Reports GEO, AEO, AISO? The new lingo marketers need to know
Search is shifting. Generative AI is changing how people discover, and marketers are rewriting the playbook in real time. Keywords and backlinks still matter, but new acronyms-GEO, AEO, AISO-are now shaping strategy, hiring, and how teams talk about the work.
Fractl analyzed usage across surveys, job listings, search data, LinkedIn, and Reddit. The takeaway: your word choice affects perception, resourcing, and outcomes. Pick the right label for the room, define it, and use it consistently.
Short on time? Here's a quick table of contents:
- GEO is winning mindshare, but SEO remains the baseline
- From clarity to credibility: how acronyms perform across platforms
- AISO takes the lead in job listings
- What marketers should know: how to choose the right term
- The future of marketing: AI transformations by 2026
GEO is winning mindshare, but SEO remains the baseline
In a survey of 342 marketers, GEO (generative engine optimization) was the most recognized AI-era term-84% said they know it. When forced to choose one label they actually use, 42% picked GEO. It's become the mental model for AI-driven discovery.
SEO is still in the conversation. Fourteen percent still use "SEO" to describe this work, especially in cross-functional settings where clarity matters. AEO (answer engine optimization) and AISEO (artificial intelligence search engine optimization) remain well known too, with 61% and 60% recognition. These tend to map to specific tasks inside broader GenAI strategies.
"GEO has emerged as the label of choice in the evolving AI search paradigm," said Danny Goodwin, editor at Search Engine Land. "But SEO remains as important as ever. The job has evolved, not disappeared."
Pattern summary: GEO frames the shift. AEO and AISEO describe the work. SEO keeps executives and clients aligned.
What is generative engine optimization (GEO)?
GEO is the strategy for earning visibility inside generative engines and AI-enhanced search surfaces. It focuses on making your brand quotable, verifiable, and useful to AI systems that assemble answers, not just list links.
From clarity to credibility: how acronyms perform across platforms
Language lands differently by channel. On Reddit, AISEO leads with a 95.8% positive sentiment, signaling strong fit with technical marketers. On LinkedIn, SEO content gets 90.4% positive sentiment-proof it still resonates in broader professional feeds.
AISO (AI search optimization) is gaining traction too. It scores 90.9% positivity on LinkedIn but drops to 46.8% on Reddit. Translation: launch new terms on LinkedIn, pressure-test them on Reddit.
Search trends add another layer. ASO (answer search optimization) had the highest quarter-over-quarter lift, up 152% in Q4. It's interesting, but it clashes with the long-standing "app store optimization" term-use with caution.
If you want awareness, GEO and ASO are heating up. For implementation depth, AEO and AISO work better. If you want social reach with a technical crowd, terms like LLMO or SXO can spark engagement.
AISO takes the lead in job listings
Hiring data shows AISO is the dominant label for AI-powered search roles. Fractl found 11,000+ job listings referencing AISO-more than SEO, GEO, AEO, and LLMO combined. SEO still appears in thousands of descriptions and remains a core skill, but "AI" in the title signals the direction of the work.
GEO and SGE show up more in project names and initiatives than job titles. They're useful for storytelling and client education, while AISO fits hiring pipelines.
"AISO is a rebrand of classic SEO skills," said Goodwin. "But it also reflects new expectations. You need to understand content, UX, and now, how AI generates answers."
What marketers should know: choose by audience and objective
- Use GEO for stakeholder education and top-of-funnel content. It's widely recognized and sets context for AI-era discovery.
- Use AISO or AEO for playbooks, team functions, and job roles. These terms carry practitioner credibility and align with hiring platforms.
- Use SEO across departments and with executives. Frame it as "SEO with AI" to keep the org aligned while you modernize the approach.
- Avoid niche acronyms like LLMAO or SGE unless your audience is highly technical. Recognition is limited and can create friction.
Whatever you choose, define it in plain language and stick with it across channels. Revisit annually to match how your customers, candidates, and peers are actually talking.
Language is more than branding-it guides strategy. Your labels influence how teams prioritize, how clients judge credibility, and how programs scale. You do not need perfect consensus. You need clarity, consistency, and a name that fits the work.
"Don't call it confusion. Call it evolution," said Goodwin. "This is a new mode of discovery with different expectations, surfaces, and outcomes."
The future of marketing: AI transformations by 2026
By 2026, expect AI answers to be a primary entry point for many queries, with links as supporting detail. Brands that win will be those cited as sources, not just those ranking in blue links.
- Shift from pages to entities: structure data, clarify expertise, and earn references across formats.
- Design for answer extraction: concise summaries, citations, and evidence baked into content.
- Measure beyond rankings: track inclusion in AI answers, citations, co-occurrence, and assisted conversions.
- Upskill teams: content, UX, data, and prompt strategy under one roof.
Practical next steps
- Pick your core label (GEO, AISO, or AEO) and write a one-sentence definition your CFO would understand.
- Audit your content for answerability: claims, sources, schema, and short-form summaries.
- Create a "sources we want to be cited by" list and build those relationships.
- Add AI-answer visibility to your KPIs: track appearances, citations, and traffic lift from AI surfaces.
- Update job descriptions and team charters to reflect AI-era responsibilities.
If you need structured upskilling for your team, see the Marketing Specialist certification and AI course paths at Complete AI Training or browse by role at Courses by Job.
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