Methodology · We coined the term
HEO — Hybrid Engine Optimization.
SEO covers Google. HEO covers Google + AI engines (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude) + answer engines (snippets, voice). One workflow, one team, one report — instead of three siloed channels.
The category
SEO vs GEO vs AEO vs HEO.
They overlap. Here's what each one means + where each one fits.
| SEO | GEO | AEO | HEO | |
| Channel | Google search | AI engines (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude) | Snippets, voice, People Also Ask | All three |
| Maturity | 30+ years | 2 years | 10 years | Coined by Adsomia · 2024 |
| Measurable? | Yes | Emerging | Yes | Yes — integrated reporting |
| Best for | Branded + transactional queries | Question / discovery queries | Quick-answer queries | Whole funnel |
The framework
32 factors. 5 groups. Scored out of 100.
Every Adsomia HEO engagement starts with a baseline against this framework. We then prioritise the 5–7 factors with the most leverage for your business.
SEO Foundation
8 factors · 25 ptsThe basics that still matter — crawlability, sitemap, mobile, Core Web Vitals, HTTPS, titles, meta, internal linking. If this is broken, nothing else compounds.
AI / Generative Engine
10 factors · 38 ptsThe biggest leverage in 2026. FAQPage schema, Organization + knowsAbout, llms.txt, Person schema, HowTo schema, comparison pages, conversational tone, long-tail question pages.
Local
4 factors · 12 ptsFor any business with a physical location or service area. Google Business Profile, reviews velocity, NAP consistency, location pages.
Content
6 factors · 19 ptsTopical clustering, original research, freshness, image optimisation, video transcripts, depth — the signals that build topical authority.
Off-site
4 factors · 12 ptsDomain authority, brand mentions, Wikidata + Wikipedia, industry citations. The trust signals AI engines look for outside your own site.
Paid engagement
HEO Audit & Roadmap.
Two-week turnaround. We run all 32 factors on your site, hand you the written report, walk you through it on a 60-min call, and ship a 90-day execution roadmap.
First 25 customers
Common questions
About HEO.
What is HEO?
HEO (Hybrid Engine Optimization) is the integrated practice of optimising for traditional search engines (Google, Bing), AI/generative engines (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude), and answer engines (featured snippets, voice) as a single workflow. It combines SEO, GEO, and AEO into one methodology.
How is HEO different from SEO?
SEO optimises one channel — Google. HEO optimises every place a buyer might ask a question, which includes AI engines and answer engines that didn't exist when SEO was invented. SEO is a subset of HEO.
Why does HEO matter in 2026?
More than 40% of search-style queries now happen inside AI assistants — not on Google.com. A site that ranks #1 on Google but is invisible inside ChatGPT loses to a competitor that's decent on Google AND cited by AI engines.
How long does HEO take to show results?
First visibility wins (snippet captures, AI citations on long-tail queries) typically appear in 4–8 weeks. Meaningful traffic and lead lift typically lands in 4–6 months. Topical authority builds over 12–24 months.
How much does the HEO Audit cost?
Founding-client offer: ₹1,25,000 one-time. List price: ₹2,00,000. Two-week turnaround. Includes a written 30+ page audit, a 60-min walkthrough call, and a 90-day roadmap.
Can I do HEO myself?
If you have technical capacity for schema markup, a content team that can produce 2–4 quality pages per month, time to monitor AI citations weekly, and 6–12 months of patience — yes. If any of those is missing, an agency is usually faster and cheaper than building in-house capacity.
What tools do you use?
Google Search Console + Bing Webmaster Tools, Ahrefs or Semrush, schema.org validators, AI engine testing tools (custom scripts), Perplexity Pages and Google AI Overviews monitoring, structured-data generators. Plus internal Adsomia tooling for AI citation tracking.
Marketing is the work.
Digital is just our medium.
Want HEO scoped against your specific business? Talk to us.