SEO aims to rank your pages in a list of search results. GEO, or generative engine optimization, aims to get your business named inside an AI-generated answer. They share a foundation, but how you measure success changes.
SEO and GEO side by side
| SEO | GEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank pages in search results | Be named in AI-generated answers |
| Where you appear | A list of links | Inside a written answer |
| What drives it | Relevant content, links, page experience | Clear business details, structured data, consistent listings, trusted mentions |
| How you measure it | Rankings, clicks, traffic | How often and how prominently you are mentioned across test questions |
What stays the same
A fast, secure, crawlable website with helpful pages and accurate information still matters. Google's own guidance says a page must be indexed and eligible to appear in Search with a snippet to be used in AI features such as AI Overviews, and that no special markup is required for that.
What changes
- Answers come first. Pages that state a clear answer near the top are easier to summarize.
- Your business must be easy to identify. Structured data and matching details help systems understand who you are.
- Other sites matter more. Assistants lean on directories, review sites and articles, not only your own pages.
- Position is less visible. You may be named without a click, so mentions become the metric.
How to know if it is working
Pick the questions your customers ask, test them across the major assistants each month, and record whether you are named. The trend matters more than any single result.
What no one can promise
No agency controls what an AI assistant or search engine shows. Work on the factors above improves your chances. It does not guarantee a mention or a ranking.
Not sure where you stand? Read what an AI visibility audit checks, or see our services.
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