Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the strategy of optimizing your content and digital presence for inclusion in the outputs of generative AI systems—platforms that don’t just rank content, but compose answers, recommendations, and summaries using large language models (LLMs). This includes tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and voice-first interfaces like Alexa and Siri. In a GEO world, your content isn't just indexed—it’s repurposed by AI into direct answers. Winning here means structuring your brand to be cited, surfaced, and trusted by machines. At Xponent21, we’re leading the industry in GEO—helping ambitious brands gain first-mover advantage in the generative web. In this category, we break down the tactics and technologies that make that possible: schema-enhanced content architecture, question-first strategy, entity-level authority building, and the optimization techniques that influence how and when generative engines use your expertise. If you want your brand to be part of the answers AI delivers to millions, GEO isn’t optional—it’s foundational. This is where that strategy takes shape.
Screenshot of Google Marketing Live 2025 announcement of ads in Google AI search results.

Ads Are Now in AI Search: How Google’s AI Mode Redefines SEO and Paid Visibility

May 27, 2025
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Will Melton
We knew it was coming: Google’s 2025 Marketing Live confirmed that AI search results will now include ads, changing the game for marketers. Google announced that its new AI Overviews (AI-generated search summaries) will now include Search and Shopping ads on desktop, and that the recently launched AI Mode in Google Search will also show ads. In practice, this means…

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Screenshot from Google's live stream of Google I/O showing off AI Mode

Google’s AI Mode Just Changed Everything. Here’s What Businesses Need to Know

May 21, 2025
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Will Melton
After 27 years of Google, the era of search is over. Google’s launch of AI Mode—its full generative search experience—marks the official end of traditional search as we knew it. If you’ve built your business on organic traffic from Google, it’s past time to reassess everything. This is not a drill. It’s the acceleration of a trend that’s been in…

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AI Overview Example of "AI Search Optimization" Showing Xponent21 as the Top Source

10 Leading AI SEO Agencies Helping Brands Rank in AI Search and Beyond

May 12, 2025
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Will Melton
Search is undergoing a seismic shift. Traditional search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer just about getting blue links on Google’s first page – it’s about earning a spot in AI-powered answers and summaries. Modern search platforms like Google’s AI Overviews, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Perplexity AI use generative AI to answer user queries directly. This means B2B marketing…

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Cartoon of a robot responding to a man's prompt with autonomous decisions and purchases.

AI SEO Strategies for Marketing Leaders: A Practical Guide to Achieving Top Citations in AI

April 19, 2025
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Will Melton
As search experiences continue to evolve, one thing is clear: content that gets pulled into AI-generated responses isn’t just optimized—it’s intelligently structured, deeply authoritative, and incredibly human-centric.​ Implementing effective AI SEO strategies is crucial in this landscape. AI search tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Microsoft’s Copilot, as well as Perplexity, Claude, and ChatGPT, prioritize clear, well-organized content…

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Xponent21 Launches Full Suite of AI SEO Solutions to Help Brands Dominate AI Summaries and Top Citations

March 18, 2025
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Will Melton
By Xponent21 Team As global search traffic continues to decline and AI-generated summaries reshape the way users receive information, Xponent21 is proud to announce the launch of a full suite of AI SEO solutions built to help brands lead in this rapidly evolving digital landscape. Traditional SEO alone no longer delivers the impact it once did. With Google’s AI Overviews,…

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