AEO Performance Metrics and ROI Tracking

Introduction: Why GEO vs SEO Metrics Matter#

The fundamental difference between GEO vs SEO lies in what you're optimizing for. SEO optimizes for ranking positions; GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and AEO optimize for being cited in AI-generated answers.

This distinction has profound implications for measurement. If you're tracking only traditional SEO metrics, you're missing half the picture—and potentially misinterpreting your content's true performance.

GEO vs SEO: Complete Metrics Comparison#

Understanding the difference between GEO vs SEO metrics is essential for accurate performance tracking:

Primary AEO Metrics: What to Track#

1. AI Citation Rate

The percentage of target queries where your content is cited as a source in AI-generated answers.

AI Citation Rate = (Queries with Your Citation / Total Target Queries) × 100

Example:
- Target Queries Monitored: 100
- Queries with Your Citation: 28
- AI Citation Rate: 28%

Benchmarks:
- Below 10%: Needs improvement
- 10-25%: Competitive
- 25-40%: Strong performance
- Above 40%: Category leader

2. Share of Voice (SoV)

Your citation frequency compared to competitors for the same query set.

SoV = (Your Citations / Total Citations for All Competitors) × 100

Example:
- Your Citations: 45
- Competitor A: 32
- Competitor B: 28
- Competitor C: 15
- Total: 120

Your SoV: 37.5%

3. Semantic Similarity Score

Measures how well your content matches user query intent using vector embeddings.

4. GEO CORE Score

A composite score measuring content optimization across four dimensions:

• Context (C): Direct answers, intent alignment, FAQ coverage
• Organization (O): Structure, headings, scanability
• Reliability (R): Citations, author credentials, freshness
• Exclusivity (E): Original insights, visual depth, content depth

Calculating AEO ROI#

AEO ROI requires tracking the full funnel from AI citation to business outcome:

ROI Formula

AEO ROI = ((Revenue from AI Citations - AEO Investment) / AEO Investment) × 100

Revenue from AI Citations:
= AI-Referred Visits × Conversion Rate × Average Deal Value

AEO Investment:
= Content Creation Costs + Schema Implementation + Tool Costs + Team Time

Example Calculation:
- AI-Referred Visits: 5,000/month
- Conversion Rate: 2.5%
- Average Deal Value: $12,000
- Monthly Revenue: 5,000 × 0.025 × $12,000 = $1,500,000

- Content Creation: $15,000/month
- Technical Implementation: $5,000/month
- Tools: $2,000/month
- Team Time: $8,000/month
- Total Investment: $30,000/month

AEO ROI = (($1,500,000 - $30,000) / $30,000) × 100 = 4,900%

AEO Tracking Tool Stack#

Effective AEO measurement requires combining traditional analytics with AI-specific tools:

Monthly AEO Reporting Framework#

Structure your AEO reports around three key areas:

1. Visibility Metrics

• AI Citation Rate trend (month-over-month)
• Share of Voice vs. top 3 competitors
• New keywords with citations
• Citation quality breakdown by AI engine

2. Content Performance

• Top 10 pages by AI citations
• GEO CORE score distribution
• Pages with declining performance
• Optimization opportunities (high-potential, low-score)

3. Business Impact

• AI-attributed traffic and conversions
• Revenue from AI citations
• Cost per acquisition (AI channel)
• AEO ROI calculation

Conclusion#

The GEO vs SEO measurement debate isn't about choosing one over the other—it's about expanding your analytics to capture the full picture of search visibility in the AI era.

Start by implementing AI citation tracking for your top keywords, then gradually build out your measurement infrastructure. The companies that master AEO metrics today will have a significant competitive advantage as AI search continues to grow.

For implementation guidance, see our Content Team Workflow Guide.