AI turns Google into an "answer engine": Why companies need to rely on GEO now

Google search is facing the biggest upheaval in its history. Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming search engines into dialog-capable assistants that provide direct answers instead of just listing links. Simon Kr?ling, SEO freelancer from Winterberg, warns: "If you don't change course now, you will lose out digitally. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) complements traditional search engine optimization and ensures visibility in the age of AI."_

Winterberg, 02.01.2026 - While many companies are still fine-tuning their traditional SEO strategy, the rules of the game have already fundamentally changed in the background. "We are experiencing the transformation from a search engine to an answer engine," explains Simon Kr?ling, SEO freelancer and owner of SICHTBAR SEO Agentur.

The end of keyword deserts

The reason for this upheaval is the change in user behavior. Instead of simple keywords such as "Gartenbau Sauerland", complex questions are now entered into the search field or dictated by voice control. "Users today expect a well-founded recommendation, similar to that of a human consultant," says Kr?ling. As a result, the artificial intelligence (AI) of Google and other search engines understands the context and delivers a fully formulated answer directly on the results page. In many cases, there is no need to click on a company website.

Quality beats quantity

For website operators, this initially means a drop in pure visitor numbers, as simple requests for information are intercepted directly by the AI. However, Simon Kr?ling also sees this as an opportunity: "The traffic that is lost usually had no intention of buying anyway. The visitors who still come to the site are looking for in-depth solutions and want to buy."

To convince this valuable target group, however, websites need to be redesigned: Away from superficial advertising texts, towards genuine technical expertise and problem solving.

Trust as a new ranking factor

The expert sees a particular challenge in the way AI systems check information. "It's not enough to claim to be the best on your own homepage," Kr?ling emphasizes. "The AI validates these statements by searching the rest of the internet for confirmation." Positive customer reviews, entries in business directories and local mentions tip the scales. If these external trust signals are missing, companies in highly competitive niches are ignored by the AI.

Recommendations for action

To ensure that value creation remains with local businesses, Simon Kr?ling advises adapting the strategy in three steps:

* Provide answers: Content should address real questions from potential customers and provide well-founded and unambiguous answers in clear language.
* Reputation is king: Active reputation management by collecting reviews is a must. Make sure that others talk about you.
* Data hygiene: Company data must be consistent across the entire network in order to be considered a credible source.

"Excellence needs visibility. Adapting to the new AI search is no longer an option for companies, but an obligation if they want to stay ahead of the digital competition," summarizes Simon Kr?ling.

SICHTBAR SEO Agentur
Schanzenstra?e 28
59955 Winterberg
Germany

https://www.sichtbar-online.com

Herr Simon Kr?ling
+49 1520 654 29 96

simon.kraeling@sichtbar-online.com

Simon Kr?ling is the founder of SICHTBAR SEO and an expert in digital visibility in Winterberg. What began over 20 years ago in "Web 1.0" is now a specialized consultancy for search engine optimization (SEO) and the new AI search (GEO). After many years as an in-house marketer for multinational corporations, he became self-employed in 2020. Today, the "convinced Google fan" uses his experience to keep local companies in the Sauerland region competitive. His claim: data-driven strategies that not only bring websites to the first page, but directly into the answers of AI.

This release was published on openPR.