SEO — search engine optimization — was about earning a good spot on a results page. GEO, generative engine optimization, is about earning a mention in an AI-generated answer. Same goal (get found), different surface (an answer, not a list).
Why it's a separate idea
A Google results page can show ten businesses. An AI answer usually names two or three and moves on. So the margin for error is smaller: on Google you might be result #8 and still get clicks; in an AI answer, if you're not in the short list, you're invisible.
What GEO looks like for a local business
- Keep your reviews recent and specific, on the sites AI reads.
- Make sure your listings agree on your name, address, hours, and services.
- Get mentioned in local roundups and directories for your trade and city.
- Answer the exact questions buyers ask, in plain words, on your own pages.
The difference that matters
Most of GEO is good-business hygiene you already half-do. The new part is measurement: you can't improve what you can't see, and until recently there was no way to see what AI actually said about you. Now there is.
See where you stand
TownCheck asks ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity the questions your customers ask — every week — and shows you your score, who's being recommended instead, and what to fix. A one-time checkup is $14.99.