Why it matters
AI answers still start with pages they can read.®
AI answers pull from the web
Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode link out to supporting pages, and ChatGPT search finds sites through its own crawler. If those systems can't reach or understand your pages, they can't link to them.
There is no secret trick
Google says its AI features need no extra requirements or special optimisation. The work is good SEO done thoroughly: crawlable pages, clear answers in text, accurate structured data and consistent business details.
Readable, crawlable and worth citing.®
We check whether search engines and AI crawlers can reach your site, then fix what gets in the way: blocked bots, content locked in images or scripts, vague service pages, weak internal links and structured data that doesn't match the page. Then we write plain answers to the questions your buyers ask.
The detail
What AI search optimisation involves, and what it doesn't
AI search optimisation in plain terms
AI search optimisation, often called generative engine optimisation (GEO), means making your website easy for AI-driven search to find, understand and cite. That includes Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode, and chat-based tools such as ChatGPT search.
It is not a separate discipline with secret techniques. It is SEO with more attention on clear answers, crawl access and how consistently your business is described.
It suits businesses whose buyers research before they enquire, such as professional services, B2B and considered purchases. If people ask AI tools to compare options in your field, it is worth knowing what they say about you.
What Google says about AI Overviews and AI Mode
Google states there are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, and no special optimisation is needed. To be shown as a supporting link, a page must be indexed and eligible to appear in Search with a snippet.
Its recommended practices are familiar ones: allow crawling in robots.txt and at your CDN or host, link to important content internally, keep key content in text, offer a good page experience and make structured data match the visible page.
So AI features are no reason to drop SEO basics. Pages that are indexed, clear and useful are the ones these features can link to.
ChatGPT search and AI crawlers
OpenAI uses separate crawlers for separate jobs. OAI-SearchBot surfaces sites in ChatGPT search, GPTBot gathers content for model training, and ChatGPT-User visits pages when a person's request needs it, so robots.txt may not apply to it.
You can block GPTBot and still allow OAI-SearchBot, because each setting is independent in robots.txt. Google-Extended is a similar control for Gemini training and grounding, and Google says it does not affect inclusion or ranking in Google Search. We review these settings so nothing is blocked by accident.
Writing pages AI tools can quote
We rewrite service pages and guides so each one opens with a direct answer, uses specific facts such as prices, locations and timescales where you are happy to share them, and keeps the detail in text, not images.
Answers should match the way people actually ask, which is why this work leans on search intent research and real customer questions.
Short FAQ sections on service pages help as well, as long as they answer real questions rather than repeat keywords.
Consistent facts about your business
AI tools can draw on your site and on other sources across the web. Your name, services, address and contact details should match across your site, Google Business Profile and directory listings.
We add Organization or LocalBusiness structured data that mirrors what the page shows, and tidy conflicting details where we find them.
We also look at how reputable sites describe you. Earning mentions through useful content is slower than buying links, but Google's spam policies treat buying links for ranking as link spam.
Measuring it honestly
Search Console includes traffic from Google's AI features in its overall Web search figures. Alongside it, we track AI referral visits in GA4 and run regular prompt checks across AI tools, and you get regular reports on a schedule we agree with you.
We start with a competitor baseline: how your brand and two or three competitors appear for a set of real buyer questions today.
No one can guarantee a mention in an AI answer. What we can do is make sure your site gives these systems every reason to understand you correctly.
FAQ
What is AI search optimisation?
Also called generative engine optimisation (GEO), it is the work of making your content easy for AI search tools and AI summaries to crawl, understand and cite accurately.
Can you guarantee we will be mentioned by AI tools?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. AI tools decide for themselves what to show and change often. We improve what you control and track how your brand appears.
Is GEO different from SEO?
Mostly it is SEO done thoroughly. Google says the same SEO best practices apply to AI Overviews and AI Mode. GEO adds focus on direct answers and how your brand is described across the web.
Do we need special files or markup for AI Overviews?
Google says there are no additional requirements. A page must be indexed and eligible to show with a snippet. Any structured data should match the visible text.
Should we block AI crawlers?
It depends on what you want. OpenAI's GPTBot is for training, while OAI-SearchBot is used to surface sites in ChatGPT search. Google-Extended does not affect Google Search. We set robots.txt to match your choice.
How do you measure AI search results?
We track AI referral visits in GA4, run regular prompt checks across AI tools and compare you against a competitor baseline. Search Console includes traffic from Google's AI features in its overall Web search figures. You get regular reports on a schedule we agree with you.
What do you need from us to start?
Access to your website, Search Console and analytics, an overview of your services and the questions customers ask most. We then review the site and agree a scope.
How much does AI search optimisation cost?
It depends on the size of the site and how much needs fixing or writing. After a call we quote a fixed monthly fee or a fixed project fee.
From ordinary to unforgettable.®
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a clear plan and a fixed quote.