What Is GEO and AEO? (And Why Your Business Should Care)
People don’t just Google anymore — they ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and read Google’s AI Overviews. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) are about getting your business cited in those AI answers.
Think of it this way: SEO gets you ranked in the blue links. GEO/AEO gets you quoted in the answer itself.
Why It Matters Now
- Google AI Overviews appear on a huge share of informational searches
- ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity answer questions directly — often with 3–6 cited sources
- Being cited puts your brand in front of buyers before they ever see a results page
- Early movers have an advantage: most small businesses haven’t started
How AI Engines Choose Whom to Cite
AI search tools look for content that is:
- Directly answers the question — clear, concise answer blocks near the top
- Trustworthy — real expertise, author names, credentials, sources
- Well-structured — headings, lists, tables, FAQ schema they can parse
- Corroborated — mentioned positively across the web (reviews, press, directories)
- Fresh — recently updated content with current dates and figures
Sound familiar? It’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) — the same thing Google has rewarded for years, now applied by AI.
7 Practical Steps to Get Cited
1. Write clear answer blocks
Start key sections with a direct 40–60 word answer to the question, then expand. AI engines lift these verbatim.
2. Add FAQ schema
Mark up your Q&A content with FAQPage schema so machines can extract it cleanly. (Rank Math does this in one click.)
3. Show real expertise
Put author names and credentials on articles. “Written by [Name], [role] at Scentzee” beats anonymous content. Include original data, case studies and opinions — AI favours content with a point of view.
4. Keep stats fresh and sourced
“According to [source], 2026” with a link. AI engines prefer cited, current figures over vague claims.
5. Build brand mentions everywhere
Get your business name mentioned (with or without links) in local press, industry sites, directories and reviews. AI models weigh brand authority heavily when choosing citations.
6. Structure for machines
Descriptive H2/H3 headings phrased as questions, bullet lists, comparison tables, short paragraphs. If a human can skim it, an AI can parse it.
7. Cover the questions people ask AI
Use “People Also Ask”, AnswerThePublic, and ChatGPT itself to find the exact questions your customers ask — then answer each one thoroughly on your site.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t stuff keywords for AI — it doesn’t work; clarity wins
- Don’t publish AI-generated fluff at scale — engines detect and ignore thin content
- Don’t abandon classic SEO — GEO builds on top of good SEO; you still need crawlability, speed and authority
FAQs
Is GEO replacing SEO?
No. It’s an extension. The businesses winning AI citations are overwhelmingly the ones that already do SEO well.
How do I know if I’m being cited?
Ask ChatGPT/Perplexity questions your customers ask and see who gets cited. Track brand mentions, not just traffic — AI answers don’t always send clicks.
How long does GEO take?
Like SEO: 3–6 months for consistent citations, assuming the fundamentals are in place.
Want your business cited by AI search? Our SEO services now include GEO/AEO optimisation as standard. Get a free audit.