GEO Is the New SEO: How to Get Your Brand Cited by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude

We’ll say it: SEO is starting to feel a little... old.

Not like flip-phone old, but let’s face it—Google’s not the only game in town anymore.

If you haven’t noticed, the way people search for stuff is changing fast. Instead of typing keywords into search bars, they’re chatting it up with AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

And guess what? These bots aren’t just regurgitating search results. They’re citing brands that show up in trusted content across the web.

Enter the new frontier: GEO — Generative Engine Optimization

Yep, you heard us. It’s time to start optimizing for the AIs that are shaping how your audience discovers brands and makes buying decisions. So how do you make sure your brand gets cited in the next AI-powered answer? Pull up a chair. We’ve got you covered.

Wait, What Is GEO?

GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization—and no, it’s not some new overpriced SaaS tool (yet). It’s simply the strategy of making sure your brand is discoverable and credible in the sources that AI models pull from.

Unlike SEO, where you’re trying to rank on Page 1 of Google, GEO is about becoming part of the knowledge base that these bots reference when answering user queries. If SEO is about visibility, GEO is about authority and presence in the places that matter to AI:

• News articles
• Thought leadership blogs
• Industry directories
• Reputable databases
• High-quality mentions across the web

Translation: if you’re not being cited by trusted sources, you’re not being cited at all by ChatGPT & friends.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

AI assistants are becoming the first touchpoint for millions of customer journeys. People are asking bots questions like:

• “What’s the best agency for social media in Toronto?”
• “Who are the top local brands in digital marketing?”
• “What are some trusted marketing agencies for startups?”

And if the bots don’t know you exist—or can’t find quality mentions of you—you’re invisible. Period.

Even worse? Your competitors might be cited instead. Ouch.

How To Get Your Brand Cited by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude

Alright, let’s get to the fun part: how do you actually win at GEO?

1️⃣ Get Quoted and Mentioned on Authoritative Sites

AI models love content from high-authority domains: major news outlets, reputable blogs, government sites, industry-specific directories, and trusted community hubs.

Your action plan:

• Pitch thought leadership articles to niche media and blogs
• Get your execs interviewed or quoted
• Partner with associations that publish “best of” lists
• Encourage customers and partners to mention you in their content
  
  

Hot tip: If an article ranks high in Google, there’s a good chance it’s training data for AI models too.

2️⃣ Build Out a PR and Digital Footprint

No, this doesn’t mean spamming press releases. We’re talking about building a genuine, broad-based digital footprint that shows your brand is active, credible, and talked about.

Your action plan:

• Develop relationships with journalists and editors
• Contribute expert commentary on industry trends
• Get cited in listicles, rankings, and roundup articles
  Leverage social proof—mentions, reviews, endorsements
  
  

Remember, the goal isn’t to rank #1 anymore—it’s to be part of the source material for AI knowledge bases.

3️⃣ Optimize Your Content for Entity Recognition

Here’s the nerdy part (we promise it’s cool): AI models use entity recognition to understand and cite brands. That means they need to clearly “see” your brand name in clean, consistent formats across the web.

Your action plan:

• Use your brand name consistently in all content (no weird abbreviations or off-brand nicknames)
• Include clear context around your brand (what you do, where you’re based, who you serve)
• Leverage schema markup on your site for brand info
• Get listed and verified in key knowledge bases (Google Knowledge Panel, Wikidata, Crunchbase, etc.)
  
  

The easier you make it for AI to “understand” your brand as a distinct entity, the more likely you’ll be cited.

4️⃣ Collaborate and Co-Create

AI models love sources that reflect community engagement and collaboration. That means co-creating content and building relationships with others in your space is a GEO power move.

Your action plan:

• Guest on podcasts and webinars
• Co-author articles with partners
• Sponsor or participate in industry events
• Get involved in community-driven projects or cause marketing
  
  

Bonus: This also makes your brand more human and relatable—exactly what AI models (and their users) love to surface.

The Future Is Chatty — Are You Ready?

GEO isn’t some passing trend—it’s a fundamental shift in how brands are discovered. Your next client might not be searching Google... they might be asking ChatGPT. And if the answer they get doesn’t include your brand? Well, that’s a missed opportunity.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to overhaul your whole marketing strategy—you just need to start thinking like an AI does.

Prioritize credibility. Build digital trust. Get cited in the right places. And hey, if you want help making your brand the one that AI assistants can’t stop talking about? You know where to find us.