Blog Post: SEO vs GEO – Why Your Colorado Business Needs Both

If you’ve run a business for a while, you’ve probably heard the term SEO. It’s the practice of optimizing your website so you rank higher on Google, show up on Google Maps, and get more traffic from people searching for your services. For local businesses in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Aspen, and across Colorado, SEO has always been one of the most important marketing tools.

But there’s something new happening in the world of search: Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO.

A quick refresher on SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is all about helping search engines like Google understand your website. The better your SEO, the more likely you’ll show up when someone searches for “plumber in Glenwood Springs” or “best yoga classes in Aspen.”

Good SEO usually includes:

• Keyword research and writing keyword rich content

• Optimizing your site structure, headings, and meta tags

• Making sure your site loads fast and works on mobile

• Keeping your Google Business Profile up to date so you show up in local searches and on Google Maps

For years, this has been the standard way to get noticed online.

What exactly is GEO?

GEO, or generative engine optimization, takes things a step further. Instead of focusing only on Google search results, GEO helps your business show up in AI-driven search engines and generative AI tools that are already changing the way people search.

Think about tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini. When someone asks them for “the best web design company in Glenwood Springs” or “top SEO services in Vail,” the AI scans tons of online content to generate an answer. If your business isn’t optimized for this type of search, you may not get included at all.

Why you need both

Here’s the way to think about it:

• SEO keeps you visible on Google and Google Maps.

• GEO makes sure you’re included in the results from AI-powered search engines.

With both working together, your business is covered no matter how people search.

How Colorado businesses can use GEO

At JackDM, we’ve started blending SEO and GEO into one strategy. That means:

• Writing high quality, keyword rich content that both Google and AI tools can recognize

• Optimizing Google Business Profiles so local customers find you quickly

• Structuring sites for search engine optimization and generative engine optimization at the same time

• Helping businesses in Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Carbondale, Vail, and beyond get discovered online

The takeaway

The way people search is changing fast. Relying on SEO alone worked in the past, but now AI-driven search engines are a big part of how customers find services. GEO makes sure your business isn’t left behind.

At JackDM, we help Colorado businesses grow online with modern web design, SEO, and GEO strategies. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refresh your online presence, we’ll make sure you’re ready for both today’s search engines and tomorrow’s.