GEO vs AEO vs LLMO vs AI visibility: what's the difference?
These four terms are often used as synonyms, which makes the space confusing. They're related but not the same. Here's the plain-English breakdown of what each means, how they fit together, and which one you should focus on.
By the Citanto team · Updated
What's the difference between GEO, AEO, LLMO and AI visibility?
GEO, AEO and LLMO are three disciplines for being featured by AI, each at a different level: GEO works at the content level, AEO at the question level, and LLMO at the source level. AI visibility is the metric all three aim to move.
Most articles treat these as interchangeable. A clearer way to hold them: pick the level you're working at. Working on a piece of content is GEO, targeting the questions buyers ask is AEO, earning citations as a trusted source is LLMO, and the measure of the result is AI visibility.
What is GEO, in one line?
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the umbrella discipline: creating and structuring content so AI assistants can feature your brand when they answer questions about your category. It's the broadest of the three terms, and the others are focused slices of it.
What is AEO, in one line?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is the question-level slice: working toward being the answer when buyers ask an assistant a specific question, especially high-intent ones like comparisons and selection criteria.
What is LLMO, in one line?
LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization) is the source-level slice: working on your content and authority so a model can select your site as a source it cites, not just a name it mentions.
What is AI visibility, in one line?
AI visibility is the outcome metric: how often and how prominently your brand appears in AI answers, measured by mention rate and citation rate per engine over time. GEO, AEO and LLMO are the work; AI visibility is the measure.
Which one should you focus on?
Focus on the outcome, AI visibility, and use whichever discipline addresses your specific gap. If you're missing from buyer questions, that's AEO. If you're named but rarely cited as a source, that's LLMO. If you have too little content in the space, that's GEO.
- Missing from the questions buyers ask: work at the AEO level.
- Named but not cited as a source: work at the LLMO level.
- Too little content in your category: work at the GEO level.
- In every case, measure AI visibility (mention rate and citation rate) to see whether it changed.
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Frequently asked questions
Are GEO, AEO and LLMO actually different, or just marketing terms?
They're real but overlapping. They describe the same goal, being featured by AI, at different levels: content (GEO), questions (AEO) and sources (LLMO). In practice the tactics overlap heavily, so many teams use one term, usually GEO, as the umbrella for all of it.
Which term should I use with my team?
GEO is the most widely understood umbrella term, so it's the safest default. Use AEO and LLMO when you specifically mean the question level or the source level, and measure the result with AI visibility.
Does Citanto cover all four?
Partly. Citanto measures AI visibility (mention rate and citation rate) on four engine APIs, prepares on-site content around question types, and reports whether your own site is cited. It does not build mentions on third-party sites.