GEO vs SEO: How to Be Found on Google and in AI Answers
SEO ranks your pages on Google. GEO makes AI assistants cite you. Learn the difference and a practical checklist to do both.
SEO helps your pages rank in search results. GEO, generative engine optimization, helps AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity find, understand and cite your content. Both depend on clear, trustworthy content with a good structure.
What is SEO?
Search engine optimization is the work of making your pages easy for Google and Bing to crawl, understand and rank for what people search. It covers technical health, useful content, and links from other sites.
What is GEO?
More people now ask an AI assistant instead of searching. These assistants build answers from sources they can read and trust. GEO means writing and structuring your content so it is chosen and cited in those answers.
The foundations they share
- Content that answers a real question directly, in the first sentences
- Clear headings, short paragraphs and lists
- Structured data (schema.org) that tells machines what a page is
- A fast, secure, mobile-friendly site
- Trust signals: who you are, where you are, how to contact you
- Links from relevant, reputable websites
A practical checklist
- Give every page one H1 and a unique title and description.
- Start each article with a two-sentence direct answer.
- Add an FAQ with real questions your clients ask.
- Add schema.org markup for your organisation, courses or services, and FAQs.
- Publish an llms.txt file that summarises your site for AI assistants.
- Allow search and AI crawlers in robots.txt.
- Use hreflang when you publish in several languages.
- Earn links through useful content, partnerships and directories.
- Refresh your best pages regularly and show the update date.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying links or joining link schemes: it risks penalties.
- Stuffing keywords: write for people first.
- Publishing machine translations without review, or duplicating pages across languages without hreflang.
Learn how AI assistants work
Our Artificial Intelligence course explains how large language models work and how to use them well, including how they pick their sources. Message us on WhatsApp at +212 607 740 464 and we create your account.
Frequently asked questions
What is GEO?
GEO, generative engine optimization, is making your content easy for AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity to find, understand and cite.
Do I need both SEO and GEO?
Yes. They share the same foundations, and doing one well helps the other: clear content, good structure and trust.
How long does SEO take?
SEO is a long-term investment. First improvements are often visible within a few months, depending on competition and your starting point.
