Digital marketing is dynamic, and artificial intelligence (AI) is trending. These days, SEO and GEO are becoming increasingly prominent. While SEO is a traditional practice and GEO is an emerging practice, both aim to improve online visibility and drive traffic. They operate on different principles and target different engines.
To rank your page in search engine results pages (SERPs), you must know SEO and GEO, their key principles, and how they differ. We will let you know about these two strategies in the simplest way.
The core difference lies in the target audience. That’s how it works! Therefore, ultimately, we will share our most successful digital marketing strategies with you.
What is GEO?
Generative engine optimization, or GEO, is a fresh idea in online marketing. It focuses on making content easy to understand, use, and share with AI models. These AI models use massive amounts of information and natural language to create text that sounds like what people wrote. They can translate languages, make all kinds of content, and answer questions informally.
GEO wants to quickly give users correct and reliable information without wasting time. Instead of looking through many summaries created by AI, users can get answers quickly. This change is happening now with Google’s SGE, which adds AI summaries to search results.
Key Principles of GEO
AI models need data that is well-organized and structured. So, understanding structured data is essential. Use tools to define your content and its meaning. This helps the AI understand the meaning of different ideas and words.
Since there are many tools to make content now, GEO highlights the need for trustworthy and accurate content. AI models trust reliable sources, so being an expert is essential.
Natural language Processing. Focus on writing content that uses keywords naturally. Make it easy for AI to understand what you are writing about. This is very important for SEO.
Focus on connections between people, places, and ideas in your content. Don’t only focus on single words.
Different AI models behave in other ways. Understand how models such as ChatGPT or Bard work. Adapt your content for each one to be more effective.
By focusing on these ideas, GEO helps ensure your content can be found by AI models. It also increases brand recognition, visibility, and traffic.
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is what you do to help a website show up higher on search engines. SEO uses different actions to make your site better for search engines.
Key Principles of SEO
Keyword research is a key element. It helps find the words users search for things related to your business.
On-page optimization involves changing the content and structure of your website. It makes it easy for users and search engines to find what they need. These are essential things:
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions need to be effective. They should capture the most essential things on each page. They should also get users to click on your site.
Header Tags (H1-H6): Use headers to break content into sections. This helps search engines understand which parts of the content are more important than others.
Image Optimization is changing the sizes and types of images. This helps speed up the website and helps the content.
Internal linking is creating links pointing to different sections of your website, such as sitemap. This helps users move through your site, improving its performance.
Off-page optimization improves the value and reputation of a website. Add links from other credible websites. These can come from:
Content Marketing: Creating and sharing content that people want to read.
Digital PR: Contact journalists and bloggers for coverage.
Social Media Marketing: Sharing content on social media to reach more people.
Technical SEO: Ensure your website is built correctly and optimized for search engines. This involves:
Site Speed Optimization helps users load your site more quickly.
Mobile Friendliness means making your website work well on phones.
XML Sitemap Submission helps the search engines find all of your pages.
Robots.txt Configuration allows you to permit or deny access to the search engines.
HTTPS Implementation helps make sure that your website is secure.
Industry competition needs you to focus on algorithm changes. SEO is ongoing and needs reviews, changes, and analysis to maintain relevance.
GEO vs. SEO: A Brief Comparison
Here’s a breakdown comparing GEO and SEO across key areas:
Feature
SEO
GEO
Feature
SEO
GEO
Focus
Ranking in search engine results pages
Optimizing content for generative AI models
Content Optimization
Keyword-driven, readability, user-friendly
Comprehensive, authoritative, structured data, natural language
AI model accuracy, content attribution, increased visibility in AI responses
Strategic Flexibility
Adapting to algorithm updates
Adapting to AI model advancements and changing user behavior
Keyword Integration
Primary focus, long-tail keywords
It is still vital but secondary to entity understanding and context
Focus on User Intent
Understand search queries and provide relevant results
Understand the AI model's query and provide comprehensive, accurate data
Technology Utilization
SEO tools, analytics platforms
Schema markup tools, NLP analysis, AI model monitoring
Statistics:
According to a study by Gartner, by 2025, generative AI will account for 10% of all data produced, up from less than 1% in 2020. This underscores the growing importance of GEO.
Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) already shows the impact of generative AI on search. Early tests indicate that SGE can significantly alter how users interact with search results, potentially impacting website traffic.
Best Tips to Integrate SEO with GEO
Even though GEO and SEO revolve around different concepts, we can use them together. That’s the beauty of how effective a digital marketing strategy can be. Let’s look at some ways to mesh SEO and GEO:
Start by focusing on Information Intensive Content: This is the basic rule for both SEO and GEO. It should be accurate, informative, well-written, and engaging to add user value.
Learn and Implement Structured Data: When creating content, add schema markup for AI models and search engines to understand the content of your page. This will give an edge in ranking and increase the chances of being cited by AI.
Put more focus on Entities and Concepts: Go further than keywords. Focus on crucial entities related to your business and create content that elaborates on these concepts.
Natural language tracking systems for interpreting user tasks must focus on keyword optimization while incorporating author-centric non-spambot styles that aid an AI model in breaking down the content easily.
Find out what users are attempting to achieve and why they are looking for the information so that you can provide accurate answers.
A well-developed backlink profile will enhance any website’s ranking for search engines and geo-localized searches. Focusing on creating good content is the easiest way to get backlinks.
Make sure to track the performance of generative AI models. You can use this information to improve the effectiveness of your content.
Both AI models and search engine algorithms are perpetually changing. Stay informed as much as you can and align your strategies accordingly.
Make sure your SEO work is not redundant or wasted. Link building, keyword research, and content audits will prove helpful to your GEO strategy.
