SEO and GEO share the same objective, visibility, but on two different surfaces: Google’s results page on one side, the answer generated by an AI on the other. Understanding what sets them apart lets you build a strategy that covers both.
What is SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the set of techniques that improve a page’s ranking in Google and Bing results. It rests on three pillars: technical (speed, structure, markup), content (keywords, search intent) and authority (backlinks). It is the core craft of an search and GEO.
What is GEO?
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) means structuring content so it is understood, selected and cited by generative engines. The goal is no longer just to earn a click, but to become the source the AI uses in its answer. To go further, read my complete GEO guide.
The table of the 7 differences
| Difference | SEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Target | Search engines (Google, Bing) | Generative engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) |
| 2. Objective | Rank in the list of links | Be cited in the generated answer |
| 3. Unit of result | A position (1 to 10) | A citation / brand mention |
| 4. Winning format | Page optimised for a keyword | Clear, factual, structured answer |
| 5. Key signal | Backlinks, domain authority | Clarity, structure, reliability, entities |
| 6. Measurement (KPI) | Position, traffic, clicks | Citations, share of voice in the AI |
| 7. Journey | The user clicks then reads | The AI reads, synthesises and recommends |
Do you have to choose between SEO and GEO?
No. GEO does not replace SEO, it extends it. Content that ranks well on Google has a far better chance of being picked up by an AI, because generative engines rely in part on the same reliable sources. So the useful move is to work on both together. The practical method is detailed in my guide how to get cited by AIs.
How to combine SEO and GEO
- Keep solid SEO foundations: fast site, semantic HTML, internal linking (see Google’s SEO documentation).
- Write "answer-first": the answer in the very first paragraph, then the detail.
- Mark up your content (Article, FAQPage) for Google AND the AIs.
- Work on your entities: who you are, where (Geneva), what you do.
- Measure both: Google positions on one side, mentions in the AIs on the other.
Want to be visible on Google AND in AI answers? Lumineth, in Geneva, reads your SEO & GEO visibility during a first conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SEO and GEO in one sentence?
SEO aims for a good ranking in Google’s list of results; GEO aims to be cited directly in the answer generated by an AI such as ChatGPT or Perplexity.
Where to start: SEO or GEO?
With healthy SEO foundations (fast site, structured content, markup), because they serve both. You then add GEO optimisations: answer-first, marked-up FAQ and entity consistency.
How do you measure GEO results?
You track citations and mentions of your brand in AI answers (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini), alongside classic SEO KPIs: positions, organic traffic and clicks.