Search Engine Land has published a new guide, ‘How to optimize content for AI search engines: A step-by-step guide’.

The SEL team says, “Researchers at Princeton University introduced the term in late 2023. Since then, GEO has emerged as one of the most important new disciplines in digital marketing.

Here’s how AI search engines differ from traditional search:

The stakes are higher. LLMs cite just 2–7 domains per response on average, far fewer than the 10 blue links in traditional search. Competition for AI visibility is fierce, but the upside is significant.

Traditional SEO focuses on ranking content on a results page. Success is measured by position and click-through rate.

AI content optimization focuses on becoming the source AI systems cite when generating answers. Citation authority replaces backlinks, and visibility score matters more than rank.

It’s no longer about click-through rates. It’s about reference rates — how often AI models cite your brand or content.”

How to optimize content for AI search engines: A step-by-step guide

Search Engine Land