Glossaire
GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation)
The discipline of optimising content to be cited and referenced by AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews.
Definition
GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is the set of techniques used to maximise the visibility and citation of a brand in responses generated by AI tools: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and Google's AI Overviews. It is the equivalent of SEO, transposed to engines that compose an answer rather than ranking pages.
Why It Matters
A growing share of searches now begins directly in an AI tool, bypassing traditional search engines entirely. If your site isn't exploited by these models, you become invisible to those users — even if you rank well on Google. GEO doesn't replace SEO; it complements it. Both work in parallel on the same corpus of content.
In Practice
- Answer the target question directly in the first 2–3 sentences of each section
- Use clear structure: H2/H3 headings, lists, tables, FAQ sections
- Include factual claims (numbers, dates, named sources) rather than vague statements
- Implement Schema.org markup (Article, FAQ, HowTo depending on content type)
- Maintain consistent brand naming across all web properties
- Earn mentions from reputable third-party sources (reviews, comparisons, guest articles)
Key Difference From SEO
| SEO | GEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank on page 1 | Be cited as a source in AI responses |
| Success metric | Position, CTR, traffic | Citation frequency, brand mention rate |
| Primary signal | Backlinks, on-page relevance | Content clarity, factual density, trust signals |
| Timeframe | 3–6 months | 3–9 months |