Growing your business or website on Google used to be easier. But today, things have changed. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is not the same anymore.
If you only use old SEO strategies, you are working with just 20% of what is needed. The other 80% involves new methods you must learn.
This change is not temporary. It is permanent.
Let’s understand what is happening.
First, pick up your phone and search for anything on Google. You will notice that Google’s AI now gives direct answers.
Five years ago, if you searched for something, you saw many websites where you could read and research. But today, Google shows fewer websites and gives quicker answers through AI.
If you still believe your website can rank on Google easily through old SEO methods, you will face many barriers.
Here’s why:
- Google now prefers videos. You will often see YouTube videos at the top of search results.
- Google ranks forums like Reddit and Quora higher. Google wants people to read real experiences shared by users.
- Many people run ads. If your website does not pay for ads, it becomes hard to appear at the top.
Also, if you think that customers will scroll to the 5th page of Google to find your website, you are wrong. People like fast answers today.
Now, imagine you want to know “Best Books for Marketers.” If you search on Google, you have to open different websites and read. But if you ask AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity AI, they quickly study the whole internet and give you the best answer in seconds.
Because of this, people prefer using AI tools for research. This has caused a big change.
Two new ideas are becoming important:
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) – Making your content easy for AI tools to find and share.
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) – Making your content appear in direct answers from AI tools.
Instead of only trying to rank on Google, businesses now need to optimize for AI tools too.
How Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Works
In the past, people used SEO by writing blogs with keywords, hoping to rank high on Google. Now, in GEO, when someone asks ChatGPT a question, it checks the best information from the web and shows results. If your business is mentioned in these AI answers, it can bring you traffic.
The goal now is to appear in AI answers and in Google’s AI overview results.
Six Secret Strategies to Succeed in GEO
Here are six simple but important strategies to make your website better for the new world:
1. Clearly Describe Yourself on Your Website
Tell who you are, what you do, and why you are different. For example, if you say, “We offer services,” it is not clear. Instead, say, “We are the best digital marketing agency providing valuable services.” Also, add customer testimonials and reviews. AI reads your website to understand you better.
2. Get Mentioned on Trustworthy Websites
Earlier, SEO focused on making backlinks. Now, you need your business name on trusted websites. The more websites mention you, the better your chances of getting picked by AI tools.
3. Build Your Online Presence
If you are present on many trusted platforms, AI can easily find and suggest your business. A strong PR (public relations) effort helps a lot.
4. Track Where You Are Mentioned
Use free tools like Falcon Rank AI. Paste your website link there. It will show if your website appears in AI tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, Perplexity AI, and others. If you are not mentioned, it shows you the keywords people search related to your business.
5. Optimize, Don’t Just Blog
Instead of writing blogs for every keyword, optimize your website for important keywords. If someone searches “Best platform to learn Facebook Ads,” your website should appear.
6. Cover the Right Keywords
Find the keywords people use to search for your business. Optimize your content based on those keywords, and AI tools will be more likely to suggest your site.
Conclusion
SEO is not dead, but it has changed a lot. Now, you must understand AI-driven search and update your strategies. Focus on clear content, trusted mentions, and being AI-friendly. If you make these changes, you will see much better results.
