Being excellent at Google — the thing everyone has optimized for over the last two decades — does not guarantee you a seat at the AI table. They are judging different things.

If you own a business, you've probably heard the term "SEO" a thousand times. Lately you may also be hearing a new one: "GEO." They sound like the same thing. They're not — and understanding the difference in about two minutes could save you a lot of money and confusion.

Here's what's happening. Instead of searching and scrolling, more people now just ask. They open ChatGPT, Google's AI, or Perplexity and type something like, "What's the best waterproof jacket for cold, wet weather?" And instead of ten links, they get an answer: two or three specific recommendations, in a confident paragraph, with the businesses named right there.

Here's what's happening. Instead of searching and scrolling, more people now just ask. They open ChatGPT, Google's AI, or Perplexity and type something like, "What's the best waterproof jacket for cold, wet weather?" And instead of ten links, they get an answer: two or three specific recommendations, in a confident paragraph, with the businesses named right there.