Do You Need Both SEO and AI SEO?

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, it’s tempting to think that one type of optimization will reign supreme. But when it comes to visibility online, the answer is clear: yes — you really do need both classic search engine optimization (SEO) and the newer breed of AI-driven SEO (or “AI SEO”). Here’s a short breakdown of why that is — and how they work together.

What are the two, and how do they differ?

Traditional SEO is the familiar strategy: optimizing your website so that search engines like Google and Bing rank you well for relevant keywords; you work on site speed, user experience, metadata, links, content quality, and so on. Semrush+2Nightwatch: AI-Ready SEO Monitoring Tool+2

AI SEO, on the other hand, addresses the newer dimension of search: optimization for AI-powered platforms, large language models (LLMs), answer engines, and AI-driven search features. In other words: optimizing not just for “blue links” in search results, but for being cited, referenced or surfaced directly in summaries and AI responses. SaaS SEO Agency+1

Here are a few of the key differences:

• Traditional SEO focuses on keywords, backlinks, ranking positions. Nightwatch: AI-Ready SEO Monitoring Tool+1

• AI SEO emphasises prompts, answer extraction, schema/structured content, self-contained sections and brand mentions/citations in AI responses. Semrush+1

• Metrics differ too: with classical SEO you watch organic traffic, rankings, click-through rates; with AI SEO you also monitor how often your brand/content is cited by AI, in how many “AI overviews” you appear, share-of-voice in AI responses. Semrush

Why you need both

Here are the main reasons why relying on one without the other can leave you exposed:

1. Search behaviour is changing, but not gone
   People still use conventional search engines in huge numbers. For example, even in the article from Semrush, it’s noted that users still depend on Google and Bing’s traditional search for the time being. Semrush
   At the same time, usage of LLMs and AI-search features is rising quickly — meaning if you don’t optimise for them, you’re leaving a chunk of future traffic and visibility on the table. Semrush+1

2. Different optimisation needs
   Traditional SEO gives a strong foundation: solid technical performance, crawlability, high-quality content, good UX. AI SEO builds on that but requires additional considerations: content structured so AI can extract it easily, schema markup, brand mentions, prompt-based topics, etc. Semrush+1
   If you skip traditional SEO, you risk not even being visible in the “regular search” world. If you skip AI-SEO, you risk losing out in the emerging field of AI-driven responses.

3. Future proofing your presence
   The Semrush referenced study projects that traffic from large language models could surpass traditional organic search by around 2028 (or even sooner). Semrush+1
   In other words: even if today you lean mostly on classic SEO, tomorrow’s search landscape will demand AI visibility too. Doing both keeps you adaptable.

4. Synergy, not replacement
   Contrary to the idea that “AI SEO will kill traditional SEO”, the current picture is more nuanced: Traditional SEO is not dead. It remains foundational. AI SEO doesn’t replace it — it augments and extends it into new territory. Semrush+1
   So rather than treating them as separate silos, you want an integrated strategy.

How to think about integrating them

• Start with a robust traditional SEO base: clean architecture, mobile-friendly, fast page speed, good core web vitals, solid content targeting keywords/intent, quality backlinks.

• Layer on AI SEO tactics:

  • Write content in self-contained sections that answer questions clearly and directly (so AI engines can extract them) Semrush

  • Consider prompts/queries your audience might pose to an AI assistant — not just what they search in Google.

  • Ensure your site allows crawlers (including AI-oriented ones) to access and render your content (no accidental blocking) MarketingProfs

  • Build brand mentions (even without links) across authoritative sources — AI values citations and mentions too. Nightwatch: AI-Ready SEO Monitoring Tool

  • Track new metrics: visibility in AI responses, AI citations, share-of-voice in prompt results, as well as traditional traffic/ranking metrics.

• Monitor performance and adapt: search is shifting. What worked yesterday may require adaptation today.

Final word

To answer the title question bluntly: Yes, you do need both SEO and AI SEO. It’s not an either/or choice. The digital search ecosystem is broadening — part traditional search, part AI-driven answer engines. By combining the strengths of both you position your brand/content to be visible regardless of how users search.

If you build only for classic SEO, you risk being invisible in AI-driven channels as they grow. If you focus solely on AI SEO and ignore the foundations, you risk being overlooked in conventional web search. A dual strategy is your most pragmatic hedge and forward-looking approach.

References:

Here are some useful reference articles (in addition to the main Semrush article you provided) that you can link in your blog:

• “How AI Search Optimization vs. Traditional SEO” — Marketing Profs. MarketingProfs

• “AI SEO vs. Traditional SEO: What’s the Real Difference?” — Nine Peaks. SaaS SEO Agency

• “We Studied the Impact of AI Search on SEO Traffic. Here’s What We Learned.” — Semrush. Semrush

• “Traditional SEO vs AI SEO: Key Differences and How to Future Proof” — Nightwatch. Nightwatch: AI-Ready SEO Monitoring Tool

• “AI Search vs. Traditional SEO: Why Backlinks Still Power Rankings” — WSI World. WSI