GEO — Generative Engine Optimisation — is the practice of making your business visible to AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Claude. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on ranking in a list of blue links, GEO focuses on getting your brand cited, quoted, or recommended in AI-generated answers.
Why does GEO matter for Indian businesses?
More people are using AI tools to find services, compare vendors, and make purchasing decisions. If your business isn't showing up in these answers, you're invisible to a growing segment of potential customers. This is especially true for B2B companies and service businesses in India.
How is GEO different from SEO?
SEO optimises for search engines that show ranked lists. GEO optimises for AI models that generate answers. The key difference: AI models don't rank pages — they synthesise answers from multiple sources and cite the ones they trust. Your goal in GEO is to become one of those trusted sources.
What makes AI models cite a business?
Three things matter most: entity consistency (your business details are the same everywhere), original authoritative content (AI models prefer primary sources), and cross-source mentions (being mentioned on multiple reputable sites reinforces your entity to AI models).
How can an Indian SMB start with GEO today?
Start with five steps: write a consistent one-sentence description of your business and use it everywhere, add JSON-LD schema markup to your website, publish 3-5 definitive guides on topics in your industry, get listed on Indian business directories (Sulekha, Justdial, IndiaMART), and create a LinkedIn company page with consistent branding.
Is GEO worth it for small businesses?
Yes. GEO is free — it's about how you structure and publish your content, not about paying for ads. And unlike paid ads, the effects compound over time. A well-written guide can be cited by AI models for months or years. For small businesses with limited budgets, this is one of the highest-ROI marketing activities available today.