Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
GEO — Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of increasing how often and how favorably AI assistants mention and cite your brand in the answers they generate.
If SEO is about ranking a page on Google, GEO is about being inside the answer the model writes. The two overlap — the same authority and content signals help both — but the winning move is different: you are trying to be named in a synthesized paragraph, not to occupy a slot in a list.
GEO works on the sources assistants trust when they compose an answer: authoritative third-party pages, comparison and 'best of' articles, review platforms, structured data on your own site, and for local businesses, a complete Google Business Profile. Being well-covered across those sources is what earns the mention.
Because model updates and fresh sources shift answers week to week, GEO is a monitoring discipline rather than a one-time project. You measure, close the gaps competitors own, and watch the trend.
Key points
- →The goal is a mention or citation inside the answer, not a rank.
- →Citations are the new backlinks — cited sources compound your visibility.
- →It is continuous: answers move as models and sources change.
FAQ
Is GEO the same as AEO?
They're closely related and often used interchangeably. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) emphasizes being named in generated answers; AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) emphasizes being the source an answer engine draws from. In practice the tactics overlap heavily.
Go deeper
What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)? →GEO is the practice of optimizing your brand to be mentioned and cited by AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. Here's how it works and why it matters.
Related terms
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