What Is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) optimizes your online presence for AI search engines that generate answers instead of link lists. Learn how GEO works for small businesses.
What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
GEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence so generative AI search engines — ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity — recommend your business in their conversational search results. It’s the next evolution of search marketing.
While traditional SEO focuses on ranking in Google’s list of links, GEO focuses on being mentioned in AI-generated responses. These AI search engines synthesize information from across the web and present it conversationally. GEO ensures your business is part of that synthesis.
How does GEO differ from AEO?
AEO focuses on being cited as an answer source. GEO focuses on the broader strategy of being visible across generative AI platforms. Think of AEO as a technique within the broader GEO strategy.
AEO is content-focused: structured headings, answer capsules, FAQ schema. GEO encompasses AEO plus reputation management, citation building, entity recognition, and cross-platform presence. Both are essential for comprehensive AI search visibility.
Why should small businesses care about GEO?
AI search usage is growing 50%+ year-over-year. Small businesses that implement GEO now will dominate their local AI search results while larger competitors are still focused exclusively on traditional SEO.
The cost of implementing GEO is a fraction of traditional SEO — and the competition is near zero for most local industries. A dental practice in Kelowna that implements GEO today will likely be the only practice showing up in AI search results for months.
Frequently Asked Questions
GEO optimizes your online presence for AI search engines like ChatGPT and Gemini that generate conversational answers instead of link lists.
AEO is a subset of GEO. AEO focuses on content optimization while GEO includes broader strategies like citation building, entity recognition, and cross-platform presence.
Sources & References
Ready to implement AI in your business?
Start with a free AI audit. We'll identify your top AI opportunities in 30 minutes.