SEO, GEO & Generative AI: A Guide to Staying Visible in 2025

For years, businesses have relied on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to get discovered. Ranking on Google with the right keywords meant more clicks, more leads, and more deals. Today,

Passion Minds Pvt. Ltd., a leading Digital Marketing Agency Serving Clients Worldwide, continues to empower brands with innovative SEO Strategies that drive visibility, engagement, and growth in the digital age.

But 2025 has changed the rules. Buyers no longer stop at Google, they now ask AI search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews.

That shift matters because industry research shows that nearly 9 out of 10 B2B buyers now use AI tools for research before contacting a vendor. If your brand isn’t part of the AI-generated answer, you may be invisible at the exact moment a deal is being shaped.

Why This Shift Matters: A Real B2B Example

A plant manager at a mid-size textile mill in India asks Chat GPT: “Best drives for spinning and weaving machines.”

The AI response pulls from:

An industry article comparing VFDs.

A Reddit thread by automation engineers discussing reliability.

A vendor-neutral whitepaper updated this year.  

If your drives aren’t mentioned in those sources, you don’t even appear in the shortlist. The buyer calls two competitors for demos, and you never enter the conversation.

That’s the reality of 2025. Traditional SEO still matters, but without Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), making sure AI systems cite you, you risk being left out.

SEO vs GEO in Action

SEO example: A CNC machine tool manufacturer ranks on Google for “5-axis machining centers India.”

GEO example: A defense contractor asks Claude AI: “Best 5-axis machining solutions for aerospace components.

The AI answer doesn’t just pull from rankings; it cites a case study in a trade magazine, a Reddit machinist thread, and a neutral comparison blog. If your machine isn’t mentioned in those places, your Google rank won’t matter.

Together, SEO and GEO now define visibility: SEO brings human clicks, while GEO ensures AI includes you in its answers.

6 Ways to Stay Visible in 2025

1. Close Citation Gaps

 Example: Industry publications often publish “top vendor” comparisons, whether for UPS in data centers, PLCs in automotive, or drives in manufacturing. If your brand isn’t included, every AI answer that references those articles overlooks you.

Action: Proactively reach out to journalists, analysts, or trade editors with updated performance data, certifications, or customer case studies to earn inclusion. Even landing mentions in 10–15 high-authority pages can transform AI visibility.

2. Be Active in AI-Trusted Communities

Example: On Reddit, a thread titled “What is the best Family and Brand of PLC to use in a new automated factory with IIOT in mind?

gets many responses discussing familiar vendor names, trade-offs, reliability, etc. Later, AI like ChatGPT may reference such discussions when asked: “Best PLCs for automotive robotics.”

Action: Don’t just promote your brand. Share genuine insights such as integration experiences, hidden costs, or reliability concerns. AI favors authentic contributions, which boosts your chance of being included in its answers. 

Industry data shows that user-generated content now makes up more than 20% of all AI citations.

3. Create Content Around High-Citation Topics

Example: In pharma, AI often cites articles like “Trends in pharmaceutical packaging automation 2025.

If you haven’t written on that topic, your competitors dominate the AI answers.

Action: Build clustered content:

“Automation Trends in Pharma Packaging (2025)”

“Best Motion Control Systems for Cleanroom Environments”

“Top PLC Solutions for Regulatory Compliance”

Covering these clusters makes your content more likely to be cited across multiple queries.

4.Refresh Content Frequently

Example: A cybersecurity firm had a 2023 blog titled “Best Practices for Data Center Protection.” By 2025, AI ignores it in favor of fresher articles with 2024–25 data.

Action: Update top B2B content every 3–6 months with:

New compliance standards (e.g., IEC 62443 updates).

Fresh market statistics.

Recent case studies.

Research suggests that content less than 3 months old accounts for over 60% of AI citations today.

5. Build Honest Comparison Pages

Example: A buyer asks Perplexity: “Best PLC options for automotive assembly lines.” The AI cites a neutral industry comparison blog that explains different PLC technologies and where each works best.

Action: While most manufacturing brands can’t openly publish “A vs B vs C” competitor comparisons, they can:

Create technology comparisons (e.g., AC vs Servo drives, or centralized vs distributed PLCs).

Develop buyer’s guides highlighting decision criteria, then show how their solution addresses those needs.

Partner with trade media to ensure their products are included in third-party comparison features.

AI Favors balanced, transparent content. Even if you can’t name competitors directly, building structured comparison-style resources helps you get cited.

6. Fix Technical Issues That Block AI Crawlers

Example: An automation company unknowingly blocked AI crawlers in their robots.txt file. It will result in their SCADA solutions never showing up in ChatGPT’s responses.

Action: Allow key AI bots like ChatGPT-User, Claude-Web, and PerplexityBot. Also, ensure your site renders core content without JavaScript. If AI can’t read it, it can’t cite it.

Why Acting Now Matters ?

Traditional SEO is still necessary. But GEO has become critical for B2B visibility in AI-driven search.

If you’re not mentioned in industry articles AI cites, you don’t exist.

If you’re not part of engineer and CIO conversations on LinkedIn or Reddit, you’re ignored.

If your site blocks AI crawlers, you’re invisible.

With B2B buyers using AI in nearly 9 out of 10 purchase journeys, visibility isn’t about just ranking high on Google anymore. It’s about ensuring your company is part of the AI-generated answer.

The question is no longer “Am I ranking for the right keyword?” but “When AI gives the answer, will my brand be included?”