What is GEO? Generative Engine Optimisation

GEO in a nutshell

Generative engine optimisation (GEO) is the work of making your business easy for AI tools like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, Gemini and Perplexity to understand, trust and recommend. Where SEO aims to rank your pages in search results, GEO aims to get your business mentioned and cited in AI-generated answers.

GEO builds on good SEO rather than replacing it. Quikclicks includes GEO in our SEO work and also offers it as a standalone service.

SEO: rank your pages in Google’s search results

AEO: become the direct answer in featured snippets and voice search

GEO: get your business cited and recommended in AI answers

Six ways to improve your business’s GEO

AI tools build answers from content they can understand and sources they trust. These six steps make your business easier to find and recommend.

Answer real customer questions

Write clear, direct answers to the questions customers ask about your services, prices and process, on your service pages and in FAQs.

Add structured data

Schema markup for your business, services, reviews and FAQs helps AI tools read your website accurately.

Keep your details consistent

Your business name, address, phone number and services should match across your website, Google Business Profile and directories.

Build trust signals

Genuine reviews, case studies with real numbers, credentials and named experts show AI tools you’re a reliable source.

Get mentioned elsewhere

AI answers often draw on other websites. Mentions in directories, industry sites, local news and “best of” lists strengthen your case.

Keep it fast and crawlable

AI crawlers need to reach your pages. A fast, well-structured website with clean code makes that easy.

Not sure where you stand?

We can check how your business appears in ChatGPT, Gemini and Google’s AI Overviews, and show you what to fix first.

SEO, local SEO, AEO and GEO compared

The terms overlap, and good work in one usually helps the others. Here’s how they differ.

Approach

What it aims for

How it works

SEO (search engine optimisation)

Higher rankings in Google’s search results

Technical fixes, keyword-focused content, quality links and a fast website.

Local SEO

A place in the Google Maps results

Google Business Profile, reviews, local citations and suburb pages.

AEO (answer engine optimisation)

Featured snippets and voice answers

Short, direct answers to specific questions, with clear headings and FAQs.

GEO (generative engine optimisation)

Mentions and citations in AI answers

Clear content, structured data, trust signals and consistent mentions across the web.

Google Ads

Paid placement at the top of results

Pay per click, with results as soon as your ads go live.

Where AI answers appear

More Australians now ask AI tools for recommendations before they search or call. These are the main places your business can show up.

Read more about our GEO and AI search services.

ChatGPT: uses web search for up-to-date answers and recommendations.
Google AI Overviews and AI Mode: AI summaries shown at the top of Google search results.
Gemini: Google’s AI assistant, which draws on Google’s view of the web.
Perplexity: an AI search tool that lists its sources, so you can see who it trusts.
Microsoft Copilot: built on Bing, so your Bing listings matter too.
Voice assistants: spoken answers that often come from the same trusted sources.

Does SEO still matter with AI search?

Yes. AI tools still rely heavily on search engines and on websites that rank well. Pages that are useful, well structured and trusted by Google are also the ones AI tools tend to quote.

Think of GEO as the next layer on top of SEO: the same strong foundations, with extra focus on clear answers, structured data and your reputation across the web.

Businesses that build both now will be better placed as more customers turn to AI tools.

How to check your business’s AI visibility

You can do a quick check yourself in a few minutes.

Ask ChatGPT

Ask for the best business for your service in your suburb, the way a customer would, and see who it recommends.

Check Google’s AI Overviews

Search common questions about your service and see which businesses and websites are cited.

Try Perplexity

It lists its sources, so you can see which websites AI tools trust in your industry.

Search your business name

Check what AI tools say about your business. Is it accurate and up to date?

Review your listings

Make sure your Google Business Profile, Bing Places and directory listings are complete and consistent.

Note the gaps

If competitors appear and you don’t, look at the content, reviews and mentions they have that you don’t.

What AI tools look for in a business

Every AI tool works a little differently, but most look for the same three things.

Clear answers

Easy to understand and quote

Content that directly answers questions about your services, prices, locations and process.

Trust and reputation

Proof you’re reliable

Reviews, credentials, case studies and mentions on other trusted websites.

Consistent information

The same details everywhere

Matching business details, services and locations across your website, profiles and directories.

Frequently asked questions about GEO

What does GEO stand for?

GEO stands for generative engine optimisation: improving how your business appears in answers from AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews.

Is GEO the same as SEO?

No, but they overlap. SEO aims to rank your pages in search results. GEO aims to get your business mentioned and cited in AI answers. Good SEO is the foundation for GEO.

What is AEO?

AEO, or answer engine optimisation, focuses on becoming the direct answer to a question, such as a featured snippet or voice search result. It sits between SEO and GEO.

Can you guarantee my business will appear in ChatGPT?

No one can guarantee an AI mention, because the AI tools decide what to include. GEO makes your business much easier for them to find, understand and recommend.

How long does GEO take?

Some changes, like structured data and clearer content, can be picked up within weeks. Building your reputation and mentions across the web takes longer, much like SEO.

Do small businesses need GEO?

More customers are asking AI tools for recommendations, including for local services. Small businesses that make themselves easy to recommend now can get ahead of competitors.

Does GEO help with Google rankings too?

Yes. Clear answers, structured data and trust signals also help your regular Google rankings.

How much does GEO cost?

We include GEO in our SEO work, which starts from $299 + GST per month. See our SEO cost guide or our GEO services.

What is GEO? Generative Engine Optimisation Explained

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