Published by NewsPR Today | July 2025
Search Isn’t What It Used to Be
Let’s start with a simple test.
Go to Google and type “Best laptop under $500.”
As you can see in the image, you’ll likely get a standard list of results: retailers like Best Buy, review sites like PCWorld, and community forums like Reddit.
Notice what’s not there? A neat, AI-generated box at the top summarizing the best 3–5 laptops with quick descriptions. While Google is rolling out these AI answers (known as Search Generative Experience, or SGE), they don’t appear for every query yet.
But even if you don’t see it for this search today, this is the direction we are heading. Google, Bing, ChatGPT, and other AI tools are all working toward summarized, AI-chosen product answers, not just long lists of websites.
Soon, the answer will be a short, direct list. No endless scrolling. No clicking ten different links.
And here’s the important part:
If your product isn’t in that AI-generated list, it won’t get noticed.
This is the new reality of search, and to stay visible, your brand needs to understand a new concept:
GEO—Generative Engine Optimization
What Is GEO, and How Is It Different from SEO?
Let’s keep it simple.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about helping your site rank on Google’s list of links.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is about helping your product get chosen by AI tools when they create answers.
Think of it like this:
| SEO (The Old Way) | GEO (The New Way) | |
| Goal | Help your website rank high in search results. | Help your product get chosen for the AI’s answer. |
| Focus | Keywords, backlinks, and technical site health. | Structured data, clear content, and brand authority. |
SEO gets your website on the page. GEO gets your product in the answer.
Real-World Example
Suppose you are a portable blender vendor. Instead of searching on Google, a client asks ChatGPT:
“What are the best portable blenders for travel?”
Here’s the kind of direct answer they’ll get:
- BlendJet 2—Lightweight, USB-rechargeable, and powerful enough for ice.
- Nutribullet Go – Compact design from a trusted brand, great for smoothies.
- PopBabies Portable Blender—USB-C charging and simple, dishwasher-safe design.
If your blender isn’t on this list, you lose the sale. Your great SEO didn’t matter because the customer never saw the search results page. This is why GEO is critical.
Why AI Is Becoming the New Search
People are turning to AI because the answers are
- Faster: A direct summary instead of ten blue links.
- Easier to read: conversational and concise.
- Clearer: Fewer, more confident choices.
- Everywhere: Integrated into voice search and mobile apps.
In the next 1–2 years, more customers will skip traditional search and rely on ChatGPT, Google SGE, Perplexity, and voice assistants like Alexa or Siri. If your product information isn’t structured for AI to understand, it will be invisible.
3 Easy Ways to Make Your Products AI-Friendly (GEO Tips)
Here are three beginner-friendly steps you can take right now.
1. Make Your Product Pages Clear and Well-Structured
AI engines need clean, simple content. Avoid long, messy paragraphs in your product descriptions. Instead, structure your pages for scannability.
Use:
- Bullet points for key features.
- Clear product names and categories.
- Real-world use cases like “great for students” or “ideal for camping.”
Example Layout:
Product Name: Mini Travel Blender
Price: $39.99Key Features:
- 300ml cup size
- USB-C rechargeable battery
- 3-blade design for smoothies
- Lightweight (450g)
- Fits in most backpacks
Best for: Camping, gym use, frequent travelers.
Why it works: This layout helps AI immediately understand what your product is, what it does, who it’s for, and its key selling points.
2. Use Product Schema (Your Developer or SEO Tool Can Help)
A schema is a piece of code added to your product page that acts like a universal translator for AI tools. It explicitly tells them your product’s name, brand, price, rating, and availability.
If you use Shopify or WordPress, plugins can handle this for you:
- Yoast SEO
- RankMath
- JSON-LD for SEO
- Shopify Product Reviews + schema apps
Ask your developer or SEO specialist, “Can you ensure our product pages have complete product schema so AI tools can understand our listings?”
3. Build a Presence Outside Your Website
AI tools don’t just read your site. They build trust by cross-referencing information from all over the web, including:
- YouTube reviews
- Reddit threads
- Reputable review blogs
- Amazon and other marketplace listings
- Quora answers and press articles
What you can do:
- Encourage customers to leave reviews on multiple platforms.
- Get your product reviewed on a few relevant blogs or YouTube channels.
- Answer questions about your product category on Quora or Reddit (honestly, not spamming).
This diverse presence signals to AI that your brand is legitimate and authoritative.
Future-Proofing Your Brand for AI
The internet is changing. Search is evolving from a game of keywords into a game of answers.
Soon, your customers won’t just search—they’ll ask:
“What’s a good budget smartwatch for gym workouts?”
“Which shoes are best for travel in rainy weather?”
The AI won’t return a page of links. It will give a short, definitive answer. That is your one chance to be included—or be forgotten.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Can an AI understand what my product does just from my page?
- Does my site use proper schema code?
- Is my product mentioned on other trusted websites?
- Do I describe my product in a way that solves a specific problem?
If you answered “no” to most of these, it’s time to start working on GEO.
Final Words
SEO helped bring people to your website.
GEO helps get your product into their decision-making process.
If you run an e-commerce store, you must do more than rank. AI must recognize your product as the right answer. Start now by focusing on:
- Clear, structured product content.
- Complete schema markup.
- A strong presence across the web.
It’s easier than it sounds, and it will give your brand a decisive edge, both now and in the AI-powered future.
