SEO aims to rank your pages on Google; GEO aims to get your brand cited in AI answers. The same end goal — being found — but two arenas and two methods.
One shared goal, two arenas
SEO plays out on the results page: keywords, backlinks, position. GEO plays out inside the generated answer: clarity, structure, authority, citability.
What changes in the content
- SEO: long pages, optimised around keywords.
- GEO: direct answers, cut into short self-contained blocks.
- SEO: keyword density and semantic field.
- GEO: question-and-answer format, hard numbers, citable sources.
What changes in the measurement
In SEO you track positions, traffic and click-through rate. In GEO you track presence in AI answers, share of voice and citations — new indicators, but just as measurable.
Do you have to choose?
No. The two reinforce each other: a solid SEO foundation (clean technical base, clear content, authority) is the best starting point for GEO. The mistake would be ignoring the second while assuming the first is still enough.