Generative Engine Optimization framework introduced in new research

A recent research study found that including pertinent quotes, figures, and citations can increase content visibility in generative engines by as much as 40%.

This discovery is the result of a study called Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO. Researchers from Princeton, Georgia Tech, IIT Delhi, and The Allen Institute of AI wrote it.

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

In the study, GEO is defined as:

"A new paradigm that uses a black-box optimization methodology to optimize and define visibility criteria to help content authors make their content more visible in Generative Engine responses. We introduce GEO-bench, a benchmark of various user questions spanning several domains, along with the sources needed to answer these inquiries, to permit systematic evaluation in this new paradigm.

Tested techniques. Over 10,000 search queries on something that "closely resembles the design of BingChat" were used to evaluate nine optimization strategies:

1. Authoritative: The content was changed to make authoritative statements in a more compelling way.
2. Keyword Stuffing: More keywords were added to match the query.
3. Statistics Addition: Quantitative statistics were added, instead of qualitative discussion.
4. Cite Sources: Relevant citations were added.
5. Quotation Addition: Quotations from credible sources were added.
6.  Simplified the language.
7. Fluency Optimization: Improved the fluency.
8. Unique Words: Added to content wherever possible.
9. Technical Terms: Added to content wherever possible.

The collection of search query data came from Perplexity, Microsoft Bing, and Google.GPT-4, AI Discover, and additional sources.

Topic-specific optimization. The report said:

"In general, our data indicates that domain-specific focused website modifications should be the aim of website owners seeking increased visibility.”

 Citations, for instance, boosted the display of Facts, while Authoritative improvements enhanced the efficiency of Debate and History.

To be clear, the term "domains" in this study refers more to general categories than to specific web domain names. This would also apply to SEO, where niche optimizations for payday loans and healthcare would differ.

The following "domains" are mentioned in the paper:

• Business
• Debate
• Explanation
• Facts
• History
• Opinion
• People & Society
• Law & Government
• Science
• Statement

Leveling the playing field? The researchers found that smaller websites that appear lower in SERPsAlthough this study is interesting to read, the results are not from the actual world (the researchers used Perplexity, which is not Google, to test a subset of the results). Adhering to the paper's structure does not imply achievement or increased exposure in Google's AI endeavors. But testing is highly recommended. could benefit from GEO.

It's interesting to note that websites with lower SERP rankings, which often have difficulty becoming visible, receive far more from GEO than do pages with higher rankings. For example, websites ranked fifth in SERP saw a significant 115.1% boost in visibility thanks to the Cite Sources approach, whilst the top-ranked page saw an average loss in visibility of 30.3%.

Why we care. It's critical to experiment and discover what makes information visible now that Bing Copilot (previously Bing Chat), Google's Search Generative Experience, and other AI-powered search engines have surfaced. For what works in SEO may not necessarily work in the emerging field of GEO.

But. Although this study is interesting to read, the results are not from the actual world (the researchers used Perplexity, which is not Google, to test a subset of the results). Adhering to the paper's structure does not imply achievement or increased exposure in Google's AI endeavors. But testing is highly recommended.

Thanks for reading my article, hope u gained something new about GEO.