AEO vs SEO: Why Small Businesses Need Both to Stay Visible in 2025
Search is changing faster than most small business owners realize. Not long ago, the biggest challenge was getting your website to show up on Google’s first page. Today, artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules. Tools like Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, Perplexity, and even ChatGPT are stepping in as “answer engines.” They don’t just list results—they provide direct answers. That shift poses a simple but critical question: If AI is delivering the answers, will your business still be visible? The answer lies in embracing a hybrid approach: SEO plus AEO. The Role of SEO in Building Online Visibility For more than two decades, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been the foundation of online marketing. By strategically using keywords, building backlinks, and publishing optimized content, small businesses earned visibility on search engines like Google and Bing. Why has SEO mattered so much? It attracts organic traffic without paying for ads. It builds trust and credibil...