More and more people are asking ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity before turning to Google. When that happens, there are no ten blue results: there is one answer and, with luck, a few cited sources. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the work of getting your business into that answer.
GEO and SEO are not the same, but they share foundations
SEO optimises to get a URL ranking. GEO optimises to be cited and summarised by a model. The good news: almost everything that makes an AI system cite you (clear content, verifiable data, clean structure, a recognisable brand) was already helping you on Google.
How models reach your content
- Direct crawling: bots such as GPTBot, ClaudeBot or PerplexityBot read your website. Blocking them in
robots.txtleaves you out of the game. - Live search: many answers draw on real-time search engine results. If you do not rank, you do not get cited.
- Third-party mentions: directories, local press, forums and reviews. AI trusts what others say about you, not just your website.
What to do on your website so AI understands you
- Answer the question in the first paragraph. Models extract short, self-contained answers, not filler introductions.
- Headings phrased as questions and frequently asked questions sections with specific answers.
- Structured data (Organization, Service, FAQPage, BlogPosting) to make the context explicit.
- Specific, verifiable data: starting prices, service areas, timescales, opening hours. Generic information does not get cited.
- Brand consistency across your website, business profile and social media: the same name, the same phone number, the same description.
- An
llms.txtfile summarising what your business does and which pages are relevant.
How to check whether you already appear
Ask several assistants directly about your service and your city (“web design agency in Pontevedra”, for example) and note who they cite and the reasons they give. Repeat this every month: it is the most practical way to measure progress while AI analytics tools mature.
What does not work
Generating a hundred articles with AI indiscriminately, repeating the keyword or making up data. Models prioritise sources with signals of reliability: clear authorship, demonstrable experience, verifiable company information and content that offers something that is not found everywhere.
Our approach
We apply GEO on a foundation of solid technical SEO: semantic structure, structured data, content that genuinely answers questions and brand consistency. You can see how we work on rankings at SEO agency, how we bring this to local businesses at SEO in Pontevedra and how it is reflected in website design. If you want to know how AI sees you today, ask us for a review via contact.