AI & GEO
AI & GEO Optimisation: Visible in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity
GEO optimisation (Generative Engine Optimisation) ensures that AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity know your business, describe it correctly and recommend it. We combine GEO with traditional SEO so that you are found on Google and in AI answers alike. We regularly test your visibility in 4 systems: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews. Digital Targets has been working in digital marketing since 2003 and supports clients in 6 languages.
What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation)?
GEO is the optimisation of your website and online presence for generative AI search systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot and Google’s AI Overviews.
More and more people no longer type their questions into a search box but ask an AI assistant directly. The answer then contains only a handful of recommendations and sources. If you are not mentioned there, you are invisible to these users, no matter how good your website is. GEO ensures that AI systems find and understand your content and classify it as a trustworthy source.
How does GEO differ from SEO?
SEO aims for a strong position in the list of search results, whereas GEO aims to appear in the AI’s answer itself.
| Traditional SEO | GEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Top ranking on Google and Bing | Mention and recommendation in AI answers |
| Outcome | A click through to your website | A mention, source link or direct recommendation |
| Key factors | Keywords, technical set-up, backlinks, user experience | Clear answers, structured data, brand authority, mentions across the web |
| Measuring success | Rankings, clicks, conversions | Mentions for typical questions, referrals from AI systems |
The two disciplines build on each other: AI systems favour content that also performs well in traditional search. That is why we always combine GEO with solid SEO.
What does our GEO optimisation include?
GEO optimisation at Digital Targets comprises 6 building blocks, including an AI visibility analysis, answer-format content, structured data, llms.txt and building up mentions.
AI visibility analysis
We test the questions your customers ask in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google, and show you who is being mentioned there today.
Structured data
Schema.org markup for your organisation, services, products and FAQs, so that machines understand your content unambiguously.
Answer-focused content
Question-style headings, clear answers in the first sentence, tables and FAQs: content that AI systems like to quote.
Brand and entities
Consistent information about your business across the web, from your Google Business Profile to industry directories and reviews.
Technical accessibility
Access for AI crawlers in robots.txt, an llms.txt file, fast loading times and content that can be read without JavaScript.
Monitoring
We regularly check whether and how your business appears in AI answers and adjust our measures accordingly.
Why do AI systems recommend some companies and not others?
AI systems recommend companies about which they find clear, consistent and trustworthy information from several sources.
A language model only “knows” what it learned from its training data or what it finds in a real-time web search. If clear details about services, location and experience are missing, or if the website, business directory and review platforms contradict each other, the AI will rather name a competitor. Companies stand a good chance if they answer specific questions directly on their website, back up their expertise with an author and date, and are mentioned on other websites too.
Who benefits most from GEO?
GEO pays off for every business whose customers do their research and ask questions before buying.
- Service providers, consultants and practices that want to be recommended locally or in a niche
- Online shops whose products should appear in AI shopping advice
- B2B providers with products that need explaining
- Companies that want to be found internationally in several languages
For WordPress websites, we are also developing a plugin that measures how well a page is prepared for AI search engines and suggests specific improvements. It will be available soon.
How do we approach GEO optimisation?
Digital Targets works in 4 steps: an audit of the current situation, strategy, implementation and regular measurement of your visibility in AI answers.
1
AI audit
Status check: how visible are you today in AI answers and on Google?
2
Strategy
We define the most important questions, topics and sources for your industry.
3
Optimisation
Technical set-up, structured data, content and listings across the web are adjusted.
4
Monitoring
Regular tests show how things are developing, and we keep fine-tuning.
Frequently asked questions about AI & GEO
What does GEO mean?
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimisation. It means optimising websites and content so that generative AI systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot and Google’s AI Overviews know a business, describe it correctly and cite it as a source or recommendation. This involves clear answers, structured data and mentions on trustworthy websites.
Does GEO replace traditional SEO?
No. AI search engines rely to a large extent on content that also ranks well on Google. Solid SEO is therefore the foundation for GEO. We plan both together so that you are visible in traditional search results and in AI answers alike.
Can you guarantee that ChatGPT will recommend my business?
No, nobody can honestly guarantee that, because the answers given by AI systems change constantly. What we can do is create the conditions that make a mention much more likely: clear content, structured data and mentions on trustworthy websites. We also regularly check how ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity describe your business and adjust our measures accordingly.
How quickly does GEO work?
Technical measures such as structured data or allowing AI crawlers often take effect within a few weeks, as soon as the pages are recrawled. Building content and brand authority usually takes several months, much like SEO. We measure progress regularly using a fixed set of test questions in the most important AI systems and show you how things are developing.
What is an llms.txt file?
The llms.txt is a simple text file in the root directory of your website. It summarises who you are, what you offer and which pages matter most, in a format that language models can read easily. It is a voluntary proposal rather than an official standard, but it is a useful building block.
Is GEO worthwhile for small businesses too?
Yes, especially for local services and niche topics. Anyone asking “Which dentist in Larnaka speaks English?” will only be given a few names by the AI. With clear information and good reviews, small businesses have a good chance here too. We show you which details should appear on your website and in your Google Business Profile.
Which services go well with it?
Alongside GEO optimisation, Digital Targets offers 3 complementary services, SEO, websites and digital marketing, because AI visibility builds on a solid foundation.
Digital Marketing
Strategy, planning and management of all online channels from a single source.
How visible is your business in ChatGPT?
In a free initial consultation, we check how AI assistants currently present your business and show you the most important levers.
Write to us
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