AEO, GEO and AI search: straight answers
Plain answers for Indian business owners on SEO, AEO and GEO, and how to get found, quoted and recommended by Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.
Questions on this page
- What is SEO and how does it work?
- What is AEO (answer engine optimisation)?
- What is GEO (generative engine optimisation)?
- SEO vs AEO vs GEO: what is the difference?
- Is SEO dead because of AI?
- How do I get my business to show up in ChatGPT?
- How do I get my business recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity?
- How do I show up in Google AI Overviews?
- How do AI search engines choose which sources to cite?
- How do I optimise my website for AI search?
- What is AI search visibility and how do I check mine?
- Is there a free AI search visibility checker?
- Does my business appear in ChatGPT answers?
- How do I write content that AI engines quote?
- What is FAQ schema and does it help AEO?
- What is structured data and schema markup?
- What is an llms.txt file and do I need one?
- How do I get featured in Google featured snippets?
- What is a zero-click search?
- How do I rank in voice search?
What is SEO and how does it work?
SEO (search engine optimisation) is making your website easier for Google to find, understand and trust, so it ranks higher in unpaid results. It works in three parts. Technical SEO helps Google crawl and index pages, on-page SEO matches content to searches, and off-page SEO builds trust through reviews and links. Results build over months, and no one can honestly guarantee a ranking.
What is AEO (answer engine optimisation)?
AEO (answer engine optimisation) is structuring your content so answer engines like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity and voice assistants can quote it directly. It means answering real customer questions in the first sentence, using question headings and adding schema markup. Keep facts like prices, location and services consistent across the web. AEO builds on good SEO rather than replacing it.
What is GEO (generative engine optimisation)?
GEO (generative engine optimisation) is improving how often and how accurately AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity recommend your business in their answers. It focuses on being a clear, trusted entity: detailed service pages, consistent business details, genuine reviews, and mentions on reputable sites and directories. Where AEO aims for a quoted answer, GEO aims for your business being named.
SEO vs AEO vs GEO: what is the difference?
SEO helps you rank in search results, AEO gets your content quoted as the direct answer, and GEO gets AI tools to recommend your business. SEO targets clicks from Google's links, AEO targets featured snippets, AI Overviews and voice answers, and GEO targets recommendations in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. All three rest on the same base: a fast, crawlable website, clear helpful content and trust signals like reviews and mentions.
Is SEO dead because of AI?
No, SEO is not dead because of AI; it has expanded. AI Overviews, ChatGPT search and Perplexity still draw on web pages that are crawlable, well structured and trusted, which is exactly what SEO builds. What has changed is that some searches now end without a click. So aim to be cited and recommended, not only ranked. Local searches like "dentist near me" still bring many calls through Google Maps.
How do I get my business to show up in ChatGPT?
To show up in ChatGPT, make your business easy to find and trust on the open web. Allow AI crawlers such as OAI-SearchBot in robots.txt and publish clear service and location pages with schema. Keep your name, address and phone identical everywhere. Earn mentions on directories, news sites and review platforms, and answer common customer questions on your site. No one can guarantee inclusion. BRANDSWOT Consultancy offers AI search optimisation for this.
How do I get my business recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity?
To get recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, build a clear, consistent and well-reviewed presence across the sources these tools read. Each draws on web search results, so ranking well in Google and Bing helps. Keep a complete Google Business Profile with genuine reviews, claim Bing Places, and publish detailed service pages with FAQs and schema. Earn mentions in local news, directories and industry lists. Test monthly by asking each tool your customers' questions.
How do I show up in Google AI Overviews?
To show up in Google AI Overviews, first rank well in normal Google results, because Overviews mostly cite pages Google already trusts for that query. Then answer specific questions directly in the first sentence under a question heading, add supporting detail and examples, and use clean HTML with schema markup. Keep pages fast, current and written from real experience. Google says pages need no special markup beyond being indexed and eligible to show a snippet.
How do AI search engines choose which sources to cite?
AI search engines generally cite sources that rank well for the query, answer it clearly and look trustworthy and current. They pull candidate pages from a search index, then favour direct, specific answers, clear structure, a named author and facts confirmed by other sites. Pages blocked from crawlers, hidden behind scripts or full of vague marketing copy are less likely to be used. Exact methods vary by tool and are not fully public.
How do I optimise my website for AI search?
Optimise your website for AI search by making every page crawlable, clearly structured and full of specific, quotable answers. Make sure content is in the HTML, not only loaded by JavaScript, and that AI crawlers are not blocked. Use question headings, answer in the first sentence, and add schema for your organisation, services and FAQs. Show real details like locations, timings and price ranges. BRANDSWOT Consultancy's free audit checks AI search readiness.
What is AI search visibility and how do I check mine?
AI search visibility is how often and how accurately AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overviews mention your business for your services. To check yours, ask each tool 10 to 20 real customer questions, like "best packers and movers in Kadapa". Note whether you appear, what they say and which sites they cite. Repeat monthly, since answers change, and correct wrong details at the source.
Is there a free AI search visibility checker?
Yes, you can check AI search visibility free by asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google real customer questions and noting whether you are named. Paid tools can automate this tracking across many prompts. For your website's readiness, free tools like Google Search Console and the Rich Results Test show indexing and schema issues. BRANDSWOT Consultancy's free audit also checks AI search readiness alongside speed and SEO.
Does my business appear in ChatGPT answers?
Your business may or may not appear in ChatGPT answers; the only way to know is to test the questions your customers actually ask. Try prompts with your service and city, your brand name and comparisons with competitors, with web search turned on. Note whether you are named, whether the details are correct and which websites ChatGPT cites. If you are missing, those cited sites show where you need a presence.
How do I write content that AI engines quote?
Write content AI engines quote by answering one clear question per section, with the direct answer in the first sentence and specifics right after. Use question headings, short sentences, real numbers, named places and step lists. Avoid vague claims like "best quality service". Show who wrote it and when it was updated, and cite sources for facts. Make each answer stand alone, because AI often lifts a single paragraph out of context.
What is FAQ schema and does it help AEO?
FAQ schema is structured data (FAQPage markup) that labels questions and answers on a page so search engines and AI tools read them precisely. Since 2023, Google shows FAQ rich results mainly for well-known government and health websites, so most businesses no longer get the expanded listing. It can still support AEO by making answers clear and machine-readable. The markup must match visible content, and the real value comes from answering genuine questions well.
What is structured data and schema markup?
Structured data, or schema markup, is code added to a web page, usually in JSON-LD format, that tells search engines exactly what the content is. Examples include a business, product, service, review, event or FAQ. It uses the shared Schema.org vocabulary. It can make pages eligible for rich results like star ratings and prices, and helps Google and AI tools read your business details accurately.
What is an llms.txt file and do I need one?
An llms.txt file is a proposed plain-text file at your website's root that gives AI tools a short summary and links to your key pages. It is not an official standard, and major AI companies have not confirmed they use it for ranking or citations. It is cheap to add and does no harm, but crawlable pages, clear content and schema matter far more. Treat it as optional.
How do I get featured in Google featured snippets?
To get a featured snippet, first rank on page one, then give a short, direct answer right under a heading that matches the question. Use numbered steps for how-to queries, short tables for comparisons and simple one-line definitions for "what is" queries. Find opportunities in Search Console by checking queries where you already rank in the top ten. Google chooses snippets automatically, so no one can guarantee one.
What is a zero-click search?
A zero-click search is one where the user gets the answer on the results page itself and does not click through to any website. The answer comes from an AI Overview, featured snippet, knowledge panel or map pack. For businesses, visibility still matters without a visit: your name, phone, reviews and directions on Google Business Profile can win the call directly. Aim to be the answer shown, not only a link.
How do I rank in voice search?
To rank in voice search, focus on local SEO and short, direct answers to spoken questions. Voice assistants often read featured snippets or pull local results from listings like Google Business Profile, so keep yours complete with hours, phone and categories. Write FAQs in natural language, such as "Which dental clinic near me is open on Sunday?", and answer in one or two sentences. BRANDSWOT Consultancy covers voice and AI search in its SEO work.