph under the H1 that settles the query.
- Skimmable layer — question-led H2s, short paragraphs, lists/tables where useful.
- Evidence layer — link to sources, show dates, and surface methods/authors.
- Technical layer — titles/meta that match the page, eligible structured data (FAQ/HowTo only when helpful), internal links to the canonical “primary” URL.
AEO vs SEO differences to bake into your workflow
- Intent matching: title and first paragraph should mirror the query.
- Snippetable blocks: crisp paragraphs/lists that can stand alone if excerpted.
- FAQ selectivity: add 3–5 concise questions users actually ask; avoid decorative markup.
- Canonical clarity: choose one primary URL per topic; point variants to it and link internally to the primary.
- Dates on facts: visible “updated” date + accurate structured data (datePublished/dateModified).
Measuring success without chasing vanity metrics
- Track answer block performance: impressions/click-through on pages where you shipped the 50-word answer + FAQ.
- Watch time to usefulness: are readers finding what they want in the first screen?
- Monitor duplication/cannibalization: consolidate near-duplicate pages so one canonical URL collects signals.
- Keep a 90-day refresh: review stats, replace stale numbers, and update internal links.
A small example to copy
H1: “AEO vs SEO: What’s the Difference?”
~50-word answer: AEO optimizes for direct answers (answer block + FAQ), while SEO optimizes broader ranking signals and depth. A single page can win both: answer first, then expand with skimmable sections, cite sources, and add eligible schema. Keep one canonical URL and refresh dates regularly.
H2s: “AEO vs SEO for Definitions and How-Tos” • “AEO vs SEO for Buying Guides” • “AEO vs SEO Measurement” • “AEO vs SEO FAQs”
Build answer-first pages from your sources—with citations and canonical clarity—so you’re covered for AEO vs SEO. Start your free trial (see pricing).
AEO vs SEO FAQs
What is “AEO vs SEO” in one sentence?
AEO is answer-first formatting (short definition + FAQ) while SEO is broader site/page optimization; together, they deliver fast answers and durable visibility.
Should I change old SEO pages for AEO?
Yes—lightly. Add a 50-word summary near the top, tighten headings, and include a short FAQ when it truly helps. Keep the rest of the page’s depth and sources intact.
Is FAQ schema still worth it?
When the questions are visible and genuinely useful, yes. Mark up only what’s on the page, and don’t add FAQs just for markup.
