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What the hell is GEO?

What is generative engine optimization?

November 27, 2024 by Philip Papeman


What the hell is GEO?

Don’t ask.


GEO is the new SEO.

GEO stands for generative engine optimization. It’s the shiny new thing that the search engine optimization (SEO) industry will be trying to sell you in 2025.

What does it do?

GEO claims to optimize website content for generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Bard, Perplexity, and Claude — rather than focusing on traditional search engines like Google or Bing.

In other words, it involves tailoring content, data, and questions to perform well in AI-generated responses or outputs, such as the Google AI Overviews search feature.

Does GEO work?

Who knows. It’s merely the latest generation of an endless parade of tactics that try to outsmart Google. And we all know how well that works. Now that traditional SEO has finally succumbed to artificial intelligence (AI), this will likely be just another pivot to rescue the $89 billion SEO industry.

Our thoughts.

Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) were conceived and built by some of the brightest minds in the world — and even they don’t fully understand how it all works.

So, can the current crop of SEO “experts” — many of whom lack real expertise — successfully reverse-engineer LLMs to pivot from selling SEO to GEO? And deliver meaningful results? Unlikely.

Should you buy into it?

God no. Wait for AEO.


Related

  • Fundamentals of SEO
  • Talking to algorithms
  • 80% are scammers

Sources

  • HubSpot
  • Search Engine Land
  • Seer Interactive

Filed Under: Signals

About Philip Papeman

Philip Papeman is the proprietor of Ern Berck Digital, a web design studio in Chico, California. After successful careers in hospitality, broadcasting, and finance, his focus shifted to web design and development. Since 1999 he's been helping small businesses with thorny problems, entrepreneurs with great ideas, and everyone in between.

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