If you’ve been following the web design world lately, you’ve probably heard whispers about “GEO” — or Generative Engine Optimization. At first, I’ll admit, I thought it was just another buzzword that would fade away like so many other tech trends. But after digging into what it actually means for my clients here in Kansas and beyond, I realized this is something we need to pay attention to. Like, right now.
So here’s the deal: I’m now implementing both SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and GEO strategies on every website I build at MKS Web Design — whether it’s a brand new site or one I built years ago. And honestly? It’s not as complicated as it sounds, especially when you’re using the right tools. Let me break down what I’ve learned and how I’m making sure every client stays visible in this new AI-powered search landscape.
Okay, so traditional SEO is what we’ve all been doing for years. You optimize your website so Google, Bing, and other search engines can find it, index it, and (hopefully) rank it on page one. We’re talking keywords, meta descriptions, backlinks, fast loading times, mobile optimization — all that good stuff.
GEO, on the other hand, is all about optimizing your content so AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google’s AI Overviews, and Microsoft Copilot can understand it, summarize it, and actually cite your website when people ask questions. Instead of getting a list of 10 blue links, users are getting direct answers generated by AI. And if your content isn’t structured properly, you’re basically invisible in these responses.
Here’s a stat that really got my attention: when Google shows an AI Overview for a search term, the top-ranking page loses about 34.5% of its click-through rate compared to traditional search results. That’s a massive drop! So even if you’re ranking #1 in traditional SEO, you might be losing traffic if you’re not optimized for AI search.
The thing is, SEO isn’t going away — not even close. But GEO is becoming just as important, and the smart move is to do both.
Here’s where it gets practical. Every website I build uses SEOPress Pro — it’s hands-down my favorite WordPress SEO plugin, and it’s perfect for implementing both SEO and GEO strategies. I’ve tried Yoast, Rank Math, and a few others over the years, but SEOPress Pro just fits my workflow better. It’s clean, powerful, and doesn’t try to upsell you every five seconds.
Here’s what I’m doing with SEOPress Pro on every site:
Schema markup is like giving AI a roadmap to understand your content. SEOPress Pro makes it super easy to add structured data — things like Article schema, Local Business schema, FAQ schema, and How-To schema. AI engines love this stuff because it helps them extract the exact information they need to answer user questions.
For example, if you have a service page for “Kansas Website Design,” I’m adding Local Business schema so AI tools know exactly where you’re located, what you offer, and how to contact you. If you have an FAQ section (which you should), I’m marking that up with FAQ schema so AI can pull those Q&As directly into responses.
AI tools scan content top-down, so structure matters more than ever. I’m making sure every page has:
This isn’t just good for AI — it’s good for humans too. Nobody wants to read a wall of text, especially on mobile.
Google’s been talking about E-A-T for a while, but now with AI search, it’s even more critical. AI tools want to cite credible sources, so I’m making sure every site has:
For my own site, I make sure people know I’m a real person based in Manhattan, Kansas (GO CATS!), and I’ve been doing this work for years. That authenticity matters.
Even though AI search works differently, meta titles and descriptions are still crucial for traditional SEO — and SEOPress Pro makes it easy to customize these for every page. I use dynamic variables to pull in things like the post title, site name, and even custom fields when needed.
And here’s a tip: I’m writing meta descriptions that answer questions directly. Instead of “Learn about our services,” I’ll write something like “MKS Web Design offers custom WordPress websites for Kansas businesses with ongoing SEO and maintenance.” That direct, informative style works for both traditional search and AI-generated summaries.
Here’s the cool part — you don’t need to rebuild a website from scratch to implement GEO strategies. I’ve been going back through client sites I built a year or two ago and making updates:
Most of these changes take an hour or two per site, and the impact is worth it. Clients are already starting to notice their content being cited in AI responses, which is pretty cool to see.
Look, if you’re running a business in Kansas (or anywhere, really), you need to be thinking about how people are finding information. More and more folks are using ChatGPT, Google’s AI search, and other tools instead of just typing keywords into Google. If your website isn’t optimized for those platforms, you’re missing out on potential customers who are literally asking AI for recommendations in your industry.
I’ve had conversations with clients who’ve noticed a dip in traffic over the past year, and alot of the time, it’s because their content isn’t structured for AI search. Once we implement GEO strategies — while keeping solid SEO fundamentals in place — things start turning around.
SEO isn’t dead, but it’s evolving. GEO is the next piece of the puzzle, and if you’re not paying attention, you’re going to fall behind. The good news is, if you’re already doing good SEO work (like what we do at MKS Web Design), adding GEO strategies isn’t a huge leap. It’s more about refining how you structure content and making sure AI tools can understand and cite your site.
Every new site I build now has both SEO and GEO baked in from the start. And for existing sites, I’m going back and making strategic updates to keep them competitive. SEOPress Pro makes all of this manageable, and honestly, it’s become an essential part of my toolkit.
If you’re a business owner and you’re not sure where your website stands with all this stuff, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to do a quick audit and give you some honest feedback. Because at the end of the day, I want every Kansas business (and beyond) to thrive online — whether people find you through Google, ChatGPT, or whatever comes next.
Want to dive deeper into my approach to strategic marketing? Check out more of my insights and projects at anthonyrichter.com.
