Google Answers If Some Sites Can Ignore GEO And Just Focus On SEO via @sejournal, @martinibuster

Google’s John Mueller answered a question about industries in which Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) does not matter. His answer showed what it looks like from Google’s point of view.

Generative Engine Optimization And SEO

Businesses have been demanding solutions for ranking in AI-based search and if people are lining up with cash in hand to buy something people are going to sell them what they’re asking for.

Consultants focused on AI search optimization have popped up while established SEOs have reluctantly began offering those services while also affirming that it’s just SEO.

Most SEO plugins now offer the ability to generate LLMs.txt, a file that points LLMs to LLM-optimized markdown content, which no search engine or AI chat actually uses… But the customer is always right.

Industries Where GEO Doesn’t Matter?

Bluesky member @galloni.net asked:

“@johnmu.com, are there industries where GEO simply doesn’t matter yet? I’m thinking about sectors like adult, gambling or other areas where Google still seems to drive most discovery.”

Google’s Mueller answered that from Google’s point of view there is nothing special that needs to be done for AI search.

Mueller responded:

“I’m not quite sure what you’re asking; from our POV there’s nothing really special you need to do for generative AI responses in search.”

Why Nothing Special?

Google’s AI search results derive directly from the crawled index. They pick from the top of the search results for a given query plus additional results for the query fan-outs, which are generally related searches, searches for additional information that a user would be interested in.

Because Google literally pulls AI search results from their regular search index, there is nothing special that businesses and publishers need to do to rank in it beyond regular SEO.

Featured Image by Shutterstock/Lana Leon

SEJ STAFF Roger Montti Owner - Martinibuster.com at Martinibuster.com

I have 25 years hands-on experience in SEO, evolving along with the search engines by keeping up with the latest ...