Stop Optimizing for Google. Start Optimizing for AI (GEO) | Natalie Marcotullio

Is SEO dead, or is it just evolving into something entirely new?✅ Win AI visibility — try Semrush free for 14 days: https://semrush.sjv.io/JkO4ZEIn this episode, we sit down with Natalie Marcotullio, Head of Growth and Product Marketing at Navattic, to deconstruct the shift from traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI Engine Optimization (AEO).Natalie shares her "founding marketer" perspective on why the B2B buyer journey is moving away from homepages and toward AI-driven discovery. We dive deep into how SaaS brands can maintain authenticity in an era of LLMs, why "word-of-mouth" is the ultimate AI moat, and the "should you vs. could you" dilemma of AI automation.Key Topics Covered:The Transition to GEO: Why backlinks and mentions still matter in a world of Perplexity, Claude, and ChatGPT.The Future of Content: Moving from high-level "SEO bait" to high-intent product marketing that AI agents actually value.Interactive Demos: How to use tools like Navattic to capture buyers at the bottom of the funnel.Human vs. Agent: Will the future internet be built for people or for AI purchasing agents?Natalie’s AI Stack: Her favorite LLMs (and why Claude wins) plus how she uses profound MCP and Ahrefs for tracking.Connect with Natalie & Navattic:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-marcotullio/Website: https://www.navattic.com/Download The GEO Blueprint Guide: https://thegeoblueprint.com/The GEO Blueprint Podcast is hosted by George Vlasyev — exploring how brands can win visibility in the age of generative AI and LLM-powered search.Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro00:49 - Who is Natalie & what does she do?01:33 - Is SEO dead?02:23 - How does GEO change the way buyers discover and evaluate brands?03:39 - Should SaaS brands rethink their interactive demo experience?04:27 - Buying experience like buying sneakers on Instagram — how does GEO help?05:37 - Authentic content strategy and GEO — how do they connect?07:04 - Step by step — how to show up in Perplexity, Claude and AI search09:16 - How to track your AI positioning — tools and process09:59 - What does "refreshing content" actually mean and how often?11:20 - Does your content actually need FAQ sections to rank in AI?11:57 - What is Natalie's favorite AI model and why?13:29 - Will there be one dominant AI model or many?14:30 - If AI search keeps eating organic traffic, what's the new pipeline engine?15:39 - Do AI search leads actually convert better?16:29 - Where does GEO go in the next two years?18:44 - How will agents change attribution and tracking?20:40 - What is product led growth and why does it matter?21:40 - Is there anything I'm not asking you that I should be?23:52 - What is the real benefit of being cited as a source in AI?25:12 - Are we in an AI bubble?27:17 - Tips and best practices for using AI in your day to day29:35 - Is the unique human value in creative original thinking?30:15 - AI hallucinations are still real — here's a live example32:50 - Are you afraid your job is in danger because of AI?34:03 - How has AI changed Natalie's day to day workflow?35:11 - Best piece of marketing advice for a SaaS founder36:10 - Which marketing channels should founders focus on?37:23 - Outro#GEO #AEO #B2BMarketing