Glossary

The vocabulary of Generative Engine Optimization — the terms, synonyms, and acronyms used across the publication, defined in plain language. Every entry links back to the articles where the term is load-bearing.

• Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)(AEO, Answer Engine Optimisation)

  The practice of structuring content for answer engines — systems that respond to a query with a single direct answer rather than a list of links. Predates LLM-based search but increasingly used as a synonym for GEO.

• Citation Rate(cite rate, source rate)

  The proportion of LLM responses to a defined prompt set in which a given source (URL, domain, or brand) appears as a citation. The fundamental GEO metric.

• Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)(GEO, Generative Search Optimization)

  The practice of structuring content, infrastructure, and brand signals so that LLM-based search systems surface, cite, and attribute the work in generated answers.

• Large Language Model Optimization (LLMO)(LLMO, LLM Optimization)

  Optimisation of content and structured signals specifically for citation behaviour by large language models, irrespective of whether the LLM is wrapped in a search interface.

• Search Generative Experience (SGE) / AI Overviews(SGE, AI Overviews, Google AI Overviews)

  SGE was Google's experimental generative-search experience. AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries in Google Search with links to supporting pages; Google began their general US rollout in May 2024.

• Share of Voice (SoV)(SoV, share of citations)

  The proportion of citations within a defined category that go to a given brand. The category-relative complement to citation rate.

6 entries · A reference, not a textbook. For depth on any term, follow the link to the cornerstone article that uses it.