TL;DR: Prepare for the Shift from SEO to GEO by 2026
Traditional SEO is evolving into Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), prioritizing content that AI systems trust and frequently reference. GEO requires authenticity, multimodal content (text, video, images), and strong reputation management to excel in AI visibility.
- Avoid keyword stuffing, focus on tutorials, reviews, and expert-backed articles.
- Monitor your brand mentions in AI references using tools like Lasso‑UP.
- Engage on platforms such as Reddit or Quora for credible, authentic discussions.
- Train your team to create AI-friendly, multimodal, citation-worthy content.
Success requires continuous testing, tracking, and refinement. Don't miss the shift, read more about GEO basics to stay ahead.
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How to Rank in AI Overviews: What Actually Works (Based on Data, Not Speculation)
Search engine optimization (SEO) has long been a go-to strategy for entrepreneurs aiming to push visibility, bring traffic to websites, and craft long-term content strategies. But as we step into 2026, the paradigm is shifting rapidly towards Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). SEO is no longer enough; AI-driven engines demand new thinking. Violetta Bonenkamp, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Fe/male Switch, believes this evolution is critical for startup founders, particularly those operating at the intersection of tech and education. If you’ve been investing in SEO, you’re likely already on the right track for GEO, just not all the way yet.
How is GEO different from traditional SEO?
SEO once revolved around keywords, backlinks, and optimization tweaks. GEO, on the other hand, focuses on the relationship between generative AI systems , like Google Gemini, OpenAI, and Claude , and your content’s visibility. For startups, the shift means adopting strategies that prioritize authenticity, shareability, and multimodal content. Lily Ray, VP of SEO Strategy at Amsive and an authoritative voice on search engine trends, argues that GEO will amplify practices founded on EEAT principles (expertise, experience, authoritativeness, trustworthiness). According to Ray, what AI engines trust and cite is key. If your content is absent, your visibility is effectively erased.
What are the key factors driving GEO adoption?
- AI Overviews dominating SERPs: Google and other search engines now satisfy user queries directly, reducing click-through rates for traditional organic search results.
- Multimodal content: Video, imagery, and interactive content are essential since AI engines reference these formats heavily.
- Reputation management: AI increasingly cites third-party mentions over direct self-promotional content, making forums and user-generated content crucial.
- Algorithmic preferences shifting: AI prioritizes demonstrative expertise, such as firsthand reviews, original tests, and procedure videos.
How startup founders can embrace GEO
Violetta Bonenkamp actively uses game-based education to transform complex challenges into actionable tasks. For GEO, much of the success mirrors tactics she employs in Fe/male Switch: experiential learning, structured experimentation, and low-risk trials for building visible authority. Entrepreneurs who aim to future-proof their ventures must focus efforts on diversified approaches and a transformation of their measurement systems. Here’s how:
- Invest in meaningful content: Create original tutorials, thorough reviews, and detailed case studies. Showing expertise trumps keyword stuffing.
- Track AI traffic sources: Revamp analytics tools to monitor if your brand is cited in AI-generated content or referenced in search-derived conversations.
- Participate authentically in conversations: Platforms such as Reddit and Quora are cited by AI systems. Brands that contribute genuinely gain credibility.
- Master multimodal storytelling: Combine text, images, infographics, and video for comprehensive visibility.
- Educate your team: GEO begins internally, your content creators must understand how AI reads and ranks content.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Blanket blocking of AI crawlers: Some news sites block AI crawlers out of fear of content exploitation. The downside? Losing visibility in AI-powered search results.
- Over-reliance on automation: Automatically cranking out keyword-heavy posts without ensuring authority can result in penalties or weak performance.
- Misunderstanding EEAT: Emphasizing volume over quality often fails to meet AI visibility standards.
- Poor reputation management: Ignoring forums or shirking digital PR can erode your presence in AI-generated answers.
Building a GEO-focused strategy
Bonenkamp’s entrepreneurial framework emphasizes actionable experimentation, a perfect fit for navigating GEO. Here’s a concise model for implementing a GEO-oriented strategy at your startup:
- Audit your existing SEO strategy: Identify weaknesses aligned with GEO principles, such as lack of multimodal content or insufficient reputation presence.
- Map out contribution hubs: Understand where AI derives third-party source value. Participate effectively in forums, YouTube conversations, or high-authority reviews.
- Design AI-friendly metadata: Structuring metadata explicitly for AI understanding, clear citations and labeled multimedia content, is essential for widespread visibility.
- Experiment progressively: Focus small resources on GEO-friendly content styles before expanding investments.
- Track and iterate: Treat GEO as dynamic. Use analytics and audience feedback loops to measure your outcomes and refine continuously.
Final thoughts
As AI-driven engines redefine search, startup founders stand at a crossroads. GEO isn’t just a trend, it’s survival in 2026’s content wars. Entrepreneurs who embrace structured experimentation, authenticity, and community-based learning will thrive while late adopters risk irrelevance. Lily Ray’s AMA illuminates these principles, while Violetta Bonenkamp’s philosophy empowers systematic action. The takeaway? Go beyond the basics. Whether you run scrappy experiments, redefine your company’s analytic model, or start positioning your brand as an AI-citable authority, GEO strategies are within reach. Take action now.
Next steps for founders
- Reassess your SEO goals: Don’t chase traffic numbers alone, prioritize visibility where AI systems reference value.
- Optimize platforms for GEO: Invest in forums, social channels, and multimodal platforms heavily cited by AI engines.
- Upgrade team literacy: Train employees to understand generative engine algorithms and citation frameworks.
- Test, track, and revise: Implement Violetta Bonenkamp’s approach to low-risk, high-impact experimentation in content strategies.
- Stay informed: Continuous learning is critical. Follow leaders such as Lily Ray on platforms like Moz for expert GEO insights.
FAQ: Transitioning from SEO to GEO in 2026
What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) optimizes content for AI-driven platforms like OpenAI or Google Gemini, ensuring visibility in AI-generated answers and summaries. It builds on SEO principles, focusing on expertise, multimodal content, and reputation. Learn how to master GEO techniques.
How does GEO differ from traditional SEO?
While traditional SEO centers on keywords, backlinks, and technical optimization, GEO emphasizes authentic and shareable content, multimodal formats, and AI trust. GEO aligns SEO with AI-generated answers, ensuring AI engines recognize and cite your brand. Explore the SEO to GEO transition.
Why do startups need to adapt GEO strategies?
Startups must embrace GEO for visibility in AI-powered search systems where traditional organic clicks decline. Investing in genuine expertise, reputation management, and multimodal assets safeguards digital presence. Discover why GEO is crucial for startups' success.
What role does authenticity play in GEO?
Authentic content, like firsthand reviews, case studies, and hands-on tutorials, boosts AI-driven trust and visibility. AI systems weight authoritative, credible content over keyword-heavy pages. Check out tips for creating AI-friendly content.
How can startups leverage multimodal content for GEO?
AI prioritizes multimodal content, text, videos, infographics, and images, for visibility. Combining these formats improves audience engagement and search presence. Learn how startups can master multimodal storytelling.
What are some effective tools for tracking GEO success?
Tools like revamped Google Analytics and Lasso-UP help track visibility across AI and search engines. Monitoring brand mentions and AI-generated citations is vital for refining GEO strategies. Discover tools for tracking AI-driven traffic.
Should companies block AI crawlers for content protection?
Blocking AI crawlers prevents unauthorized use of content but drastically reduces AI-generated search visibility. Evaluate this decision carefully to balance content security and online impact. Find out why visibility matters in today's AI ecosystem.
What common mistakes should startups avoid with GEO?
Avoid over-reliance on automation, blanketing AI crawlers with restrictions, and prioritizing content volume over quality. Poor reputation management risks eroding trust. Correct these mistakes early. Learn from industry common pitfalls with GEO.
How does EEAT influence GEO success?
Google and AI systems prioritize expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness (EEAT). Businesses showcasing authentic knowledge and credibility see better results. Explore how EEAT impacts your strategies.
How can startups adopt a GEO-focused approach?
Startups can implement a GEO-focused approach by auditing SEO strategies, investing in original content, participating in community forums like Reddit, and optimizing metadata. Regular experimentation keeps strategies aligned. Master actionable GEO strategies for startups.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
