Have you noticed something weird? You made a great blog post. It ranks well on Google. But when you ask ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude about that topic, your site doesn’t show up at all.
Why is that?
In 2025, more people search with AI than ever before. They’re not clicking links anymore. They just read what AI tells them.
If AI doesn’t mention your brand, people won’t find you. Old SEO tricks—like meta tags, backlinks, or loading speed—don’t fix this.
So, what does?
There’s a new way to get seen by AI. It’s called Generative Engine Optimization—or GEO.
What Is Generative Engine Optimization?
GEO helps your content show up in AI answers. It’s not about ranking in Google. It’s about getting picked by AI.
GEO trains the AI to see, trust, and cite your content. It focuses on clear structure, real answers, and machine-friendly formats.
Think of GEO like SEO—but for AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini.
GEO vs. SEO: Which One Gets You Seen on AI?
Are you still only using SEO? That might not be enough anymore.
A 2025 study in Harvard Business Review, “Forget What You Know About Search. Optimize Your Brand for LLMs,” said:
- AI referrals grew 1,300% during 2024’s holiday shopping season.
- 58% of U.S. buyers now use AI to find products. That’s more than double from 2023.
That means people ask AI first—and trust what it says. If you’re not in the answer, you’re not in the decision.
Key Parts of GEO
Here’s what makes GEO work:
✅ Use Structured Content
Add headers, bullet points, and summaries. AI reads these better.
✅ Use Schema Markup
Schema helps AI know what your page is about.
✅ Be a Trusted Source
Use real data, quotes, and facts. Cite your sources.
✅ Add AI Metadata
Use files like llms.txt or author info to show your content is current and trustworthy.
How to Make Content That AI Can Find and Use
Step 1 – Use Clear Headings and Summaries
AI tools scan your headings to understand your content.
A helpful article by Matt Merrick (March 20, 2025) finds that: “AI uses heading structure to understand topics and make summaries.”
So, make sure your content has:
- One main title (H1)
- Subheadings (H2 and H3)
- Bullet lists
- Summaries after each section
It helps AI grab your ideas and quote you in answers.
Step 2 – Build Trust with More Than Schema
Schema helps, but it’s not enough.
In his 2025 article, “AI Results Don’t Rely on Schema — They Rely on Trust,” published on LinkedIn, David Bynon writes:
“Schema is a signal. But AI memory needs trust, citations, and structure.”
Instead of just using code tags, structure your page for AI memory.
Include:
- Defined terms (like a glossary)
- Author info
- Source links
- Easy-to-read formats (Markdown, XML, or simple HTML)
AI doesn’t crawl pages like Google. It remembers content it can understand and trust.
Step 3 – Use Q&As and Bullet Points
One of the best ways to show up in AI answers? Answer common questions.
A strong study by Nayoung Choi et al., titled “Trustworthy Answers, Messier Data: Bridging the Gap in Low-Resource RAG for Domain Expert Systems” (February 2025), found:
Q&A formats help AI systems give better, more accurate answers.
Here’s how you can use this:
- Write short Q&A blocks
- Use clear headings like:
Q: What is GEO?
A: GEO helps AI tools find and cite your content. - Add bullet points under each answer
It makes your content easy for AI to scan, trust, and use.