What is Generative Engine Optimization?
We've written another article about Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and if it is the same as SEO and what it means. To summarize it, Generative Engine Optimization is the process of optimizing your website for AI engines so that when people ask AI engines for a search term that's relevant for your business, you are being mentioned as either an answer or cited.
In this article, we are going to review what Generative Engine Optimization is and why it matters, and how you can optimize your website for it.
AI SEO, GEO, AEO, LLMO, what is the right term?
There have been so many different acronyms and names for this. The truth is, there's no consensus yet on what the right term is. However, most folks seem to call it GEO, although we've seen some LinkedIn posts saying that AISEO was the term that won.
So, what is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization, and it’s about making sure AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI mode mention your brand or website when people ask them questions, similar to how SEO works with Google. It first appeared in 2023 and is quickly becoming essential as AI chatbots replace traditional search. GEO focuses on creating content that AIs can easily understand, trust, and include in their answers.
Does this mean SEO is dead?
SEO is far from that. As a matter of fact, if you are optimizing your website and your content for SEO, chances are that you will be very likely to show up in answers. Therefore, you are already optimizing for Generative Engine Optimization.
It's also important to remember that Google and traditional SEO still account for the vast majority of search traffic (around 90%). However, it will be interesting to see how things will roll out as Google releases more AI-native search features and flirts with the idea of making Google AI modes as the default search engine.
How can I optimize my website for GEO?
In GEO, brand mentions are important. One of the main things AI engines look for is whether your brand appears on credible and authoritative sources like Wikipedia, Reddit, and Quora. These platforms are among the most cited by AI engines when generating answers.
If you want to optimize your website for both GEO and SEO, make sure your content is well-structured with clear headings, unique insights, and valuable information that isn’t easy to find elsewhere. Including FAQs, videos, and other engaging formats can make your content more useful and easier for both users and AI to understand. Keeping your website fresh is also key, since AI engines tend to favor sites with recently updated or published content.
You can also optimize for both GEO and SEO performance by strengthening your E-E-A-T signals, which stand for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. You can do this by adding author bios, referencing credible sources, and sharing real-world data or results that show your expertise. This helps both search engines and AI engines see your content as reliable and worth highlighting.
