GEO vs SEO: what really changes when users talk to an LLM

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is becoming the buzzword of 2026. Many treat it as 'SEO with a new name'. Wrong.

SEO optimizes for an engine that returns a list of blue links. GEO optimizes for an engine that generates a synthetic answer and (sometimes) cites sources. The funnel changes: there's no click anymore, there's the citation.

What we're measuring across 14 projects: presence in generated summaries (share of answer), citation accuracy, conversion assisted by LLM mentions. They're new metrics, with still-immature tools.

What works: dense, well-structured content, primary data (surveys, benchmarks), rigorous schema.org markup, brand mentions on sources LLMs scrape (Reddit, Wikipedia, vertical outlets).

What no longer works: keyword stuffing, generic content rewritten en masse, sloppy link building. LLMs filter noise better than Google.