Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of optimizing content so that AI answer engines — ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity and Gemini — cite it when generating answers. Where traditional SEO aims to rank a link, GEO aims to be the source the AI quotes.
In practice, GEO means writing answer-first passages, structuring pages with clear question-style headings and extractable lists and tables, demonstrating real expertise (E-E-A-T), and earning citation-worthiness through original data, expert quotes and references to primary sources. It overlaps heavily with strong classic SEO but adds formatting and authority signals tuned to how language models select and attribute sources.
GEO is closely related to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and is the umbrella term for getting cited across Google AI Overviews and the other answer engines.
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Complete GEO guide