Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is changing how people discover businesses online, and fast. Search has changed. Again.
But this time, it’s not another Google algorithm tweak, it’s a full-blown platform shift. People aren’t just googling anymore. They’re asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude. And the scary part? These tools don’t show 10 blue links. They give one answer.
If your business isn’t that answer, you’re invisible.
This new world of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) isn’t just an SEO rebrand. It’s a new battleground for digital visibility. And most businesses are still playing by the old rules.
Let’s fix that.
How to Optimize for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of making your brand, content, and expertise discoverable by AI assistants, not just traditional search engines.
In the past, SEO meant ranking high on Google. GEO means showing up as a source in an AI-generated response.
You’re not optimizing for rankings. You’re optimizing for citations. For mentions in AI summaries. For trust in LLM logic chains.
And while some people use the term AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), GEO captures the full scope:
- Being cited by LLMs
- Embedded in AI search tools
- Recognized by AI-powered aggregators like Perplexity
The Ethical Problem with AI Search, and Why You Should Still Care
Right now, AI tools are scraping the internet for content. Not all of it is accurate. Not all of it is ethical. But it still gets surfaced.
Some brands are already exploiting this. Creating low-effort content designed only for AI crawlers. Gaming citation systems. Poisoning the well.
At Athago, we believe visibility should be earned, not manipulated.
That’s why our approach to GEO combines clean architecture, structured content, and real expertise, so our clients don’t just show up in answers, they deserve to.
How to Show Up in AI Answers
If you’re building your visibility in 2025, here’s what matters most:
Structure Your Site for Machines
- Add schema markup: Organization, Article, FAQPage, Author, etc.
- Use clear, scannable layouts. Bullets. Hierarchies. Subheadings.
- Avoid “AI-blocking” tricks like overly abstract or minimal sites.
Build Author Trust
- Attach content to real people, not ghostwriters
- Publish team bios with credentials and consistent LinkedIn presence
- Use author pages with
sameAslinks to connect them to the real web
Publish on the AI-Indexed Web
You don’t control what AI sees, but you can feed it.
- GitHub, Medium, Dev.to
- Clutch, GoodFirms, and review platforms
- Reddit, Stack Overflow
- Public documentation, changelogs, even community Q&As
Answer Questions Before They’re Asked
- “How to” guides
- Technical deep-dives
- Case studies that explain process + results
- Questions your clients actually ask, LLMs love content that solves real problems in plain language
GEO Isn’t Replacing SEO, It’s Layering On Top
Don’t fire your SEO guy. But do hand them a new playbook.
SEO is still vital for:
- Google ranking
- Local visibility
- Site structure and internal linking
GEO just adds another layer. You’re not optimizing for search. You’re optimizing for AI memory.
If AI Doesn’t Mention You, You Don’t Exist
Most people will never visit your website. They’ll ask ChatGPT or Perplexity, and take the first answer that sounds smart. If that answer doesn’t include you, they move on.
This isn’t panic. This is opportunity.
The sooner your business understands how to show up in AI, the faster you get ahead of the competition still writing blogs for 2018 Google.
Want to See If Your Business Shows Up in AI Engines?
We can run a custom visibility audit for your brand, no gimmicks, no fluff.
SPREAD THE WORD
WHO WE ARE
Athago is a full service digital agency for those who favor bold choices, which pushes the boundaries of technology, strategy, and design, to create lasting relationships between brands & people.
