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What is generative engine optimization (GEO)?

Generative engine optimization (GEO) is the practice of getting your content cited, quoted, or recommended inside the answers that AI engines generate, like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and Claude. If classic SEO is about ranking a link, GEO is about being part of the synthesized answer itself.

As these tools answer questions directly, many users never click through to a website. GEO aims to make sure that when the AI composes its answer, your brand and content are among the sources it draws on and names.

GEO is an additive layer on solid SEO, not a replacement. Google itself says its generative features rely on the same foundations: useful content, crawlable pages, clear structure, and a trustworthy experience. Do the fundamentals well, then optimize for quotability on top.

Updated July 2026

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