GEO(Generative Engine Optimization)
Also called: generative engine optimisation, generative search optimization
Definition
GEO, short for Generative Engine Optimization, is the set of practices that aim to get a brand cited and recommended in the answers of generative search engines: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity or Google's AI Overviews. Where SEO tries to place a page in a list of links, GEO tries to get a brand into the answer itself.
The term comes from a study published in late 2023 by researchers from Princeton and Georgia Tech, among others. Their tests showed that adding sources, statistics and quotes from experts to a page increased its presence in generated answers, by up to 40% in some cases. You will also see it called AI SEO.
Example
When someone asks ChatGPT “which accounting software for a small LLC?”, the answer names two or three brands. GEO is everything that gets a brand onto that short list, and into a good spot on it.
What it means for your AI visibility
Generative engines no longer return ten links but one answer, with a few names. If your brand isn't in it, it doesn't exist for the person asking. GEO is measured in mentions, citations and position in those answers.
Free toolAI visibility scanMeasure where your brand stands in AI answers, for free, in 2 minutes.Related terms
- SEOSEO optimizes a site for traditional search engines. It is still the foundation of GEO, but it's no longer enough to get recommended by AI.
- AEOAEO means optimizing content for engines that give a direct answer: featured snippets, voice assistants and generative AI.
- LLMOLLMO is the optimization of a brand and its content for large language models, the ones that power ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
- AI visibilityAI visibility measures how often, in what position and in what way a brand appears in the answers of generative AI.
- AI SEOAI SEO is the everyday name for the work that makes a brand visible in the answers of AI assistants.
- Generative engineA generative engine writes an answer from several sources instead of showing links. Examples: ChatGPT Search, Perplexity.
Updated on · All glossary terms