Guide

GEO: The new SEO.

AI models are changing how people search for information. Learn to optimize your content to appear in their responses.

What is GEO?

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of optimizing content to appear in responses from language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Grok.

While traditional SEO focuses on ranking in Google search results, GEO focuses on being cited and recommended by AI systems when users ask questions about your industry.

It's a paradigm shift: from "appearing on page 1" to "being mentioned in the response".

Example AI response

"What's the best accounting software for startups?"

"For startups, the most popular options are QuickBooks for its ease of use, Xero for its integrations, and Wave if you're looking for a free option. For US-based startups, FreshBooks and Bench offer solutions tailored to small business needs..."

Does your brand appear in responses like this? That's GEO.

Why it matters now

Search behavior is changing faster than most companies realize.

40%

of Gen Z

Prefer searching on TikTok and AI over Google, according to 2024 studies.

100M+

weekly users

ChatGPT reached 100 million weekly active users in 2024.

Zero

click searches

AI responses satisfy queries without needing to visit websites.

SEO vs GEO

They're not mutually exclusive. The best approach combines both.

Traditional SEO

  • Optimizes for Google's algorithm
  • Metrics: position, CTR, organic traffic
  • Techniques: backlinks, keywords, speed
  • Result: user visits your website
  • Competition: 10 results per page

GEO

  • Optimizes for language models (LLMs)
  • Metrics: mentions, context, sentiment
  • Techniques: authority, citability, clarity
  • Result: AI recommends your brand
  • Competition: 0-3 mentions per response

How to optimize for GEO

Practical strategies to increase your mentions in AI responses.

1

Create citable content

LLMs look for information they can cite with confidence. This means:

  • • Specific data with verifiable sources
  • • Clear and concise definitions
  • • Structured lists (LLMs love them)
  • • Claims backed by evidence
2

Establish brand authority

AI models prioritize sources they perceive as authoritative:

  • • Mentions in media and industry publications
  • • Original content with unique insights
  • • Consistent presence in your niche
  • • User reviews and testimonials
3

Optimize structure

Format matters as much as content:

  • • Clear headers that directly answer questions
  • • Short, scannable paragraphs
  • • Schema markup for structured data
  • • FAQs that anticipate user queries
4

Monitor and adapt

GEO requires continuous analysis:

  • • Query LLMs about your industry regularly
  • • Identify which competitors are cited and why
  • • Detect opportunities where you should appear but don't
  • • Adjust your content strategy based on results

How Breakout automates this

Breakout simultaneously queries ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Grok about your niche, analyzes the responses, and shows you exactly:

Which brands they mention

And in what contexts your competitors appear.

Where you're missing

Opportunities where you should be cited but aren't.

AI keywords

The queries that generate brand mentions in your sector.

Optimized content

Generate articles designed to be cited by LLMs.

Discover how LLMs see you.

Analyze your presence in AI responses and find optimization opportunities.

Start GEO analysis