SEOs Should Not Dismiss Geo for Being Low-Traffic

12/17/25
Source: moz (en-US). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Navigating the Emerging Landscape of GEO and AI-Driven SEO in 2025

The evolving practice of GEO (getting businesses to appear in large language model outputs) shares many tactics with traditional SEO but emphasizes new areas like off-site content strategy and brand authority. SEO professionals remain best suited to lead these efforts, which complement rather than replace classic SEO traffic channels. Optimizing for AI visibility focuses more on brand awareness and discovery than direct traffic, requiring nuanced strategies and careful measurement.

Optimixed’s Overview: Embracing the Shift—How GEO and AI Integration are Transforming SEO Strategies in 2025

Understanding the Intersection of GEO and Traditional SEO

The SEO industry is currently grappling with terminology and strategy evolution as the rise of AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini reshape digital marketing landscapes. While debates continue on what to name the practice of optimizing for AI-generated outputs—be it GEO, AI SEO, AEO, or just SEO—the reality is nuanced. GEO tactics largely overlap with traditional SEO methods but introduce fresh emphases, especially in off-site content influence and managing brand presence across authoritative third-party domains.

Key Differences and Opportunities in GEO

  • Off-site content strategy: Unlike traditional SEO’s focus on on-site factors, GEO demands active engagement with external publishers and content creators to ensure brand mentions and citations influence AI outputs.
  • Measurement and goals: GEO is less about driving direct traffic and more about securing brand visibility and thought leadership within AI conversations, akin to PR or brand advertising.
  • Technical considerations: Ensuring AI bots can crawl and understand content effectively is crucial, as many AI crawlers lack advanced JavaScript processing capabilities.

SEO’s Evolving Role in a Hybrid Search Environment

Despite some industry pessimism fueled by changes in search engine result pages and algorithms, SEO remains the dominant driver of web traffic. AI chat tools continue to source heavily from Google results, meaning traditional SEO fundamentals remain relevant and valuable. However, SEO professionals must broaden their scope to include AI visibility tactics without expecting GEO to fully replace classic SEO outcomes anytime soon.

Strategic Recommendations for Businesses

  • Audit AI visibility: Benchmark your current presence in AI-generated responses against competitors to identify gaps and opportunities.
  • Evaluate bot access: Decide which AI bots to allow or block based on your sector’s best practices and business goals.
  • Focus on brand authority: Cultivate relationships with authoritative domains and media to influence AI content references, similar to link-building but with a broader awareness objective.
  • Adapt measurement metrics: Recognize that AI optimization success may be measured by brand awareness and conversation presence rather than direct traffic or conversions.

In summary, the integration of GEO and AI into SEO strategies requires a mindset shift and tactical adjustments. By embracing these changes, SEO professionals can position their brands effectively within evolving digital ecosystems while maintaining strong foundational search visibility.