What is GEO in marketing and how does it work?
What is GEO?
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) involves strategizing how your business can appear in results from AI search tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or Gemini. Just as SEO focuses on improving visibility within traditional search engines like Google, GEO focuses on improving visibility within AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and domain-specific assistants.
What's the difference between SEO and GEO?
SEO focuses on keywords — the specific terms people type into a search engine. Marketers pack their content with words and phrases customers are likely to search.
Example: An accounting firm might use phrases like "small business accountant," "business tax preparation services," or "corporate bookkeeping services" so search engines surface their page for those queries.
The core idea behind GEO is to deliver contextually relevant content that matches how people behave and what they prefer.
What SEO practices also help with GEO?
A strong SEO foundation carries over to GEO. The basics still matter:
A technically sound website that search engines and AI crawlers can read
Helpful, relevant content that genuinely answers user needs
A fast, mobile-friendly experience with quick load times
