A label some agencies and tool vendors use for getting a brand cited in answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini or Google's AI features. It comes from a 2023 research paper. It is not a separate discipline: Google says the same SEO best practices apply to its AI features, so this is SEO work done with AI answers in view.
Example
Meera asks ChatGPT and Gemini 'best handloom kurta shops in Pune' and notes whether her store is mentioned and which sources they cite.
How you'll hear it
“The agency pitched us a separate GEO retainer, but it is SEO with AI answers in view, so it belongs in the SEO plan.”
Don't confuse it with
- Geo-targeting: showing ads or content by location. GEO here means generative engines, not geography.
- SEO: GEO is not a separate practice from it. Google says the same SEO best practices apply to its AI features.
Related terms
Want to use this at work? AI-led SEO Excellence is aFactor's 16-week program for SEO work.
Sources
- Generative engine optimization (GEO), Semrush
- GEO: Generative Engine Optimization, arXiv (Aggarwal et al.), 2023
- AI features and your website, Google Search Central