Published by NewsPR Today | July 2025
We’ve all heard about SEO—Search Engine Optimization—as the classic way to boost your online visibility. But in 2025, a new term has become equally important: GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization. Though they both help your content get noticed online, they do it in different ways.
At NewsPR Today, we’ve taken a closer look at how both work and how you can use them together. This piece breaks it all down in plain, human terms, with real examples and helpful comparisons.
What Is SEO?
SEO is all about helping your site appear in search engine results when someone types a question or keyword. Imagine someone typing “best tools for freelancers” into Google. SEO strategies aim to make your website show up near the top of those search results.
Common SEO practices include:
- Placing relevant keywords naturally in page titles, headings, and body text
- Writing informative and detailed articles that truly help readers
- Ensuring pages load quickly and display well on smartphones
- Encouraging other reputable websites to link to your content
With SEO, the aim is to get people to click on your page link and visit your website after finding it through a search engine.
What Is GEO?
GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, takes a different route. It’s all about ensuring your content is included inside AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT, Bing Chat, or Google’s AI responses.
Instead of users clicking a list of website results, they may receive a direct answer on the screen, with your content appearing right in that AI-generated response. That could be a quote, a statistic, or a clear answer excerpted from your writing.
So in GEO, the goal isn’t just to get people to visit your site. It’s to have your content used by AI as part of the answer, even if no one clicks through to your website.
Side-by-Side Comparison of SEO vs. GEO
| Feature | SEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Search engines like Google | AI chat tools like ChatGPT, Bing, Google AI |
| Main Objective | Drive people to visit your site | Have your content included in AI answers |
| User Interaction | User clicks a link to your website | AI displays your content within its response |
| Optimization Focus | Keywords, backlinks, site speed | Concise Q&A style, strong facts, structured text |
| Outcome | Website traffic and conversions | Visibility and reputation even without clicks |
Why SEO and GEO Are Not the Same
Even though they both rely on strong content, they play different roles:
- SEO brings visitors to your website.
- GEO helps your content get used by AI as part of an answer, often without a visit.
While they support each other by building trust and authority, the techniques and outcomes differ. Optimizing for GEO doesn’t hurt your SEO efforts, and vice versa.
A Practical Example
Let’s use a simple scenario: suppose your company writes a blog titled “Top Accounting Tools for Freelancers.”
SEO-style approach:
- Use phrases like “best accounting tools for freelancers,”
- Include comparisons, research, and user reviews,
- Promote the content via backlinks and social media,
- Aim for high Google ranking to attract visitors.
GEO-friendly format:
Add clear question-and-answer sections like
- “What’s a free accounting tool for freelancers?”
- “Toggl is a popular choice for simple time and expense tracking.”
- “Wave is a free solution with income and tax features for small businesses.”
When someone asks an AI assistant, “What accounting tool should I use as a freelancer?” Your concise answer could appear directly, even if they don’t visit your page.
Why GEO Matters Today
People are asking AI instead of search engines.
More and more, people are turning to ChatGPT or similar tools for direct answers. If your content isn’t optimized for that, your brand may go unnoticed, even if your page ranks well.
GEO builds exposure—even when clicks don’t happen.
Your brand name and key information still get seen in those AI-generated answers, which builds credibility and recognition over time.
SEO remains essential.
SEO is still a powerful way to bring people to your site, connect them with your products or services, and drive conversions. GEO adds another layer of presence, making sure your content doesn’t get left behind as more interactions happen through AI.
Where SEO and GEO Work Together
Both SEO and GEO benefit from:
- Well-organized content that answers real questions
- Clear headings, bullet points, and readable formatting
- Authentic, helpful information your audience needs
To optimize for GEO, add features like
- Short, direct answers to common questions
- FAQ blocks that AI can easily scan
- Facts, definitions, and stats that help AI extract usable content
How to Get the Benefits of Both
Follow these steps:
- Combine keyword and conversational thinking.
Start with keyword research. Then think of related questions people might ask:
“Which accounting tools are easiest for freelancers to use?” - Add FAQ and Q&A sections.
These formats are easy for AI tools to pick up and use in responses. - Write simply and clearly.
Short sentences and direct phrasing—AI thrives on clear structure. - Include facts, data, or definitions.
These tend to be featured in AI responses. - Monitor both metrics.
Use SEO tools for website traffic and rankings. Use AI analytics or visibility tools to track how often your content is cited in AI-generated responses.
Debunking Common Misunderstandings
- “GEO is just SEO with a new name.”
No. SEO aims to drive traffic via search rankings. GEO aims to insert your content into AI responses, regardless of whether users click. - “If my site ranks on Google, I’m covered.”
Not fully. If someone uses an AI assistant, your page may never be clicked, even if it ranks well. - “Only big brands get mentioned by AI.”
Not true. Small or niche sites with clear and well-structured content are often cited by AI tools as well.
What the Digital Future Looks Like
We’re heading into a time when more people expect instant, conversational answers instead of scrolling through search results. That means:
- SEO helps people find and visit your website
- GEO makes sure your content is part of AI responses—even when users don’t click
Using both gives your brand maximum visibility, regardless of how your audience searches for information.
Final Thoughts from NewsPR Today
SEO and GEO may sound similar, but they serve different purposes. SEO drives visitors; GEO boosts visibility inside AI responses. When combined, they offer a strong presence across search engines and AI-driven platforms.
Our recommendation: keep your content polished and SEO-friendly, but also shape it so AI tools can read, include, and trust it.
Need help crafting content that works well for both human visitors and AI tools? That’s exactly what we at NewsPR Today excel in. Let’s help your brand get seen—whether people are searching, clicking, or asking AI assistants.
