The 5 optimization types
The differences between SEO / AIO / LLMO / GEO / Hybrid, and how to choose
The type changes the article's structure
Even for the same keyword, the best way to write changes depending on who you want reading it. Sorabun changes the article's structure itself to match.
| Type | What it aims for |
|---|---|
| SEO | Traditional search engine optimization. Focuses on headings aligned with search intent, meta information, and related keywords. |
| AIO | Optimization for Google AI Overviews. Focuses on conclusion-first direct answers, FAQs, and structure that is easy to extract. |
| LLMO | Structure that is easy for LLMs like ChatGPT to cite. Focuses on clear factual statements, Q&A format, and TL;DR summaries. |
| GEO | Optimization for generative search engines like Perplexity. Focuses on statistics, sources, and E-E-A-T. |
| Hybrid | A balanced mix of all types (recommended). |
A rough guide to choosing
| When... | Use |
|---|---|
| You want to rank straightforwardly in search | SEO |
| You want to be quoted at the top of Google Search (AI Overviews) | AIO |
| You want to be quoted or referenced by AI like ChatGPT | LLMO |
| You want to target generative search engines like Perplexity | GEO |
| You're not sure, or want all of the above | Hybrid |
Setting a default
If choosing every time is a hassle, set a default under "Settings > Generation defaults > Optimization type" (default_type). Then on the New Article screen, you only need to change it when necessary.
When in doubt, use Hybrid
Hybrid blends elements from each type in a balanced mix. It's practical to run with Hybrid at first, then switch to a specific type once you want to grow a particular traffic channel.