Search is no longer a list. It’s a single answer. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) ensures that answer names you—with facts that AI systems can parse, verify, and cite.

If SEO gets you seen, GEO gets you said.

The Shift

  • AI answers first — Assistants synthesize one response, then list links.
  • Facts over fluff — Fees, modules, dates, outcomes: state them cleanly.
  • Entities matter — Make your institution legible to knowledge graphs.

What Most Institutions Miss

  • Pages optimized for keywords, not questions.
  • Unstructured facts (no tables, no schema, no canonical claims).
  • Scattered profiles: inconsistent names, addresses, and leadership details.

The Six-Pillar Playbook

  1. Technical — Clean HTML, fast load, JSON‑LD for Organization, Course, FAQPage.
  2. Multi‑Platform — Consistent profiles across Google/Bing/Apple/Maps/directories.
  3. AI‑Native Content — Answer‑first pages; extractable tables; precise claims.
  4. Authority — Third‑party corroboration, awards, media, and research citations.
  5. UX — Mobile‑first structure, internal links, friction‑free conversion.
  6. Monitoring — Prompt bench, “Answer Share of Voice,” competitive gap fixes.

Quick Wins (This Month)

  • Convert program pages into answer sheets: fees, modules, dates, admission gates.
  • Add schema (FAQPage, Course, Organization) and a canonical “About” block.
  • Normalize NAP and leadership facts across Maps/directories.

Metrics That Matter

  • Answer Share of Voice across prompts and assistants.
  • Assistant citations (named mentions, linked facts).
  • Qualified enquiries referencing AI results.

Deep Dive

Explore the broader discovery playbook: The New Discovery Engine: 50 Levers to Dominate the AI Era.

Last updated: September 10, 2025