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GEO for 2026: Staying Visible as AI Search Becomes Normal

11 December 20255 min readBy Code Melodies Ltd
GEO for 2026: Staying Visible as AI Search Becomes Normal

A small-business guide to Generative Engine Optimisation alongside SEO.

The shift you can’t ignore

People in the UK are increasingly using generative AI tools alongside (and sometimes instead of) traditional search. Regulator reporting suggests AI services like ChatGPT saw huge year-on-year growth in UK usage through 2025.

At the same time, Google’s own 2025 search highlights put AI products such as Gemini at the centre of public curiosity.

For marketers, this adds a new layer on top of SEO: Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).

What GEO means

GEO is the practice of making your brand and content easy for AI systems to find, trust, and cite when they answer user questions.

Where GEO overlaps with classic SEO

Good news: you don’t have to throw your playbook away.

  • Clear site structure and metadata still help.
  • Fast, mobile-friendly pages still win.
  • High-quality, original content is still the foundation.

The difference is the shape of demand. Users are asking longer, more conversational questions.

Practical GEO moves for SMEs

  1. Write answer-first pages
    Start with a concise, plain-English answer, then expand.

  2. Publish real-world proof
    Case studies, pricing examples, and clear policies help AI models interpret you as a reliable source.

  3. Strengthen entity signals
    Use consistent brand naming, staff bios, locations, and “about” pages.

  4. Own your niche vocabulary
    Create glossaries for industry terms you want to be associated with.

Tip

If a customer asks it in your inbox, write a public page for it. That content is perfect fuel for both SEO and GEO.

Risks and guardrails

  • Traffic volatility: AI answers may reduce clicks to websites.
  • Attribution blur: citations are improving but still inconsistent.
  • Compliance: ensure claims, prices, and availability are kept updated.

The bottom line

GEO isn’t a replacement for SEO. It’s a new optimisation layer for a world where AI assistants are part of the discovery journey. If you start now with a handful of high-intent questions and trustworthy proof points, you’ll be ahead of most competitors in 2026.