The marketing bible for getting noticed.

Generative engine optimization (GEO): how to show up in AI search

Learn generative engine optimization (GEO): what it takes for ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Mode to mention and cite your brand, and where it overlaps with good old SEO.

Guides on AI search & GEO

Start here

Google AI Mode: What It Is, How to Use It (or Turn It Off) and What It Means for Your Site

Both sides of AI Mode: how to use it (or dodge it) and what your business needs to do to get cited, with Google's official dates and a real test with ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini.

Read the guide

Search is splitting in two: the blue links, and the answers AI writes on top of them. Generative engine optimization covers the second half. You’ll also see it called AI SEO, AI search optimization or answer engine optimization (AEO). It doesn’t replace SEO, it depends on it: an AI that searches the web can only cite pages it can find, understand and trust.

Inside this topic you’ll find guides on Google AI Mode, the real differences between GEO and SEO and how to track whether AI tools mention you. To write them we ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity directly, through DataForSEO, and show you what they answer and who they cite.

The field is brand new. US Google data shows zero monthly searches for “generative engine optimization” before November 2023 and about 4,400 in September 2026, while “geo seo” already gets around 2,400. The playbook is still being written, which is exactly why it’s worth learning now.

Frequently asked questions about AI search & GEO

What is generative engine optimization?

Generative engine optimization (GEO) is the practice of making your brand and content easy for AI assistants to find, trust and quote, so they mention or cite you when they answer. The term comes from a 2023 research paper led by Princeton researchers. The goal isn’t a blue link in position one, it’s being part of the answer itself, ideally with a link back to you.

Is GEO a real thing?

Yes, though the name is newer than the practice. The behavior is real: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google’s AI Overviews pull from web pages and cite some of them. What’s still fuzzy is measurement, since there’s no AI equivalent of Search Console with full query data. Be wary of anyone selling guaranteed AI rankings, because nobody controls what a model says.

How do you optimize for AI search?

Put a direct answer at the top of each section so a model can lift it as is. Back claims with numbers, a source and a date. Name entities the same way every time, from your brand to your products. Earn mentions on sites AI tools read a lot, like industry media, forums and review sites. Keep your technical SEO clean, then track which questions trigger a mention of your brand.