GEO explained: how to get cited by ChatGPT and AI Overviews (2026)

The SEO landscape has fundamentally changed in one year. Where traditional search engine optimization revolved around a top-3 position in Google, **GEO SEO** — or Generative Engine Optimization — requires a completely different approach. AI Overviews now appear in more than 13% of all Google searches, nearly 60% of searches end without a click, and Gartner predicts a 25% decline in traditional search traffic by the end of 2026.

For Belgian SMEs this means: those not mentioned today in ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google's AI Overviews quietly disappear from their customers' purchasing process. In this article we explain what GEO exactly is, how it differs from classical SEO, and which 7 concrete tactics you can apply today to get your business cited by AI search engines.

What is GEO?

GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization and is the process of structuring your content so that AI models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and Claude cite your business as a source in their generated answers. Where SEO optimizes for a position in a list of blue links, GEO optimizes for inclusion in a synthesized AI answer. The goal is no longer clicks, but mentions.

The term was introduced in 2023 by researchers at Princeton and has grown into a separate discipline within digital marketing by 2026.

Why is GEO emerging now?

The shift is not subtle — it is structural. Three evolutions are converging:

Gartner predicts traditional search traffic will decline 25% by end of 2026. Businesses that wait lose visibility at the exact moment customers are building their shortlist.

How does GEO differ from classical SEO?

Classical SEO and GEO share a foundation — technical hygiene, authority, quality content — but optimize for fundamentally different outcomes.

An important nuance: research by Brandlight shows the overlap between top Google results and AI-cited sources has dropped from 70% to less than 20%. Ranking well in Google is therefore no longer a guarantee that you appear in ChatGPT.

How do AI search engines work?

To understand why GEO works, you need to know how LLMs retrieve information.

Query fan-out

When someone asks ChatGPT "Which marketing agencies in Belgium connect webshops to ERP?", the model splits that question into multiple sub-queries. These are searched separately and combined into one answer. This is called **query fan-out**.

// Simplified AI search flow
const userQuery = "Best marketing agencies Belgium webshop ERP";

const subQueries = [
  "marketing agencies Belgium",
  "webshop ERP integration",
  "digital agencies Flanders"
];

const sources = await Promise.all(subQueries.map(fetchSources));
const answer = synthesize(sources);

The English bias

For Belgian businesses there is an additional pitfall: in 78% of non-English-language searches, ChatGPT runs at least one sub-query in English. Nearly half of all research happens in English, even when the user types in Dutch. The result: global players get priority over local experts.

How do I get into ChatGPT answers?

Here are 7 concrete tactics that IntrICT applies itself and that have proven impact on AI citations.

1. Direct answers in short paragraphs

LLMs extract paragraphs of 40 to 60 words that fully answer a question. Structure each section this way: a short definition paragraph directly after the H2, followed by depth. Princeton research shows this approach increases AI visibility by 30–40%.

2. H2s as natural questions

Rewrite your headings to question form. "Overview of GEO" scores less than "What is GEO?". AI systems match headings directly to user prompts. Use formulations like "What does a website cost in Belgium?", "How does X work?", "When do you choose Y?".

3. Strengthen E-E-A-T signals

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness — the pillars that both Google and LLMs use to weigh sources. Add to every relevant page:

4. Implement schema markup

Structured data makes your content machine-readable. Minimum required:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "GEO explained",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Jonas Van Twembeke",
    "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/VanTwembeke"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "IntrICT"
  },
  "datePublished": "2026-04-20"
}

Supplement with FAQPage schema for your frequently asked questions and Organization schema for your business info.

5. Publish unique proprietary data

Generic "10 tips" content is rarely cited. Your own data is. Publish:

Statements like "our audit showed an average LCP of 3.2s for Belgian WordPress sites" are citation magnets.

6. Mentions on Reddit, LinkedIn, and forums

This is where most GEO advice stops — and where real gains are. LLMs draw up to 65% of their authority signals from third-party sources. Reddit appears in 5.5% of all AI Overviews. Concrete actions:

7. Build author authority

AI models trust people, not just brands. Build a consistent digital footprint around your key authors: LinkedIn profile, personal bio page, guest blogs, podcast interviews. Make sure the author on every blog post is linked to a person profile with schema markup.

Why does GEO work for SMEs?

GEO rewards clarity, specialism, and regional expertise — exactly where Belgian SMEs excel. A law firm in Bruges has a greater chance of being mentioned by ChatGPT as "specialist in inheritance law West Flanders" than a generic national firm, provided that specialism is consistently and citably present online.

Large players are slow to adapt their content. This is the moment when agile SMEs can reclaim visibility before saturation sets in.

Common GEO mistakes

Within GEO we see the same pitfalls recurring:

How do you measure GEO performance?

Classical analytics are blind to AI mentions. Build a simple measurement system:

FAQ

Does GEO replace classical SEO?

No. GEO builds on SEO foundations. Strong technical SEO, backlinks, and authority increase the chance of AI citations. GEO is an additional layer, not a replacement.

How long does it take for GEO to produce results?

First mentions can appear within 30–60 days, but a stable presence in AI answers typically requires 3–6 months of consistent work.

Should I publish English-language content?

For Belgian businesses this is smart. By offering key pages bilingually, you avoid ChatGPT's English bias pushing you out of local answers.

Which tools help with GEO?

Geoptie, Profound, LLMrefs, and Otterly.ai are the most widely used tools in 2026 for citation tracking. For content optimization, Ahrefs and Semrush remain relevant.

Is GEO only for large companies?

On the contrary. SMEs with clear niche expertise often have a greater chance of being cited than large generic players, because AI models reward specificity.

How often should I update content?

At least every 3 months for cornerstone content. 50% of the content AI models cite is less than 13 weeks old — recency has become a hard ranking signal.

Conclusion

GEO is not hype, but a structural shift in how people find information and make decisions. Businesses that invest today in citable content, author authority, and external signals are building tomorrow's visibility.

The fundamentals are simple: write as if you are answering questions, make your content machine-readable, build evidence with data and cases, and ensure your brand consistently appears in places where LLMs learn.

Want to know where your business stands today in AI search engines? IntrICT performs GEO audits for Belgian SMEs, with concrete actions based on where your brand does — or does not — appear in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Get in touch for a free introductory conversation, and discover how we build your visibility in the AI era together.