AI Search Optimisation (GEO & AIO)
We optimise your site to be cited by Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Claude, not just ranked. It is the GEO and AIO part of our SEO service, built on the same pages so nothing is duplicated.
Last updated 13 October 2026
Search Console totals for client properties, 27 May to 23 August 2026; Google Ads totals Q2 2019 to Q3 2026.
How AI answer engines pick sources
Google Search Central says AI Overviews and AI Mode have no extra requirements beyond being indexed and eligible for a snippet, and that they use “query fan-out”: several related searches across subtopics, combined into one answer. Pages that answer the whole cluster of related questions get picked more often than a single page aimed at one keyword.
ChatGPT, Perplexity and Claude run their own searches and quote passages. In the GEO study from Princeton and IIT Delhi researchers, adding citations, quotations and statistics raised a page’s visibility in generative answers by up to 40%.
What we change on your site
Crawler access
robots.txt set so search crawlers such as OAI-SearchBot and PerplexityBot can read you. Training crawlers are your choice.
Answer-first pages
Every key page opens with a direct, quotable answer of 40 to 60 words, then the detail.
Facts with sources
Prices, numbers and dates on the page, with named sources, which assistants prefer to cite.
Topic clusters
Pillar and supporting pages that cover the fan-out questions buyers ask.
Machine-readable files
llms.txt and a plain-text pricing file that AI agents can read without rendering the page.
Schema markup
Organization, Service, FAQ and Article markup so engines understand who you are. See schema markup.
Crawlers: what to allow
| Crawler | Used for | What blocking it does |
|---|---|---|
| OAI-SearchBot | ChatGPT search results | Your site is not shown in ChatGPT search answers |
| GPTBot | Training OpenAI models | Opts you out of training; no effect on ChatGPT search |
| Google-Extended | Gemini training and grounding | No effect on Google Search inclusion or ranking |
| Googlebot | Google Search, AI Overviews, AI Mode | Removes you from Google Search entirely |
Sources: OpenAI’s crawler documentation and Google’s crawler documentation.
How the work runs
- BaselineWe test 20 to 50 of your priority questions in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT and Perplexity and record who gets cited.
- Fix accessrobots.txt, indexing, llms.txt and schema, so engines can read and attribute you.
- Rewrite key pagesAnswer-first copy, sourced facts and comparison tables on the pages that matter.
- Fill the clusterNew pages for the related questions the engines fan out to.
- Re-test monthlyThe same questions, re-run, with AI referrals and enquiries from GA4.
Frequently asked questions
What is AI search optimisation?
AI search optimisation is the work of getting your pages read, trusted and cited by AI answer engines: Google AI Overviews and AI Mode, ChatGPT search, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Copilot. It combines GEO (generative engine optimisation) and AIO (optimising for Google’s AI features) on top of normal SEO.
Do I need special markup to appear in Google AI Overviews?
No. Google says there are no additional requirements: a page must be indexed and eligible to show in Search with a snippet. Strong SEO and clear, answer-first content are what get pages picked.
How do I appear in ChatGPT search?
Allow OpenAI’s search crawler, OAI-SearchBot, in robots.txt. OpenAI says sites that opt out of OAI-SearchBot are not shown in ChatGPT search answers. Blocking GPTBot only opts you out of model training.
Does blocking Google-Extended hurt my Google rankings?
No. Google says Google-Extended does not affect inclusion in Google Search and is not a ranking signal; it controls use of your content for Gemini training and grounding.
How do you measure AI search visibility?
We track which of your priority questions return your brand in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, and measure AI assistant referrals and enquiries in GA4, alongside Search Console data.
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