What's the Difference Between SEO and AI Optimization in 2026?

You've heard of SEO. But now there's AI optimization, AIO, GEO, even AEO. No wonder you're confused.

Are they the same? Is one better? Do you really need both?

:SEO and AI optimization are connected, but they're not interchangeable. In 2026, if your business isn't showing up on both Google and AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity, you're missing a big piece of the traffic pie.

Let's break down the difference (with real-world examples from my clients) and help you figure out what you actually need right now.

What's The Role of SEO?

SEO is what gets your website to show up when someone types a question into Google or Bing. That's it. It's not magic, and it's not dead, no matter what some social media guru told you last week.

When I started doing SEO work years ago, it was all about keywords, backlinks, and making sure your website was technically sound. Those things still matter. They're like the foundation of a house. You can't skip them and expect everything else to hold up.

Think of SEO as getting your name on the guest list. Search engines have to crawl your site, understand what it's about, and decide where it belongs in the results. If your site isn't properly structured, if it's slow, or if you're not using the right keywords, Google doesn't know what to do with you.

I worked with a Life coach who had great content but her site wasn't indexed properly. Google couldn't find half her pages. We fixed her technical SEO first, sitemap, robots.txt, internal linking, and within three weeks her traffic doubled. That's the power of getting the basics right.

The Foundation of Visibility

SEO focuses on a few key things: your website structure, the keywords you use, the quality of your content, and who's linking to you. You need meta descriptions, title tags, header tags, and content that actually answers what people are searching for.

But SEO alone isn't the full picture anymore. It gets you ranked on Google, sure. But if someone's asking ChatGPT for recommendations? Your perfectly optimized website might not even come up.

What Is AI Optimization (AIO or Generative Engine Optimization)?

AI optimization is newer, and most people don't even know it exists yet. It's about making sure AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini actually recommend your business when someone asks them a question.

Let me give you an example. Last month, I hosted a session on how to get traffic from ChatGPT, and you should've seen people's faces when they realized they weren't showing up anywhere in AI-generated answers. They'd spent months optimizing for Google, but when someone typed "recommend a life coach in New Jersey" into ChatGPT, their name didn't appear.

You're Not Just Ranking, You're Being Cited

With traditional SEO, you rank in search results. With AI optimization, you get cited in answers. Big difference. AI tools pull information from multiple sources and synthesize it into a response. If you want to be part of that response, you need to be visible in places AI tools look: directories, LinkedIn, podcasts, Google Business Profile, Reddit, even Quora.

One of my clients. We got her mentioned in a few industry directories and added structured data to her website. Within a month, ChatGPT started citing her in answers about resume help and career transitions. She started getting leads from people who'd never even Googled her, they just trusted what ChatGPT recommended.

Clarity, Citations, and Credibility

AI optimization isn't about gaming the system. It's about being clear, consistent, and credible across the internet. AI tools look for patterns. If you're mentioned in five different places saying the same thing about your expertise, AI trusts you more. If your website has FAQs that directly answer common questions, AI is more likely to pull from your content.

I tell my clients: think of AI optimization as building your reputation across the internet, not just on your own website.

Key Differences Between SEO and AI Optimization

Let's get specific about what makes these two strategies different, because the line gets blurry fast.

Where You Show Up

SEO gets you ranked in Google's search results. When someone types "therapist near me" or "best SEO tips," they get a list of links. If you're doing SEO right, your site is on that list.

AI optimization gets you mentioned in AI-generated answers. When someone asks ChatGPT "Who's a good business coach for creatives?" they get a curated response. If you're doing AI optimization right, your name is in that answer.

How You Get Found

SEO is all about keywords, backlinks, and structure. You need the right words in the right places. You need other websites linking to yours. You need your site to load fast and look good on mobile.

AI optimization is about citations, clarity, and credibility. You need to be mentioned on reputable platforms. You need your content to be easy to read and structured in a way AI can parse. You need consistent information about your brand everywhere.

What Gets You Visibility

With SEO, blog content and links are king. Write helpful content, get other sites to link to it, and Google rewards you.

With AI optimization, brand mentions and structured data matter more. If you're being talked about on LinkedIn, featured in a podcast, or mentioned in a directory, AI notices. If your website has schema markup (that's code that tells AI what your content is about), you're ahead of the game.

User Behavior Is Different

When someone Googles something, they click through to read your content. You get website traffic. You can track it. You can optimize for conversions.

When someone asks ChatGPT something, they get the answer right there in the chat. They might never visit your site. But they might DM you on LinkedIn or call you directly because ChatGPT said you're the expert.

Both lead to business. They just look different.

Why You Need Both to Be Visible in 2026

Here's what I see happening with my clients: the ones who only focus on SEO are missing out on AI traffic. The ones who only focus on building their brand on social media and directories aren't showing up on Google. The ones who do both? They're everywhere.

SEO Gets You Found on Google

Google is still the biggest search engine on the planet. People are still typing questions into that search bar every single day. If you're not ranking there, you're invisible to a huge chunk of your potential clients.

I've worked with coaches who get 80% of their traffic from Google. That's not changing anytime soon. You need SEO to be found by people who are actively searching for what you offer.

AIO Gets You Cited in AI Answers

But more and more people are using AI tools to get recommendations. They're asking ChatGPT for advice, they're using Perplexity to research topics, they're letting Gemini write their shopping lists and business plans.

If you're not showing up in those answers, you're missing a growing segment of traffic. I had a client who started getting leads from ChatGPT after we optimized her content and got her mentioned in a few directories. She didn't even know people were finding her that way until they told her.

Full-Spectrum Visibility

When you combine SEO and AI optimization, you create what I call full-spectrum visibility. You show up everywhere your ideal client is looking, whether that's Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, or anywhere in between.

One of my clients experiece this after we optimized her site for both SEO and AI, she ranked number one on Google for her main keyword and started getting cited in ChatGPT answers about relationship help. She's now getting leads from both sources. That's the goal.

Real-World Examples of SEO vs AI Optimization

Let me show you what this looks like in practice, because theory is great but examples make it click.

SEO-Only Client

I had a client with a beautifully optimized website. Great blog content. Fast loading times. All the right keywords. She was ranking on Google for multiple search terms. But when we searched for her in ChatGPT? Nothing. Not a single mention.

Turns out, she wasn't mentioned anywhere else online. No LinkedIn activity. Not in any directories. No podcast appearances. AI tools had no reason to know she existed. She was getting Google traffic but missing out on a whole other stream of potential clients.

AIO-Only Client

On the flip side, I worked with a consultant who was super active on LinkedIn, had been on several podcasts, and was listed in every directory under the sun. People in her industry knew her name. But her website wasn't indexed properly, and her content wasn't optimized for search.

She'd get DMs and referrals all day long, but when someone Googled her services, she didn't show up. She was losing people who wanted to research her before reaching out. We fixed her technical SEO and suddenly she was visible on both fronts.

Full Combo Client

The sweet spot is combining both. I have a career strategist client who has an optimized website and is actively building her brand presence. She's on LinkedIn, she's in directories, she's been quoted in articles, and her site has proper schema markup and structured content.

Now she ranks on Google, shows up in ChatGPT answers, and gets recommended by Perplexity. She's getting leads from all three sources. Some people find her on Google and book a call. Some people ask ChatGPT for help and get her name. Some people are researching career coaches and see her mentioned in three different places, which builds trust.

That's what you want. Visibility everywhere.

How to Know Which One Your Business Needs Right Now

Not everyone needs to tackle both at once. You've got to start somewhere, and it depends on where you are in your business.

New Business? Start with SEO

If you're brand new, your first priority is getting indexed on Google and ranking for your core services. That means basic technical SEO, keyword optimization, and content that answers what your ideal client is searching for.

You can't skip the foundation. AI tools pull from indexed websites. If Google doesn't know you exist yet, ChatGPT definitely doesn't.

Getting Traffic But No Leads? Add AIO

If you're already getting some traffic from Google but people aren't converting, you might need to layer in AI optimization. Add FAQs to your site. Structure your content more clearly. Get your brand mentioned on LinkedIn, in directories, or on relevant platforms in your industry.

Sometimes people need to see you in multiple places before they trust you enough to reach out. AI citations build that trust.

Already Ranking But Not Showing Up in AI? Add Answer Engine Optimization

If you're ranking well on Google but not getting cited by AI tools, it's time to focus on answer engine optimization. That means adding structured data to your site, creating FAQ content, and making sure your information is consistent across platforms.

I covered this exact strategy in my SEO Cafecito Chat session last month. You can sign up to get notified when I host the next one.

Unsure? Book an SEO Audit

If you're not sure where you stand, grab a free video website audit. I'll walk through your site and show you exactly what's missing, whether that's SEO basics, AI optimization, or both. Or if you want a deeper dive, schedule a free SEO strategy call and we'll map out your full visibility plan.

You can also check out what other service providers have said about working with me for SEO.

FAQs: What's the Difference Between SEO and AI Optimization?

Is SEO still important with AI tools like ChatGPT?

Yes. AI tools pull information from websites that are already ranked and indexed on Google. SEO is still your foundation. Without it, AI has nothing to pull from.

Can I rank in ChatGPT without doing traditional SEO?

It's possible but unlikely. AI looks at indexed content and brand credibility across multiple sources. If your website isn't indexed or you have zero online presence, AI won't know you exist.

How do I know if I'm visible on AI tools?

Open ChatGPT and search for your service  or your service plus your location. See what comes up. If nothing shows, you need to work on AI optimization. You can also run a visibility test to see where you're showing up across the web.

Always Optimize for Both.

SEO and AI optimization aren't competing strategies, they're a power duo. You need Google to find you. You need AI to recommend you. You need clarity, structure, and brand visibility that spans platforms.

If you're not sure which one you need, start where you are. I offer SEO services for coaches and service providers that cover both traditional search and AI optimization. Whether you need a one-time audit or a full strategy, we'll figure out exactly where to focus your energy.

You can also connect with me on my Google Business Profile or book a strategy session to talk through your specific situation.

Because in 2026, visibility doesn't just mean ranking. It means showing up in every answer your client is looking for, whether they're Googling or asking ChatGPT. Let's make sure you're not missing half the conversation.