The generative engine optimisation (GEO) playbook
Search is splitting in two. Here is how to get your brand recommended by generative AI — not just ranked in a list of links.
What generative engines actually reward
Classic SEO optimises for a ranked list of blue links. Generative engines — ChatGPT, Google's AI answers, Perplexity — optimise for a single synthesised answer. Your goal shifts from "rank in the top 10" to "be the source the model quotes."
Three signals dominate: clarity (can the model extract a clean claim?), corroboration (do other credible sources agree?), and structure (is the answer machine-readable?). Win those and you get cited, often above the brands that outrank you in traditional search.
The five-step GEO playbook
- Map the questions your buyers ask an assistant, not just the keywords they type.
- Write one unambiguous, quotable answer per question — lead with the claim, then evidence.
- Add structure: headings, FAQ schema, tables and clear entities the model can lift.
- Earn corroboration — consistent facts across your site, profiles and third parties.
- Measure citations across assistants and iterate on the answers that never get picked.
Common mistakes
Burying the answer under three paragraphs of preamble, contradicting yourself across pages, and chasing keyword volume instead of question intent. Generative engines punish all three by simply quoting someone clearer.
Let the engine run this playbook for you.
Marketing Genius applies these plays automatically, inside your approvals.