How to Pitch GEO to Clients Who Only Know SEO
Target Audience: Freelancers & Agencies looking to upsell GEO services
Goal: Overcome client resistance to new tech by framing GEO as a necessary evolution, not a risky experiment
Why "SEO is Dead" Will Kill Your Pitch
If you walk into a client meeting and say, "SEO is dead, you need Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)," you will lose them. Clients have spent years (and thousands of dollars) building their SEO. They're terrified of losing it.
The winning strategy: Don't sell GEO as a replacement. Sell it as the missing half of their search strategy.
Old world (SEO): Ranking in search results
New world (GEO): Being the answer AI gives
If they only do SEO, they're invisible in the AI answers where a growing number of users are heading.
The Bridge: How to Explain It Simply
Clients don't care about LLMs or vector databases. They care about visibility. Use this simple line to bridge the gap:
The pitch line: "You've already won the search engine. Now let's win the answer engine."
3 Copy-Paste Pitch Scripts
1. The Risk-Averse Client
Focus: Protection & Future-Proofing
Hey [Name],
Quick question—I saw you're ranking for [Keyword]. That's awesome, but when I ask ChatGPT or Google's AI Overview about this topic, your brand isn't showing up in the answer.
Right now, AI is pulling from your competitors' content to answer user questions. We can fix this by optimizing your existing articles so the AI cites you as the source instead. It's not a new strategy—we're just protecting the SEO work we've already done.
2. The Growth-Focused Client
Focus: Domination & Market Share
Hey [Name],
We have a massive opportunity. Everyone's fighting for the same 10 blue links on Google. But almost no one in your niche is optimizing for AI search yet.
If we start GEO now, we can position your brand as the go-to source for [Industry] before your competitors even wake up. The first movers in this space are going to own it—just like early adopters of Google Business Profile or featured snippets.
3. The Authority-Focused Client
Focus: Reputation & Trust
Hey [Name],
Your brand is known for authority, but AI models don't know you yet. When users ask complex questions about [Topic], the AI is recommending generic advice instead of your specific methodology.
We need to structure your expertise in a format these engines understand. This ensures that when high-value clients ask for recommendations, your name is the one that comes up.
Handling the "It's Too New" Objection
Client: "Can't we just wait and see what happens?"
Your rebuttal:
"We could, but here's the risk. AI models are trained on data over time. The brands that establish themselves as trusted sources today will be the ones the AI references for years.
SEO is a monthly battle for rankings.
GEO is a long-term asset. Once you're the cited source, it's incredibly hard for a competitor to take your spot."
Conclusion: Keep It Simple
Don't overcomplicate the tech. Pitch the outcome:
Protection: Don't let AI pull from competitors instead of you
Expansion: Show up where SEO can't reach (chatbots, AI overviews)
Authority: Be the brand the AI recommends
Next step: Start with one client. Pick your biggest account and test one of these scripts this week. Track whether your content gets cited in ChatGPT or Perplexity—that's your proof of concept.
References
Search Engine Land: What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
Search Engine Land: 3 GEO experiments you should try this year
Foundation Inc: SEO vs. GEO: How to Optimize for the Future of Search
Hop Online: How to explain GEO to your clients
Meta Title: How to Pitch GEO to SEO Clients (+ 3 Copy-Paste Scripts)
Meta Description: Learn how to sell GEO services to risk-averse clients. 3 proven pitch scripts for freelancers & agencies to overcome the "it's too new" objection.
URL Slug: /pitch-geo-to-seo-clients
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