What is GEO?

Let's Talk about GEO

TL;DR: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of structuring content so AI engines cite it as a source in their answers. Also called GSO, AEO, or AIO.

Generative engine optimisation (GEO) is the next revolution in search, focusing on optimising digital content for AI-driven search engines. GEO is content that is optimised for AI search, like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity. This improves the chances of your brand being recommended by the AI engine when a user searches for relevant information.

GEO and SEO: What’s the Difference?

There are three core differences between GEO and SEO, these are

1. AI-Generated Results vs. Traditional Search Rankings

GEO focuses on optimising content for AI-driven search engines, which ensures that brands appear in direct, AI-generated responses, while SEO focuses on helping websites and pages rank high on SERPs based on algorithms that prioritise keywords, backlinks, and website authority.

2. Structured Data and Entity Recognition

GEO places a special emphasis on structured data, entity recognition, and verified sources to ensure AI models can easily pull and reference authoritative information. SEO, on the other hand, relies on optimising for search intent, using metadata, on-page optimisation, and link-building strategies to improve rankings.

3. Intent and Content Formatting

While GEO prioritises concise, direct answers that AI models can quickly extract and present to users, SEO often requires long-form content optimised for human readers while also catering to search algorithms.

SEO vs GEO: The Key Differences

SEO (Traditional Search)

Primary Goal: Rank in search results
Key Ranking Factor: Keywords + backlinks
Content Format: Keyword-rich paragraphs
User Journey: Click through to website
Link Building: Critical for ranking
Measurement: Rankings, clicks, impressions
Optimization Focus; Page-level optimization

GEO (AI Search)

Primary Goal: Get cited in AI answers
Key Ranking Factor: Content structure + comprehensiveness
Content Format: Question-answer pairs, clear headings
User Journey: Answer provided inline (with attribution)
Link Building: Less emphasis, focus on authority signals
Measurement: Citations, attribution frequency
Optimization Focus: Content-level clarity and directness

Why GEO Matters

1. Direct attribution

Your brand gets mentioned in AI-generated answers

2. Qualified traffic

Users who click through from AI citations are highly engaged

3. Authority building

Being cited by AI platforms establishes your content as authoritative

Get in touch with us for all things GEO

Being one of the pioneers of GEO, we know getting cited by AI is not going to happen overnight. Technology has evolved, so has digital marketing and it’s something we must accept and adapt to quickly, because speed is a key advantage. Our sole purpose of GEO services we offer is to increase our clients’ visibility online, we’re always looking for ways to be proactive in the future of search while keeping it simple.

Have questions about GEO?

Here are our most frequently asked questions about GEO.

Why does my brand need GEO?

Your brand needs GEO, just as it has done SEO since the inception of traditional search engines. We’re now moving into an era of AI search engines, so your business has to be ready to adapt with the times to maintain or even surpass the results you’re seeing from organic search now.

How long does it take to see results from GEO?

As for how long it takes to see results from GEO, we can’t exactly put a finger on it – especially with it being so new. However, from what we’ve seen so far, partnered with a high-level SEO strategy, you can see GEO results funnel down from that, so having them both work in unison will work the best; although we still can’t predict a timeline.

What’s the difference between SEO and GEO?

SEO is essentially where you’re trying to rank highly on traditional search results (Google, Bing, etc), whereas, with GEO, it’s purely about trying to make your content seen or used in AI-generated responses (Chat GPT, Perplexity, etc).

Can you do SEO and GEO at the same time?

Yes, you can have both SEO and GEO campaigns running at the same time, they’re not exclusive to one another. GEO complements your investment in SEO rather than replacing it. We recommend using both your existing SEO and GEO signalling to rank in both traditional and AI search engines.

How do you keep track of GEO results?

Tracking GEO results certainly isn’t easy with it being so new, but tools like SEMRush have recently just introduced an AI overview feature so you can see what pieces of content on your website are ranking in the AI overview section.

Which AI search engines does GEO target?

Our GEO services target the following AI search engines, as of 14 April, 2026:

Google Search Generative
Experience (SGE)
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Claude
Microsoft Copilot

We are continuously learning and iterating, so no matter the content, service, product or brand, we optimise for citation and recommendations within these AI models.

Still have questions?

Our team is here to help you understand your needs. Whether you are starting out, launching or already established business. Schedule a strategy call and let’s talk about how AI visibility provides value to your business.