In summary: SEO puts you on the map; GEO puts you in the answer.

And for brands, it’s a major opportunity to build a conversational presence: When a user asks an AI engine “Which brand offers the best sustainable products?”, the answer comes from content already available online — ideally yours.

Why Combining Both is Non-Negotiable

SEO alone: You may be visible, but not cited by AI search engines.

GEO alone: You may get occasional mentions, but without SEO foundations, you lack credibility and traffic.

Together: You cover both traditional search + AI search. This maximizes your chances of being found and cited.

Example: A service business in Vancouver might get solid SEO traffic but never appear in AI-generated local recommendations — causing it to miss “immediate-intent” searches.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are a few mistakes we listed in our previous article — and how they apply here:

Mistake: Focusing only on your website without considering how AI engines read it.

→ Without clear structure, FAQs, or schema markup, your content isn’t machine-readable — meaning it’s rarely selected as an “answer-ready” source.

Mistake: Ignoring customer reviews.

→ For SEO, reviews affect trust and authority. For GEO, they strengthen your E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust), which AI tools rely on.

Mistake: Generic content without localization.

→ Do you use “service + city”? Is it actually visible in your content? Can AI tools detect it?

Practical Guide – How to Improve Your SEO & SEO Starting Now

Here is a concrete action plan you can apply immediately.

Step 1: Optimize Your Local Presence (GEO + SEO)

• Complete your Google Business Profile (name, address, phone, hours, service descriptions including “service + city”).
• Add recent photos and encourage customer reviews — and respond to them.
• Create “service + city” pages on your site (e.g., “IT Support in Port Coquitlam”).
• Use local keywords in your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.

Step 2: Produce “AI-Ready” Content (GEO)

• Create FAQ-style articles with natural questions:
• “How do I choose an SEO expert in Québec?”
• “What makes a good LinkedIn service for small businesses in Vancouver?”
• Structure your content: clear title (H1), subtitles (H2/H3), bullet points, tables. AI engines read this better.
• Add structured data: FAQPage, HowTo, LocalBusiness — this helps AI interpret your content.
• Recommended frequency: publish 1 localized long-form article per month; refresh older ones every 3 months.
• Expand your presence across channels (socials, forums, partnerships); AI tools evaluate external signals too.

Step 3: Strengthen Your Technical and Content SEO

• Ensure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, secure (HTTPS), and well internally linked.
• Perform keyword research: include both general and local keywords (“LinkedIn marketing”, “LinkedIn marketing Montréal”).
• Produce high-quality content with meaningful depth; secure backlinks from reputable sites.
• Track metrics: ranking, traffic, conversion rate — and for GEO, brand mentions/citations in AI outputs.

Step 4: Measure and Adjust

• For SEO: Monitor Google Search Console, analytics, keyword ranking.
• For GEO: Check where your brand is cited within AI responses. Track your visibility in Google’s AI Overviews or any AI-powered snippets.
• Update your strategy every 3–6 months based on data.

For product-based brands:

• Optimize your “Where to Find Us” page and local product listings (Google Merchant, Local Pack inclusion).
• Publish articles or FAQs about your ingredients, sourcing, or sustainability — AI engines reuse this data in responses.
• Encourage media mentions, partnerships, and backlinks — domain authority influences how AI models trust your content.

Content Frequency & Types