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What GEO Optimisation is and why it matters more than SEO right now

May 2026 · 8 min read

If someone types “best premium digital agency in Jaipur” into ChatGPT right now, they get a response — and that response includes specific business recommendations. The question is: is your business mentioned?

This is GEO — Generative Engine Optimisation. And it is becoming one of the most important factors in how businesses get discovered in 2026.

What Is GEO?

GEO is the practice of optimising your digital presence so that AI language models — ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, Claude — are likely to cite, recommend, and reference your business when users ask relevant questions.

Traditional SEO gets you ranked on Google's search results page. GEO gets you cited by the AI answers that increasingly sit above those results.

Why It Matters More Than You Think

In 2024, Google introduced AI Overviews to its search results. In 2025, usage of AI assistants for local business research grew by over 200% among urban Indian consumers. By 2026, a meaningful percentage of discovery journeys — especially for premium services — start with an AI query, not a traditional Google search.

How to Win at GEO

  • Build authoritative content — AI models cite businesses that have substantial, well-structured online content
  • Get cited by trusted sources — Local news, industry publications, and business directories all feed into what AI models know about you
  • Have a consistent NAP — Name, Address, Phone number consistent across every platform
  • Earn reviews — AI models factor in reputation signals when making recommendations

GEO is still early. Which means the businesses that invest now will have a significant head start over those who wait.