AIO is about being cited in the AI-generated overviews that appear in Google's search results, while LLMO is about being featured in the answers of conversational AI such as ChatGPT and Gemini. The AI you target differs, but the core work is the same: align the facts about your company, state the answer up front, and add structured data.
The difference is which AI you are targeting
The difference between AIO and LLMO lies in which AI's answers you are targeting.
- AIO. Short for AI Overviews, this refers to the AI-generated summaries shown above Google's search results. The goal is to have your pages appear as cited sources in those summaries.
- LLMO. Short for Large Language Model Optimization, this aims to have your company name and information appear in the answers of conversational AI built on large language models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini.
The terminology varies by company and context. Optimization aimed at generative AI answers in general is sometimes called GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and in some cases it is used to cover AIO and LLMO together. Rather than fixating on the differences in names, it is more useful to check what each one targets.
Four terms compared on one page
| Term | Target | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| SEO | The list of results on Google and other search engines | Appear near the top of the list |
| AIO | AI-generated overviews shown in Google's search results | Being cited as a source in the overview |
| LLMO | Answers from conversational AI such as ChatGPT and Gemini | Having your company name and information appear in the answer |
| GEO | Generative AI answers in general | Being featured in AI answers. Used in a broad sense |
As the table shows, SEO targets the “results list,” AIO targets “Google's overviews,” and LLMO targets “conversational AI.” In practice, however, the work overlaps considerably, so there is no need to treat them as separate initiatives.
Four things to do in every case
Google Search Central explains that there are no special technical requirements for appearing in AI Overviews, and that pages following the basic search guidelines are eligible. The same approach to building pages also works for conversational AI.
- Make sure the facts about your company match across your website, Google Business Profile, and social media.
- State the answer to the question clearly at the top of each page. Pages with a conclusion right after the heading are easier for AI to cite.
- Add structured data. Include your company information, frequently asked questions, and service details on the page in a form that AI and search engines can read.
- Write concretely about your track record and figures, with sources. Pages that lay out facts are more likely to be chosen than those with vague wording.
These four steps are effective whichever you are aiming at: AIO, LLMO, or SEO.
Where the differences appear
Once the shared work is done, the points you look at change depending on your target.
If you are focusing on AIO
Look at which pages are cited in AI overviews, and for which questions, in Google's search results. Decide on your target search terms, check whether an overview appears for them, and review your own pages using the structure of the cited pages as a reference.
If you are focusing on LLMO
Ask ChatGPT or Gemini about your services and see whether your company name appears in the answer. If it does not, it is often because information linking your company name to your service name (company profile, track record, frequently asked questions) is lacking on your website or on other sites.
What to prioritize at your company
If you are unsure what to do first, work through the following order.
- Align the facts about your company into a single version (effective for both AIO and LLMO)
- Rewrite the opening of your key pages so the conclusion comes first
- Tidy up your FAQ page and add structured data
- Check how your key terms are handled in the AI overviews in search results
- Check how conversational AI answers questions about your company name
- Fill in the missing information and check again a few months later
Steps 1 to 3 are the shared foundation, whether you are aiming at AIO or LLMO. Steps 4 and 5 are where you look at the differences between targets.
Points that are easily confused
AIO does not mean text written by AI
The abbreviation “AIO” does not refer to text written by AI. In this article, AIO means optimization for AI Overviews.
Don't think of LLMO as a standalone measure
LLMO is hard to consider separately from how your website is built as a whole. Rather than buying a standalone “LLMO service,” it is more coherent to build it into the design of your website.
It cannot always be measured in numbers the way rankings can
SEO can be measured by a number, namely rankings, but AI answers change depending on how a question is worded and when it is asked. A realistic approach is to fix the questions you check and review them regularly.
Decide how you will check results
Because AI answers change depending on the wording of the question and the time of asking, decide on the questions you will check from the outset.
- Write out 3–5 questions that people looking for your services are likely to ask
- Try the same question in search and in several AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini
- Record whether your company name appeared and which pages were listed as sources
- Try the same questions every few months and compare the changes
Keeping a record gives you clues about which measures worked.
Concrete ways to test the difference on your own site
The difference becomes clear when you actually try it, rather than from a conceptual explanation. Try the following three steps in order for your own services.
- Enter a question your customers are likely to use (for example, “service name cost estimate”) into the search box. See whether an AI overview appears above the search results and whether your company is listed as a source. This is how you check AIO.
- Enter the same question into conversational AI such as ChatGPT or Gemini. See whether your company name or information appears in the answer. This is how you check LLMO.
- Look at where your page ranks in the regular list of search results. This is how you check SEO.
Don't be surprised if the three results differ. For example, if you rank high in the list but don't appear in AI answers, possible causes include not having a conclusion at the top of the page or having company facts that conflict with information elsewhere. Conversely, if you appear in AI answers but rank low in the list, review the overall evaluation of the page and its links.
How to read the result
| Result | Possible cause | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Appears in the list, but not in AI overviews | No conclusion at the top; no structured data | Rewrite the opening and add structured data |
| Appears in overviews, but not in conversational AI | Little information linking your company name to your services | Strengthen your company profile, track record, and FAQ |
| Appears in none of them | Thin page content; the site is not widely known | Start by building out the basic pages |
Quick reference for setting priorities
A guide to where to start, depending on your situation.
| Situation | What to do first |
|---|---|
| Your company information differs between your site and external sources | Align the facts |
| Your key pages open with a company introduction | Rewrite them so the conclusion comes first |
| You have no FAQ page | Create a page in question-and-answer format |
| You have no structured data | Start with company information and frequently asked questions |
| You have completed the four items above | Check AI answers regularly and fill in the missing information |
The four items above are the shared foundation for both AIO and LLMO, so no matter which order you start in, nothing goes to waste. For anything you can't handle in-house, talk to your web production company.
Points to note when tracking numbers
AI answers change from day to day. Rather than celebrating or despairing over a single check, record the same questions over several months and look at the trend. Fixing both the questions you check and the AI tools you use makes changes easier to compare.
FAQ
There is no need to handle them separately. Aligning the facts about your company, stating the conclusion first, and adding structured data are shared tasks that work for both.
SEO is about ranking high in the list of search results, while AIO is about being cited in Google's AI overviews. The fundamentals are the same, and pages with a solid SEO foundation are also more likely to be chosen for AIO.
The scope varies from person to person. GEO refers to generative AI answers in general, while LLMO is often used specifically for conversational AI. There is no fixed, clear definition.
No one can guarantee it. What AI cites is determined by each provider's own systems. What optimization can do is shape your site so that it is easier to cite.
The quality of your answers and the consistency of your facts matter more than the size of your company. There are cases where pages from small companies with specific, specialized information are cited by AI.
Let's set your priorities together
Once you understand the difference between AIO and LLMO, the next step is deciding what to tackle first on your own site. Merci Ltd. builds structuring that AI search can read easily into every new website as standard, and we also offer diagnostics and consultation for your existing site.
