Reddit’s discussion on SEO vs GEO shows that Generative Engine Optimisation extends, rather than replaces, traditional SEO. GEO focuses on clear, structured, and authoritative content that AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity can cite. It builds on SEO foundations to improve visibility within generative search and AI-driven discovery.
Reddit has become the frontline for new marketing debates. It’s where practitioners test emerging ideas before they’re formalised in whitepapers or webinars. Over the past year, the platform has seen growing conversation around GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) – the idea that marketers can influence how AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity retrieve and cite information.
To understand where the industry really stands, we reviewed threads across r/SEO, r/digital_marketing, r/content_marketing, and r/bigseo. The conversations are revealing: some see GEO as the natural successor to SEO, others as a buzzword in disguise. Below, we unpack the main schools of thought – and where we land at Seventh Element.
1. The “GEO is the new SEO” camp
What Reddit is saying?
From SEO vs GEO – I may have cracked a way to rank on AI (r/content_marketing):
“SEO optimized for algorithms. GEO optimizes for intelligence. While everyone else is still playing the old backlink game, smart marketers are building comprehensive content libraries and generating brand buzz across the web.”
From GEO is the new SEO (r/Startup_Ideas):
“GEO requires clear content – easy to read and trustworthy. You can also use schema markups to help AI interpret your content more accurately. Even better: conversational content like FAQs or responses are more likely to be included in AI search engine tools.”
Seventh Element’s take on this:
There’s genuine excitement around GEO, and not without reason. The shift to generative search has opened new territory for visibility, where LLMs cite brands and surface content without traditional ranking. But the “GEO replaces SEO” narrative oversimplifies things. In reality, strong GEO performance depends on solid SEO foundations – technical structure, crawlability, and authority still power every LLM’s training and retrieval layer. GEO builds on SEO, it doesn’t replace it.
2. The “It’s just SEO best practice repackaged” camp
What Reddit is saying?
From I’ve been hearing a lot about Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) (r/digital_marketing):
“It’s still hard to get mentioned by AIs if you don’t rank in the top 10 on Google. So yes, traditional SEO still matters. But GEO isn’t just SEO 2.0 – it’s a new paradigm. Mentions seem more important than backlinks. Click-through rates don’t matter, visibility inside the answer is what counts.”
In How does AIO / GEO actually differ from SEO? (r/SEO):
“The biggest difference is mainly brand mentions and citations. Regular SEO leans more heavily on links where GEO leans more heavily on brand mentions and semantic relationships.”
Seventh Element’s take on this:
This argument misses the nuance. GEO isn’t reinventing the wheel – it’s realigning the wheel to face a new direction. Schema, E-E-A-T, content clarity, and structured data are all old friends. The difference is where they show up: not just in Google’s SERPs, but in how AI tools interpret and repeat your information. GEO reframes SEO principles around visibility in AI responses, which changes how we prioritise structure, source authority, and brand mentions.
3. The sceptics calling it hype or marketing spin
What Reddit is saying?
From Is generative engine optimisation (GEO) really a thing? (r/SEO):
“My boss asked me to do generative engine optimization (GEO)… From what I’ve researched, it seems to overlap heavily with traditional SEO principles, yet there’s this growing narrative that GEO is somehow different or ‘the future of search.’”
From Is GEO much more effective than SEO? (r/bigseo):
“If GEO was truly distinct, we’d see data showing it improves visibility outside Google SERPs. So far, most claims are anecdotal.”
Seventh Element’s take on this:
Healthy scepticism is justified. There are agencies and tool vendors rushing to trademark or sell “GEO frameworks” without real evidence of uplift. But that doesn’t invalidate the discipline itself. Early adopters who treat GEO as an R&D layer – testing content against LLM outputs, tracking assistant citations, and adapting tone for AI readability – are already gaining first-mover insight. GEO shouldn’t be sold as a product; it should be developed as a practice.
4. The “SEO + AI = hybrid optimisation” realists
What Reddit is saying?
From Should I do SEO or GEO? (r/DigitalMarketing):
“Both you should continue. If your goal is global reach, focus on SEO – and GEO for AI-driven visibility.”
From GEO vs AEO vs AI – Which one is shaping the real future? (r/seogrowth):
“SEO gives you rankings. AEO gives you snippets. GEO gives you citations in AI. The best strategy is to do all three.”
Seventh Element’s take on this:
This is the most grounded position. GEO is SEO evolving to match the new retrieval landscape. Optimising for both search and generative engines is like designing for desktop and mobile simultaneously – same content, different interfaces. In this view, GEO is the bridge between algorithmic and generative visibility, helping brands maintain discoverability as user behaviour shifts from searching to asking.
5. The practical tacticians
What Reddit is saying?
From Generative Engine Optimization: Legit strategy or short-lived hack? (r/GrowthHacking):
“We ran a small test adding expert quotes and inline citations to our top content – citations in ChatGPT answers went up by about 30 %. The content also performed better on Google.”
From How does AIO / GEO actually differ from SEO?:
“You’re not writing for ChatGPT, you’re writing through it. Make your content the thing it references.”
Seventh Element’s take on this:
This is where Reddit gets interesting. Practitioners share concrete tactics: Q&A content blocks, FAQ schema, expert quotes, readability optimisation, internal citations, and brand-name clarity. These aren’t radical – they’re adaptive. It’s the same content mechanics tuned for AI parsing. As one Redditor put it, “you’re not writing for ChatGPT, you’re writing through it” – ensuring your content remains the source when AI tools explain your topic to others.
6. The future-facing perspective
What Reddit is saying?
From GEO is the new SEO (r/Startup_Ideas):
“GEO isn’t a replacement for SEO, it’s its evolution. Brands that adapt early will dominate AI search, the same way those who learned SEO early dominated Google.”
Seventh Element’s take on this:
Reddit’s debate shows the industry’s transition point. SEO will remain foundational, but GEO will increasingly define competitive differentiation – particularly in sectors where authority and trust shape user intent (B2B, healthcare, education, finance). The future isn’t “SEO vs GEO.” It’s SEO for Google, GEO for Generative AI. The brands that master both will own the new search frontier.
Conclusion: The new visibility equation
Reddit’s conversations reveal both the hype and the opportunity around GEO. While definitions vary, the underlying theme is clear: visibility is evolving beyond clicks and rankings. Being cited by AI tools is becoming just as important as being ranked on Google.
At Seventh Element, we see GEO as an evolution – not a replacement. It’s SEO extended into the generative layer of search. Brands that continue to prioritise clarity, authority, and evidence-based content will be the ones AI trusts enough to quote.
Top 5 Takeaways We Agree With
- GEO depends on strong SEO foundations. Technical precision and topical authority still drive visibility, both in Google and AI.
- Citations are the new backlinks. Generative engines reward credible, referenced sources over traditional link structures.
- Content clarity and structure win. Well-formatted Q&A blocks, schema markup, and human-readable tone make your brand easier for AI to reuse.
- Tracking will stay messy – for now. Monitor citations, brand mentions, and AI responses manually or through emerging tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT’s reference panels.
- The future is hybrid. SEO, AEO, and GEO must work together. Optimising for both search engines and generative systems ensures visibility across every user journey – whether they’re searching or asking.
FAQs
What is Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)?
GEO is the process of improving how AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity find, interpret, and cite your content. It builds on SEO with structured data, clarity, and credibility signals.
Does GEO replace SEO?
No. GEO extends SEO into generative search. Strong technical SEO, authority, and content quality remain essential for AI visibility.
How does GEO improve visibility in AI tools?
By using clear, structured, and evidence-based content. Schema markup, FAQs, expert quotes, and brand mentions help AI tools interpret and cite your content more accurately.
How can you measure GEO performance?
Tracking GEO is still evolving. You can monitor brand mentions, citations, and entity visibility across AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Copilot.
What’s the difference between GEO, SEO, and AEO?
SEO optimises for Google rankings, AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) focuses on featured snippets, and GEO targets visibility within AI-generated answers. Together, they form a complete search and generative optimisation strategy.
