Creative Repute says GEO is overtaking traditional SEO

Creative Repute is urging businesses to adapt as AI tools increasingly answer search queries directly, shifting visibility from rankings to citations. The Philadelphia agency’s new post explains how Generative Engine Optimization can help brands appear in answers from ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.

Why it matters: - AI-generated answers are changing how businesses get discovered online. - A strong search ranking alone no longer guarantees visibility in AI tools or AI Overviews. - Brands now need content that can be cited by systems like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.

What happened: - Creative Repute, a Philadelphia-based branding and creative agency, published a blog post titled “How Is AI Shifting SEO Toward GEO and Changing How Businesses Get Found Online?” - The post explains Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO, as the practice of structuring a business’s digital presence so AI platforms include it in generated answers. - The agency said the shift changes the core question from how to rank higher to how to get cited.

The details: - ChatGPT now serves 800 million weekly active users. - Google Gemini reaches 750 million monthly users. - Another 2 billion people encounter AI Overviews in standard Google search results. - Perplexity has grown to more than 45 million monthly active users. - Research from Adobe found nearly half of AI Overview citations come from pages ranking below the fifth position in traditional search. - Creative Repute said AI citation decisions are helped by direct-answer sections near the top of a page. - The post also points to descriptive headings framed as questions, comparison tables, numbered steps and claims backed by verifiable data and named sources. - Offsite reputation also matters, including press mentions, directory listings, and consistent business information across platforms like LinkedIn and Google Business Profile. - Businesses can request a free quote from Creative Repute for help improving their visibility in AI-driven search. - Creative Repute describes itself as an award-winning agency offering marketing strategy, web development and design services. - The agency says it helps clients build a digital presence that performs across traditional search and AI-driven platforms. - More information is available through the company’s LinkedIn page, Instagram account, Facebook page, YouTube channel, TikTok account and X profile.

Between the lines: - The message is less about abandoning SEO and more about broadening it for AI-mediated discovery. - The emphasis on citations, structured answers and offsite trust signals suggests search visibility is becoming more like reputation management. - Businesses that publish clear, source-backed content may have an edge even when they do not rank near the top of traditional search results.

What's next: - Companies are likely to keep adjusting websites and content strategies for both search engines and AI answer engines. - More brands may prioritize citation-ready content, consistent business listings and third-party mentions as part of their marketing plans. - Creative Repute is positioning its GEO guidance as a service for businesses that want to compete in this new search environment.