What is AI search optimisation?
AI search optimisation, also called generative engine optimisation (GEO) or answer engine optimisation (AEO), is the practice of making a business's content and reputation easy for AI search tools to find, understand, trust and cite in their answers. It covers Google AI Overviews and AI Mode, ChatGPT search, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity and Gemini.
Can you show a business being recommended by ChatGPT?
Yes. ChatGPT names our law firm client in Harrow as its first recommendation for "the best immigration lawyer in Kenton Road, Harrow", and Google's AI Overview features the same firm first for "the best conveyancer in Kenton Road, Harrow". ChatGPT also names our beauty salon client as its strongest recommendation for BB Glow in Grapevine, Texas. All five screenshots are further down this page, with full details in the law firm and salon case studies.
How do AI search tools choose which businesses to mention?
AI search tools choose businesses by retrieving web pages that answer the question, then favouring sources that are clear, consistent and widely corroborated. Google's AI features draw on its normal search index and ranking systems, so pages that rank well organically are much more likely to be cited. ChatGPT search and Copilot rely heavily on Bing's index. Answers about local businesses also draw on Google Business Profile and Bing Places data, reviews, and mentions across trusted websites.
What does our AI search SEO service include?
Our AI search SEO service includes entity optimisation, answer-first content, structured data, technical access for AI crawlers, brand mention building and AI visibility tracking.
Entity clarity
AI systems understand the web as entities (businesses, people, places, services) and the relationships between them. We make sure your business name, address, services, areas, founders and credentials are described identically on your website, Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Companies House, LinkedIn and industry directories.
Answer-first content
Pages structured around the questions customers ask, with a direct answer in the first sentence, followed by detail, prices, steps and examples. This is the format AI tools extract most easily, and it is also what Google's featured snippets reward.
Structured data
Organization, LocalBusiness, Service, Product, FAQPage and Person schema in JSON-LD, so your facts are machine-readable.
Technical access
Fast pages that ship complete HTML without relying on JavaScript, because many AI crawlers do not render JavaScript. We check your robots.txt so you choose which crawlers (Googlebot, Bingbot, OAI-SearchBot, PerplexityBot) can access your site, and we submit to Bing Webmaster Tools and IndexNow.
Mentions and reviews
AI answers lean on consensus. Being mentioned and reviewed on trusted third-party websites, such as local press, trade bodies, review platforms, Reddit and industry roundups, makes it more likely you are recommended.
AI visibility tracking
We run a fixed set of prompts customers would ask, for example "best family solicitor in Manchester", across AI platforms each month and record whether and how your business is mentioned.
Is AI search SEO different from traditional SEO?
No, not fundamentally. AI search SEO is built on the same foundations as traditional SEO: crawlable pages, helpful content, authority and trust. The difference is emphasis: clearer entity information, more direct answers, and wider reputation across third-party sources. A business that neglects normal SEO will rarely be cited by AI.
How much does AI search SEO cost?
AI search optimisation is included in our Growth package (£900 a month) and Ecommerce package (£1,500 a month). An AI visibility check is included in every full SEO audit, from £500.
How long does it take to appear in AI answers?
Improvements usually show in AI answers within two to four months, as updated pages are recrawled and new mentions are picked up. Results vary between platforms because each uses different sources and updates at a different pace.
Questions
Asked and answered
Can you guarantee my business will appear in ChatGPT or AI Overviews?+
No. AI answers change with each query and each update, and no provider controls them. We can improve the signals AI tools rely on and track how often you are cited.
Do I need an llms.txt file?+
It does no harm, but no major AI search platform has confirmed using llms.txt for ranking or citations. Clear, crawlable pages and structured data matter far more.
Are AI Overviews reducing website traffic?+
For many informational searches, yes, because some users get their answer without clicking. Commercial and local searches still send clicks, and being cited in the overview builds trust with the users who do click.
Should I block AI crawlers?+
Blocking search-focused crawlers such as OAI-SearchBot or PerplexityBot stops those tools citing you. Training crawlers such as GPTBot and Google-Extended can be blocked separately without affecting search visibility.
