The New AI Search Game: Why Your E-commerce Brand Needs GEO (Not Just SEO)

I’ve been watching something fascinating happen in search over the past year. When people ask Google, “What’s the best coffee maker under $200?” they’re not getting a list of 10 blue links anymore. Instead, they’re getting a nice, neat AI-generated answer that mentions 3–4 specific products, complete with prices and features.

Google AI Mode for E-Commerce Searches

Or, maybe they’re not even using Google at all. Consumers might start in ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Perplexity, or any other AI tool of their choice. And if your product isn’t one of those 3–4 mentioned, you might as well be invisible.

Welcome to the era of Generative Search Optimization (GEO), and if you’re running an e-commerce business, this changes everything for your company.

Traditional SEO was about getting your webpage to rank #1. GEO is about getting your product mentioned and cited when AI creates…