May 22, 2025 | Mindy Weinstein | SEO |

What is Generative Engine Optimization & Why Does it Matter?

Generative engine optimization (GEO) radically changes how marketers approach content creation in the digital age. As AI-powered search engines become increasingly prominent, GEO is replacing search engine optimization (SEO) as the primary factor driving online visibility and conversions. What’s known as geomarketing was worth $17.81 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $116.96 billion by 2032 (SNS Insider Pvt Ltd, 2025). 

Discover how AI-driven SEO optimization is shaping the future of digital marketing and how it may impact your marketing campaign. 

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?

Generative engine optimization is the process of optimizing content for AI-powered search engines. Unlike SEO, which ranks websites, AI-powered algorithms use data from various websites to answer user queries. AI search relies on large language models to sift through text published on the internet. These models look for commonly used text strings to answer queries, rather than indexing websites based on the number of quality links and keywords used (Brown, 2025). 

ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are becoming increasingly popular for internet search, and Google is noting this. If you type a question into Google, you’ll be greeted by an “AI Overview”  outlining the answer and a list of websites supporting these claims. This change is meant to streamline the search process for users by presenting the information upfront. It also encourages users to rely on Google rather than clicking on individual websites. AI Overviews appeared in 13.14% of all U.S. desktop searches in March 2025, marking a 102% increase in two months (Goodwin, 2025).

GEO prioritizes optimizing content for these algorithms so that your website is used to answer the user’s query. This puts your page at the top of the results, establishes trust with viewers, and increases the chances of users clicking on your site. AI search-optimized content is easy to read, well-sourced, and contextualized to help readers quickly find the information they need. 

The Evolution from SEO to GEO

SEO and GEO are designed to increase visibility, authority, and conversions by attracting organic visitors online. However, they take different approaches to crafting responses and directing traffic to publishers. Each approach values different metrics used for indexing sources and crafting responses. 

Link building and Linking Authority

AI and SEO operate under different rules when it comes to content evaluation. SEO prioritizes sources from highly reputable websites when ranking content. In contrast, AI and GEO don’t consider the links used in content. It only values the words used to answer the query and will incorporate the text into its answer if it appears on enough websites. 

Keywords and Contextualization

SEO and GEO value content that’s reader-friendly and answers queries concisely using related keywords. SEO prioritizes the site’s overall reputation based on its credentials and the times it’s used as a source on other websites. Conversely, LLMs cannot index dense, academic content from highly reliable sources into their answers because it doesn’t fit the language models powering the algorithm. They prioritize sources that use clear, straightforward language that can easily be included in an answer. 

LLM models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, alter user search behavior by shifting their focus to conversational-style responses that entirely bypass the underlying source or sources. The technology powering LLMs is rapidly improving. ChatGPT can now index content and formulate responses more accurately than in 2024 (Brown, 2025).

Why GEO Matters in Today’s Digital Landscape

GEO will only grow in popularity as LLMs become more advanced. In 2024, fifteen million U.S. adults used generative AI as their primary tool for online search. The number is projected to grow to 36 million by 2028 (Statista, 2024).

Your content will not be used in AI search queries if your language doesn’t lend itself to LLMs. Websites designed for SEO will drop in the results as those with LLM-friendly text move toward the forefront. Transitioning to a GEO approach will increase the chances of your website being featured in responses or alongside AI Overviews on Google, thereby increasing traffic and conversions. Optimizing for GEO will also improve traditional SEO rankings for those not using AI-powered search. Research shows that optimizing content for GEO can increase visibility by up to 40% (Aggarwal, 2024)

Key Components of Effective GEO Strategies

An effective GEO campaign will build on your knowledge of SEO, as it utilizes many of the same principles. A successful strategy for GEO should focus on: 

• Conversational, easy-to-follow content that provides context and answers the underlying query 
• Shaping content around user intent to ensure pages succinctly answer their queries
• Using keywords related to the query naturally and strategically to highlight content relevance 
• Engineering a better user experience that values experience, accessibility, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness
• Building content authority by answering queries using accurate, reliable sources
• Using data and audience research to track changes in user intent and search practices 

Implementing GEO: Best Practices

GEO should complement your SEO strategy as you optimize content for both approaches. Generative engine optimization builds on the considerations used in search engine optimization, while tweaking content to make it more accessible to LLMs.

Maintain the following best practices when implementing GEO:

• Content Accessibility: Reword text with users and LLMs in mind to make it easier to read and understand. 
• Website Authority: Utilize reputable sources to inform your answers and leverage experience to establish the website’s expertise.
• A Unified Approach: Align SEO and GEO priorities to create a holistic approach to content marketing.   
• Follow the Trends: Use web traffic and ranking data to inform content decisions. Track updates and changes to LLMs and GEO to maintain your top spot. 
• Enhance the User Experience: Ensure the website is accessible, fast, and intuitive to streamline the indexing and browsing. 

Case Study: Enhancing Brand Visibility through GEO

Let’s use the Smoky Inn, a fake resort in the Smoky Mountains, as an example. The client aims to boost bookings by creating content that offers travel tips for the area. They publish a blog on things to do in the Smoky Mountains and recommend staying at the Smoky Inn. 

The blog reads, “Many people visiting the Smoky Mountains like to enjoy fishing, hiking, and hunting, which is why we recommend staying at the Smoky Inn.”

When a user types “Things to do in the Smoky Mountains” into Google, Gemini, or ChatGPT, LLM models may not mention the resort in their response. The content is too vague, lacks expertise, and isn’t conversational enough to be indexed by LLMs. Rewording the text will improve visibility on AI searches. 

“We recommend hiking the Gatlinburg Trail or Alum Cave Trail to observe the local wildlife and scenery, visiting Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, and staying in a suite at the Smoky Inn when visiting the Smoky Mountains to experience the area’s unique culture.”

The second piece of text is more conversational. It specifically targets users looking to visit the Smoky Mountains and highlights the benefits of staying at the client’s resort.   

Challenges and Considerations in GEO

To master SEO, marketers need to understand the metrics used by Google and other search engines to index and rank content. However, GEO lacks standardized metrics that can be used to measure the effectiveness of a campaign. It’s unclear why some websites and content publishers outrank others in AI search results. Marketers must use data on visibility, conversion rates, impressions, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure their success. GEO often requires testing, analysis, and trial and error to craft the best approach amid the changing search landscape.

AI content writing services can help marketers understand how LLMs source and craft responses. However, generative AI can lead to bias and the spread of misinformation, diluting the brand’s trustworthiness and authority. The writer must stay vigilant when using AI for SEO, as generated text may contain inaccurate information and copyrighted material that undermines the campaign’s objectives. 

The Future of GEO and AI in Digital Marketing

LLMs are the future of content generation and internet search. As the accuracy and quality of generative responses improve, more users will gravitate to these tools. Marketers should prepare for a digital ecosystem dominated by AI and LLMs before their content loses ground in the search engine results. Understanding the technology behind LLMs will help companies leverage their content in an increasingly automated world. 

FAQs

How does Generative Engine Optimization differ from traditional SEO?

Generative engine optimization values conversational language and contextualization over linking authority and keyword usage. AI search engines rely on text that’s easy to understand and incorporate into a response.

What are the first steps to implement GEO for my website?

The first steps should include rewriting content for LLMs, improving the user experience, and leveraging the website’s authority and expertise.

Which AI platforms should I focus on when optimizing content for GEO?

It’s best to focus on optimizing content for Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT when implementing GEO.

How can I measure the success of my GEO strategies?

Utilize KPIs related to visibility, including the website’s organic SERP rankings and the number of clicks and conversions.

Are there any risks associated with optimizing content for AI-driven search engines?

No, optimizing for GEO will help with SEO rankings and boost overall visibility. However, these tools are constantly updated, so marketers must stay current with the latest trends and digital marketing research. 

Citations

Aggarwal, P., et al. (2024, June 28). GEO: Generative Engine Optimization.

Brown, N. (2025, January 31). GEO is the next SEO (and why you can’t ignore it). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2025/01/31/geo-is-the-next-seo-and-why-you-cant-ignore-it/

Goodwin, D. (2025, May 7). Google AI overviews show on 13% of searches: Study. MarTech. https://martech.org/google-ai-overviews-show-on-13-of-searches-study/

SNS Insider Pvt Ltd. (2025, February 11). Geomarketing market to reach USD 116.96 billion by 2032, driven by location data and emerging technologies | Research by SNS Insider. GlobeNewswire. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/11/3024311/0/en/Geomarketing-Market-to-Reach-USD-116-96-Billion-by-2032-Driven-by-Location-Data-and-Emerging-Technologies-Research-by-SNS-Insider.html

Statista. (2024). U.S. generative AI usage first for online search 2027. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1454204/united-states-generative-ai-primary-usage-online-search/

Featured image generated by AI.