Marketing · Current· 3 min read

Do you need a separate GEO or AEO strategy to appear in Google’s AI results? Or should you keep improving the pages customers already need?

Here is what Google’s guidance changes, what it does not and where to start.

Keep SEO As Your Foundation

Google’s May 2026 guidance emphasises useful, original content and established SEO. Its AI features documentation says there are no extra technical requirements for AI Overviews or AI Mode.

Why This Matters

GEO and AEO are labels used for optimising visibility in generative or answer-based search. They can describe useful work, but the label alone does not tell you what your business needs.

Ask what will change on your website, why it helps customers and how the result will be assessed.

Three Myths, Three Useful Actions

“AI Search Replaces SEO”

Action: keep technical access and helpful content in scope. Google says a supporting page must be indexed and eligible for a search snippet; meeting those conditions does not guarantee inclusion.

“We Need Special AI Markup”

Action: fix relevant existing markup and ensure it matches visible information. Google does not require special AI files or schema for these features.

“More Generic Content Will Help”

Action: add information your business can substantiate. For a service page, that might mean a clear scope, real constraints and answers to customer questions, rather than another broad introduction.

What Has Changed In Reporting?

Google introduced dedicated generative-AI performance reports in June and says the rollout reached all websites on 31 August 2026. These show impressions and page visibility; an impression is not a sale.

• Impressions → visibility within the reported AI features.
• Pages → URLs that appeared, helping you choose what to investigate.

Check Your Most Useful Page

Choose a page that answers an important buying question. Tick each item after checking it; this is a working checklist, not an AI-ranking score.

Google Search Console is a free tool; you need access to your site’s property to inspect its data.

Know The Limits

This guidance concerns Google Search, not every AI platform. No checklist guarantees a citation, and visibility alone does not establish business value.

Make One Useful Improvement

Choose the weakest item, make one specific change and record the date. Review search visibility alongside enquiries or purchases before deciding what to do next.