GEO · AEO · Traditional SEO
Next-Gen SEO: Generative & Answer Engine Optimization
If you only read one paragraph
AI search visitors convert at 4.4× the rate of traditional organic visitors, according to Semrush's 2025 AI search study. Brands optimised for generative and answer engines are capturing that traffic. Brands that aren't are losing it — silently. We get you cited.
4.4×
Higher conversion from AI search vs organic
15.69%
US Google searches showing AI Overviews
+115%
Visibility lift from citation-rich content (Princeton GEO study)
5
AI platforms we optimise for
Understand the landscape
SEO vs GEO vs AEO — what's the difference?
Search is no longer a list of blue links. Three overlapping disciplines now determine your brand's visibility — and most agencies only run one of them.
| Dimension | Traditional SEO | GEO | AEO ← own this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Search Engine Optimization | Generative Engine Optimization | Answer Engine Optimization |
| Goal | Rank in Google blue links | Appear in AI-generated summaries | Be cited as authoritative source |
| Platforms | Google, Bing | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini | Perplexity, AI Overviews, ChatGPT |
| Key signals | Backlinks, keywords, Core Web Vitals | Entity clarity, structured data, freshness | Direct answers, citations, statistics |
| Competition | Saturated | Emerging | Very low — move now |
Our methodology
Based on peer-reviewed research, not best-guess SEO
Most GEO/AEO agencies hand-wave their methodology. Ours is rooted in Aggarwal et al.'s Princeton GEO Study (ACM KDD '24, DOI: 10.1145/3637528.3671900) — the most rigorous peer-reviewed analysis of what makes content visible in generative AI systems.
The Princeton study tested specific content interventions across 10 LLMs. Three had significant, measurable impact. We implement all three, systematically, across every page we optimise.
Read our GEO guide →Statistics Addition
+41% visibilityAdding credible, cited statistics to content increases generative engine visibility by 41% (Position-Adjusted Word Count metric, Princeton GEO study). We source real data from primary research — not vague claims.
Quotation Addition
+28% visibilityNamed expert quotes with credentials increase LLM citation rates by 28%. We identify existing expertise in your org and structure it as quotable source material with proper author markup.
Cite Authoritative Sources
+115% for rank-5 contentOutbound citations to peer-reviewed research, government data, and industry standards dramatically improve AI citation rates — especially for content that doesn't yet rank #1 in traditional search.
Platform coverage
Five AI platforms. One strategy. Consistent citations.
Each AI search platform has a different retrieval model. We build platform-specific playbooks so your brand wins across all of them.
Google AI Overviews
AI Overviews appeared in 15.69% of US Google results (Semrush, 10M+ keyword study). We optimise for SGE-style extraction: direct-answer H2s, FAQPage schema, E-E-A-T signals, and internal authority linking.
Perplexity
Perplexity favours citation-rich content with clear source attribution. We optimise crawlability, structured data, and domain authority signals. The Princeton GEO study showed up to 37% Perplexity visibility improvement.
ChatGPT Search
ChatGPT's browsing model prioritises freshness, named authorship, and topical depth. We build content that trains the model to associate your brand with category authority over time.
Claude (Anthropic)
Claude emphasises factual accuracy and source credibility. Content optimised for Claude needs explicit claims with verifiable backing, clear entity disambiguation, and structured factual passages.
Gemini
Google's Gemini pulls heavily from Google's own index signals. Traditional SEO authority compounds with GEO here — strong backlink profile + structured content wins double.
Traditional SEO — still matters
Technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, backlinks, and keyword strategy remain the foundation. AI visibility rides on top of it. We run all three layers as one integrated strategy.
Case study
From invisible to cited: 0 AI citations to 34 in 90 days
A D2C health brand was generating solid traditional organic traffic but had zero presence in AI-generated answers across Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google AI Overviews. Within 90 days of our GEO/AEO programme, their content was being cited across all three platforms.
0→34
AI platform citations
+180%
Organic click-through rate
3.8×
Lead quality from AI-referred traffic
What we changed
- → Rewrote 12 existing posts with AEO extraction format
- → Added named author bios with credentials + LinkedIn
- → Cited 3+ primary research sources per post
- → Added FAQPage + Article + Author schema to all posts
- → Published 8 new posts with statistics-rich intros
- → Built topical cluster around 3 core question categories
Pricing
GEO / AEO SEO packages
We offer a free AEO Visibility Audit before any engagement. You'll see exactly where you stand before spending a penny.
Foundation
$3K/mo
AEO + technical SEO baseline
- ✓ AEO audit + content gap analysis
- ✓ 4 AEO-optimised posts/month
- ✓ Schema markup implementation
- ✓ Monthly AI citation tracking
Growth
$6K/mo
Full GEO + AEO + traditional SEO
- ✓ 8 AEO posts + 1 pillar guide/mo
- ✓ Platform-specific GEO playbooks
- ✓ Link building + digital PR
- ✓ Weekly AI citation dashboard
Authority
$12K+/mo
Category-defining AI presence
- ✓ Full content team embedded
- ✓ Founder thought leadership programme
- ✓ PR + earned media for citations
- ✓ Proprietary data study (annual)
AEO-formatted FAQ
Common questions about GEO & AEO
This FAQ is itself structured for AEO extraction — direct answers, cited sources, named author. We eat our own dog food.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of optimising content to appear in AI-generated responses from systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude. Unlike traditional SEO which targets blue-link rankings, GEO targets citation inclusion in synthesised AI answers. The term was formalised in Aggarwal et al. (2024), Princeton GEO Study, ACM KDD '24 (DOI: 10.1145/3637528.3671900), which identified statistics, quotations, and cited sources as the three most impactful content interventions.
To get cited by ChatGPT: (1) Create content with direct, factual answers to specific questions in the first 50–100 words; (2) Include credible statistics with named sources; (3) Add named author bios with verifiable credentials; (4) Cite at least 3 authoritative external sources per article; (5) Use structured data (Article + FAQPage + Author schema); (6) Build topical authority with interconnected cluster content. ChatGPT's browsing model prioritises freshness and source credibility — consistency over time compounds results.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring content to be extracted as direct answers by AI-powered answer engines — including Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and voice assistants. The core technique is the "extraction block": a 40–60 word direct answer immediately following the H1, written to answer the implied question behind the page's primary keyword. AEO works alongside GEO but focuses specifically on structured extraction rather than broader generative citation.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) targets ranking in traditional search results (blue links). AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) targets being surfaced as the direct answer in AI-powered interfaces. SEO success is measured by ranking position and organic clicks. AEO success is measured by citation frequency, featured snippet wins, and AI overview inclusion. Both matter in 2026 — but AEO is significantly less competitive and AI-referred visitors convert at 4.4× the rate of organic visitors, per Semrush's 2025 AI search study.
To optimise for Google AI Overviews: (1) Target conversational, question-format queries — AI Overviews appear in 15.69% of US searches, mostly informational intent; (2) Use direct-answer format in the opening paragraph; (3) Implement FAQPage schema; (4) Ensure strong E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness); (5) Cite primary research — Google's AI Overviews strongly prefer content that references academic or institutional sources; (6) Maintain fast Core Web Vitals — Google's crawler must be able to access your content reliably.
We track GEO/AEO performance across: (1) AI citation frequency — how often your brand/content appears in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini responses for target queries; (2) Google Search Console AI Overview impressions and clicks; (3) Referral traffic from AI platforms (ChatGPT.com, Perplexity.ai); (4) Featured snippet wins in traditional search; (5) Branded query growth (a proxy for AI-driven brand awareness). We provide a monthly dashboard tracking all metrics with source attribution.
Free tool
Get your free AEO Visibility Audit
Enter your domain and we'll show you exactly how you appear (or don't) across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews — plus a prioritised fix list.