GEO — Generative Engine Optimization — describes exactly this change.
In this article, we show what is behind the term, why it is now important for content managers in B2B — and how to prepare your content in a targeted manner.
1. What does GEO mean?
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization. The term GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) describes how content can be prepared for AI-generated answers — e.g. in Google SGE or ChatGPT. Provides a good classification Malte Landwehr in the podcast by Jäckert & O'Daniel, in which he explains Why the future will be less about rankings and more about responsiveness.
This applies, for example, to:
- Google SGE (Search Generative Experience)
- ChatGPT (with browsing)
- Perplexity, You.com, Gemini
- all systems, the content Don't link, but incorporate
2. GEO vs. SEO: Why classic optimization fails
GEO isn't a substitute for SEO — but it Shift focus from rankings to responsiveness:
Need AI systems usable content, which:
- clearly structured,
- usefully structured and
- are complete in themselves — without that users must click.
Deepening: In the guide GEO vs. SEO by SEO.com Experts analyse how ranking factors such as backlinks are changing in the AI era — and why semantic depth Decide now.
How to optimize content for AI tools
3. What GEO means for your content strategy
So that your content can be integrated into AI answers, create content that can directly use AI systems.
What helps:
- Separate pages per topic or question
- Clear structure: H1, H2, lists, bullet points
- Response logic: Comprehensible, concise, unambiguous
- Semantic depth: Not just keywords, but classification
- Authority & clarity: Who writes, for whom, why?
Which is more harmful:
- General, irrelevant introductory texts
- Over-optimized SEO articles without a real statement
- One pager with too many topics at the same time
4. GEO is not hype — it is the logical consequence
GEO is not a new tool. Not a feature. Not a hack. GEO is simply the An answer to a new way of finding and presenting content.
You're not optimizing for rankings — you're optimizing for Meaning in the response context.
Malte Landwehr sums it up in a nutshell in the podcast: “It's no longer just about showing up in the search — it's about showing up in the answer. ”
Conclusion: Is GEO the new SEO?
No — but the logical development:
- SEO remains (for classic search).
- GEO added (for AI-generated answers).
Recommended action:
- Analyze Existing content with AI Quick Check.
- Structure Content for machines and people.
- Pursue Not rankings — but Citation frequency in AI answers.
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