A Q&A Guide to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

By Brian Lich , Director of SEO at BMG360

No doubt you’ve seen it: more and more answers are coming straight from AI tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity. These responses often appear above the classic search results, and once people get what they need from an AI-generated answer, they’re far less likely to scroll further down the SERPs.

That’s where Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) comes in. In this post, I share a Q&A guide on what GEO is, why it matters now, and how it works alongside SEO and AI Optimization (AIO) to create a complete search strategy.

Q: What exactly is GEO?

A: GEO ensures your entities, facts, and content are selected and cited in AI-generated answers.

👉 TL;DR: SEO gets clicks from rankings, GEO gets citations in AI answers. Both are essential.

Q: Why does GEO matter right now?

• Google AI Overviews grew 116% since early 2025, now in ~13% of queries.
• Nearly half of all searches show AI-enhanced elements.
• Rankings in AI answers can shift by 30% in a week.

👉 TL;DR: AI results outrank everything else, so securing spots in AI overviews will help you stay visible and drive traffic.

Q: How does GEO fit with SEO and AIO?

• SEO: Ranks pages in traditional search.
• AIO (AI Optimization): Formats content so AI can parse and present it.
• GEO: Aligns entities, facts, and offsite signals so AI trusts and cites you.

👉 TL;DR: Together, SEO + AIO + GEO = full-spectrum visibility.

Q: What are GEO-only tactics?

These go beyond SEO fundamentals:

• Citation gap analysis (where AIs cite competitors).
• Wikipedia and third-party knowledge references.
• AI crawler policies and llms.txt.
• Conversational Q&A content with cited facts.
• Mentions in trusted communities (Reddit, Quora, Stack Exchange).

👉 TL;DR: GEO-only tactics are the difference between being invisible or visible in AI results.

Q: Can you give me an example?

An e-commerce brand selling outdoor furniture:

• SEO: Ranking for best outdoor patio sets via keywords and backlinks.
• AIO: Schema, alt text, and summaries for AI parsing.
• GEO: Citations in AI Overviews and ChatGPT answers through consistent product data, Wikipedia references, and authentic UGC mentions.

👉 TL;DR: SEO, AIO, and GEO together drive visibility across SERPs, AI answers, and community ecosystems.

Key Takeaway

• GEO is a complementary discipline to SEO.
• Shared core tactics (schema, Q&A, E-E-A-T) remain essential.
• GEO-only tactics (citation gap analysis, Wikipedia/UGC citations, llms.txt) secure AI visibility.
• SEO-only tactics (keywords, backlinks, CTR) remain critical for organic traffic.
• The future belongs to brands that integrate SEO + AIO + GEO.

If you want the full deep dive with tactics, measurement frameworks, and takeaways, you can read the complete version here.

You can also get a fast read on what’s blocking your brand across all three, and a clear roadmap to capture more clicks, citations, and conversions with our GEO Audit.

Get a fast read on what’s blocking your brand across all three, and a clear roadmap to capture more clicks, citations, and conversions. Request an AI Visibility Snapshot of your website.

About the Author:

Brian Lich is the Director of SEO at BMG360. An Ironman, ultrarunner, and adventurer, he brings the same discipline and endurance to digital strategy as he does to training. With years of experience in SEO and digital marketing, Brian is committed to continuous improvement for himself, his clients, and the search experience at large. He focuses on educating and empowering brands while delivering the ROI-driven results they expect, helping them thrive across SEO, AIO, and GEO.