Try this. Open ChatGPT or Gemini right now. Ask it something like “best real estate agency in Pune.”
See what happens? You don’t get a list of websites like Google gives. You get one straight answer, with maybe 2-3 business names in it. That’s all.
This is how people search now. And a lot of businesses are missing from these answers — even good businesses, even ones that rank well on Google.
That’s the whole problem this blog is about.
What is GEO?
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization.
In simple words — it means making sure that when someone asks ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity a question about your type of business, your name comes up in the answer.
On Google, you try to rank #1, #2, #3. But AI answers don’t have ranks like that. Either your business gets mentioned, or it doesn’t. There’s no “position 2.” That’s why this needs a different kind of effort than normal SEO.
Why this matters a lot right now
Here are some simple facts that show why:
- ChatGPT now has close to 900 million people using it every week. That’s almost double from last year.
- Google’s Gemini has over 750 million users every month.
- Google itself is now showing AI answers on almost half of all searches.
- A recent survey found that half of all people now search using AI instead of typing into Google.
One study found something big — the businesses that rank #1 on Google, and the businesses that AI actually mentions, match less than 20% of the time. A year or two ago, this match was around 70%.
In simple words: ranking well on Google does NOT mean AI tools will mention you. These have become two different things now.
- GEO vs SEO — what’s the difference?
- SEO = getting your website to show up on Google’s results page.
GEO = getting your business name mentioned inside the AI’s answer, even if the person never visits your website.
You still need good SEO. GEO is not a replacement — it’s an extra layer on top. Good SEO helps AI find your website. GEO helps AI actually choose to talk about you.
What actually helps in 2026
Give the answer first: Don’t make people read three paragraphs before finding the main point. Put the answer at the top of the page, then explain more below it. AI tools can pick up short, clear answers more easily.
Track mentions, not rankings: Check whether your business name appears when people ask AI questions related to your industry. This is becoming an important way to measure GEO success.
Use simple website tags called schema: Schema is extra information added to your website that helps AI tools and Google understand what your business does, where it is, and what it offers. It may sound technical, but it simply means labelling your content clearly.
Check what AI is saying about you: Every few weeks, ask ChatGPT or Gemini questions about your business or industry. Check whether your brand is mentioned and whether the information is accurate. Regular monitoring helps you identify visibility issues early.
Write for beginners and experts: Some people ask simple questions, while others want detailed information. Provide a short, easy-to-understand answer at the top of the page, followed by more detailed information.
Be helpful, not just keyword-focused: AI tools are increasingly good at recognising genuinely useful content. Avoid stuffing pages with keywords just to rank higher, as this can make your content less useful and hurt its performance.
Make GEO a team effort: AI visibility depends on more than blog content. Your website, Google reviews, social media presence, and mentions on other websites can all influence how your brand is understood and mentioned by AI tools.
Where should you start?
- Ask ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity 10-15 real questions your customers might ask before buying from you. See if your business shows up.
- Fix your main pages — put the clear answer at the top.
- Add basic schema tags to your website (your web developer can help with this).
- Write simple, honest FAQs using the same words your customers actually use.
- Get your business mentioned on other trusted websites, reviews, and local directories.
- Check every few weeks to see if you’re still showing up in AI answers.
- Keep doing this again and again — it’s not a one-time task.
Good News for Smaller, Local Businesses
GEO is not just for large companies with big marketing budgets. AI tools prioritize clear, helpful, and trustworthy content over advertising spend.
A well-optimized page from a local Pune business can be mentioned by AI platforms even before larger national brands if those brands have outdated or less relevant content. Since many businesses are still unfamiliar with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), early adoption creates a strong opportunity to gain visibility and stay ahead of competitors.
Want help with this?
At Osumare, we help businesses with SEO, content, branding, and marketing — all together. GEO is simply the newest part of that same work — making sure your business shows up not just on Google, but inside AI answers too.
Not sure if your business shows up on ChatGPT or Gemini right now? We can check that together in a few minutes.
Get in touch with Osumare and let’s find out where you stand.