What on Earth Is Generative Engine Optimisation?
Generative Engine Optimisation, or GEO, is your golden ticket to being found in the new world of AI search. While SEO focuses on ranking in traditional search results, GEO is about making your content easy for AI tools to read, summarise and recommend.
Put simply: SEO gets you listed. GEO gets you quoted when someone asks an AI tool for advice.
GEO vs. Old-School SEO
SEO is like making your shop easy to find on a busy street.
GEO is making sure that when someone asks their smart AI “Where should I go?” your shop is the one it talks about.
SEO relies on keywords, meta tags and backlinks. GEO relies on clarity, structure and directly answering the questions people ask.
Why Small Business Owners Should Care
AI-powered search is growing fast. People want fast, useful answers, not endless scrolling. If your content is not GEO-friendly you may be invisible, even with good SEO. The good news is GEO does not need a big budget. It needs smart writing and clear structure.
How to Get Started With GEO
Write like you are answering a question
Answer the question first, then give the details. Keep language simple and conversational.
Make headings question-based
Use the exact questions people type: “What is GEO?” “How does GEO help small businesses?” AI engines treat those headings like signals.
Show you are legit
Include your business name, author info and publish dates. Link to trustworthy sources and your own helpful pages. AI tools favour credible signals.
Marry SEO and GEO
Keep SEO basics strong. Then add GEO elements like FAQs, bullets, short explanations and consistent formatting.
Track and tweak
Monitor which pages get quoted by AI. Keep refining clarity and structure until your content is irresistible.
Quick FAQ
What is the difference between SEO and GEO?
SEO helps your site rank in Google. GEO helps your content be quoted by AI when people ask for answers.
Do I ditch SEO now?
No. GEO builds on SEO. Think of it as an upgrade that helps your content speak to AI as well as to humans.
Is GEO expensive?
Not at all. It is mostly about how you write and structure content, not about fancy tools.
Call to Action
AI is not the future. It is the now. Review a top page on your website. Add question-based headings. Tighten your answers. Fix your image alt text. You will already be more GEO-friendly.
Want more practical, fun and fearless guides to growing your small business? Head over to Basic Bananas.