What Is GEO and Why Does It Matter in 2025?

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If you’ve been in SEO for a while, you know things change. Fast.

And right now, we’re living through one of the biggest change since Google launched:

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

It’s SEO for LLMs like ChatGPT.

Welcome to the era of AI and AI search results.

Here’s what you need to know:

1/ What Is GEO?

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is about optimizing your content to improve your search rankings. 

It’s just like SEO, but this time, you’re ranking in LLMs like ChatGPT instead of Google.

Here’s an example of what I mean:

2/ Why GEO Matters in 2025 and Beyond

There’s a major shift in search behavior:

People are searching on AI tools directly before going to Google.

This means AI-generated answers are becoming the “first stop” for decision-makers.

And if you’re not showing up in those answers, you’re invisible to a growing share of the market.

3/ How GEO Works

Just like SEO, there’s a process behind ranking on LLMs.

To rank #1 on AI results:

• Target prompts instead of just keywords.

• Structure content so AI can scan and quote it easily (Think headings, bullet points, and direct answers).

• Establish authority with backlinks to ensure LLMs trust you over generic sites.

• Keep your content fresh so AI sees it as current and reliable.

4/ How to Track GEO

Make sure your strategy is delivering results.

• Use Semrush’s AI Toolkit for daily GEO tracking.

• Track specific prompts you’re aiming to rank for.

• See where your brand is mentioned across the web.

• Act on AI recommendations provided in the AI toolkit.

• Build new links on sources LLMs are using.

5/ The Opportunity Window

Just like SEO in the 2010s, GEO is wide open.

Most of your competitors aren’t thinking about it–yet.

That will no longer be the case soon.

Start today to get ahead for the most important rankings.

Dive Deeper Into GEO with Semrush

The window is closing fast. Don’t get left behind.

Read Semrush’s in-depth blog post on GEO to learn more or test out their AI toolkit to uncover how to position your brand in AI.

All the best,

Connor

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Connor Gillivan has been building six, seven, and eight-figure businesses for the past 10 years with SEO. It’s my personal mission to create a community and services that help you grow your business by finding more people who would benefit from what you. When I started out, I wanted to make the community an inclusive, welcoming table where everyone can come to get help using high-end SEO strategies to take their businesses to the next level. After several years, and over 3000 combined followers across Facebook and LinkedIn, I will always aim to get better at what I do every single day. In addition, my primary focus is on my relationship with you. This way every time you interact with me, you end up getting ideas that take your project to the next level. I particularly appreciate when my following provides feedback via testimonials, reviews, and comments left on my site or social media accounts. Because with that feedback, I can use it to make your next experience even better than the last. Since I put so much effort into my relationship with you, I hope that any investment in me is exactly the way you hoped it would be. Because by choosing to utilize my services, it’s my promise that I will provide an experience that you will love over and over again. Now, as much as I care about making the world a better and more efficient place for businesses like yours, I also care about your privacy. I’m committed to the right to your privacy and strive to provide a safe and secure user experience. My Privacy Policy, to which you can find a link at the bottom of my website homepage, explains how I collect, store and use personal information, provided by you on my website. It also explains important information that ensures I won’t abuse the information that you provide to me in good faith. By accessing and using my website, you can trust that what you want to be kept private, will be kept private. If at any time you would like to read the Privacy Policy and get a better understanding of your rights and liabilities under the law, feel free to visit my site, find the privacy policy in the footer, and read it. If there is something you are concerned about or wish to get more clarity on, please let me know by replying to this email. The Privacy Policy also informs you of how to notify me to stop using your personal information. If you wish to view my official policies, please visit my official website.

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