GEO
GEO, or generative engine optimisation, brings together practices aimed at improving the presence of an organisation and its content in the answers of generative systems
What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.
What it is and how it works
It works on access, clarity, reliable information and references that help answer queries. It is related to SEO, although measurement may include mentions and citations as well as clicks. No template, file or markup guarantees appearing. Relevant queries should be evaluated repeatably, distinguishing visibility, traffic and business generated.
Also known as
Generative engine optimisation, generative engine optimization
Topics
Frequently asked questions about GEO
Do you need a Markdown version or an llms.txt file to appear in Google's AI features?
No. Google states that these files are not needed to appear in its generative features and that it does not use llms.txt for that purpose. The priority is still to offer useful, technically accessible content. If an organization maintains other formats for specific consumers, they should be kept in sync with the main version. Their existence does not prove greater visibility, and this guidance should not automatically be extrapolated to every platform.
Does adding FAQs and FAQPage markup improve visibility in Google on its own?
There is no guarantee of improvement. FAQs make sense when they answer questions the rest of the entry leaves open. Google stopped showing FAQ rich results on 7 May 2026; the fact that FAQPage still exists in Schema.org does not change that withdrawal. First decide what content the reader needs, and separately assess whether any consumer justifies maintaining additional markup.
What is the difference between a mention, a citation and a visit from an AI assistant?
A mention names an organization or piece of content; a citation links to or identifies a source; a visit means someone arrives at the site. Record each signal separately and check which claim the cited source supports. A single citation does not prove that an editorial intervention caused it. Nor does the absence of referral visits prove that the content is not being cited.