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What is generative engine optimization (GEO), and does my business need it?

Generative engine optimization, also called GEO or AEO, means making your business easy for AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to find, read, describe correctly and recommend. Most of it is good SEO: crawlable pages, plain facts, structured data and mentions on trusted sites. Start by checking what AI says about you today.

Updated October 22, 2026

What it is

When someone asks ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude for a business like yours, the answer names a few businesses and describes them. GEO is the work of making sure AI can reach your site, reads your facts correctly, and finds you mentioned on the sites it trusts, so you’re one of the businesses it names and it describes you the way your website does.

What’s the same as SEO

Pages crawlers can reach and read, clear facts in text, and links and mentions from other sites.

What’s different

  • Mentions on other sites count for more, because AI often answers from lists, directories and review sites.
  • Being named in a list matters more than ranking a page.
  • Accuracy is part of the result: does AI contradict your website?

What’s overhyped

Special files and rewriting everything “for AI”. Google says no special optimization is needed to appear in its AI features: the same practices as for Search apply. See What is an llms.txt file, and do I need one?

Where to start

  1. Crawlers: make sure AI can reach your site. How do I let AI crawlers like ChatGPT access my site? The free crawler check shows where you stand.
  2. Facts: your services, area, prices and hours as text on your own pages.
  3. Listings: the same facts on every profile and directory.
  4. Mentions: get named on the lists and review sites AI cites. How do I get ChatGPT to recommend my business?
  5. Measure: ask AI your customers’ questions and see who it names. The free check does this for you.

Questions

Is GEO different from SEO?

Mostly no. The foundations are the same. The difference is in what you measure: whether AI names you and gets your facts right, not only where a page ranks.

Do I need to hire a GEO agency?

Not to start. Check AI crawler access, fix what AI contradicts on your website, and test your customers’ questions yourself.

How do I measure GEO?

Ask AI the same customer questions on a schedule and track whether you’re named, your position, and which sources it cites.

Sources

Start free check

3 AI models, 5 customer questions, about a minute. Or check whether AI crawlers can reach your site.