AI search is here. How to get your business cited by ChatGPT and Gemini
Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) explained, and the practical steps small businesses can take this week.
When someone asks ChatGPT 'who's the best web designer near me?', whoever gets named wins. That's the entire game now — and most small businesses haven't even started playing.
What is GEO?
Generative Engine Optimisation is the practice of structuring your website and online presence so AI models cite you when they answer. Think SEO, but the audience is ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews.
Why it matters now
Google AI Overviews already appear on a huge share of searches. ChatGPT browses the web. Customers are increasingly asking an AI for recommendations before they ever see a search result.
What actually works
Clear, direct writing that answers questions. Structured data (JSON-LD). A strong about page that explains who you are, where you operate and what you do. Mentions on third-party sites. Up-to-date information across the web.
The questions to optimise for
Write content that directly answers the questions your customers ask AI: 'best X in [town]', 'how much does X cost', 'what's the difference between X and Y'. Use the question as your heading. Answer it in the first sentence.
Don't ignore traditional SEO
AI models lean heavily on the same signals search engines do — authority, relevance, freshness. Good SEO is good GEO.
Get this right now and you'll be on the recommendation list for the next two or three years while your competitors catch up.
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