GEO and AI Search
GEO Services That Get Your Business Named in AI Answers
When your customers ask ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Gemini or Copilot who to hire or what to buy, we work to make sure your business is in the answer. GEO is included in every MRB plan.
25 years of SEO · 50,000+ first-page rankings · 5-star Google reviews
What happens when AI answers the question instead of Google?
Your customer used to search, scan ten blue links and click a few. Now many of them ask an AI assistant and get one written answer that names a handful of businesses. If yours isn't one of them, you don't lose on page two. You simply don't exist in that conversation.
Worse, you can't see it happening. Your competitor gets recommended, the customer calls them, and you never knew the conversation took place. Meanwhile, the businesses getting cited now are building trust signals that will be hard to catch later.
What is GEO (generative engine optimization)?
GEO, or generative engine optimization, is the work of getting your business mentioned, cited and linked inside answers written by AI tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot. SEO earns you a ranking in a list of links. GEO earns you a place in the answer itself.
Two terms you'll see on this page:
- Mention: the AI names your business in its answer.
- Citation: the AI links to your page as a source for its answer.
Both matter. A mention builds trust with the reader. A citation can also send a visitor to your site.
How do AI search engines decide which businesses to cite?
Most AI search tools don't answer from memory alone. They run live web searches, pull passages from the pages they find, and write an answer from those passages. So your content has to be findable, readable by their crawlers, and clear enough to quote. Trust signals from other websites help them decide who to believe.
Here's what that process looks like, based on what the platforms themselves have published:
- They search first, then write. Google says AI Overviews and AI Mode use a "query fan-out" technique, running multiple related searches across subtopics to build one answer. Gemini's grounding feature works the same way: it decides whether to search, runs one or more Google searches, and attaches citations to the answer.
- They need permission to crawl you. OpenAI says sites that block its OAI-SearchBot crawler won't be shown in ChatGPT search answers. Perplexity uses PerplexityBot to surface and link sites in its results. A single line in your robots.txt file, or an overly aggressive firewall, can quietly lock you out.
- They lean on search indexes you already know. Google's AI features use Google's index. Microsoft says Copilot and Bing's AI summaries cite pages, and Bing Webmaster Tools now reports those citations. If you're weak in regular search, you'll usually be weak in AI answers too.
- They quote passages, not whole pages. A page that answers a question clearly in its first few sentences is easier to pull from than one that buries the answer under 600 words of intro.
- They look for agreement. When multiple trusted sites describe your business the same way (your website, your Google Business Profile, directories, news articles, reviews), AI tools have more confidence naming you.
What does MRB's GEO service include?
We combine the technical access, content and reputation work AI engines need to trust and cite you. Every item below is part of our GEO work, and GEO is included in every plan.
Entity SEO
An "entity" is how search engines and AI understand a real thing: your business, your founder, your products. We make sure your name, address, services and expertise are described the same way everywhere, so AI tools know exactly who you are and what you're known for.
Third-party mentions and digital PR
AI tools trust what others say about you more than what you say about yourself. We earn mentions in industry publications, directories and local media. It's the same approach that got Brian featured in the GoDaddy Blog, Housecall Pro, SEOptimer and others.
Citation tracking across a prompt set
We build a list of the real questions your buyers ask AI tools ("best roofer in Raleigh," "is X brand safe for dogs"). Then we track whether you're named or cited for each one, across engines, month after month.
Answer-first content
We rewrite and build pages so each section answers a real customer question in the first 40 to 60 words, then backs it up. So when an AI tool needs a quotable answer, yours is the easiest one to use.
llms.txt file
llms.txt is a proposed standard, a short plain-text guide to your site written for AI agents. Google says you don't need it to appear in AI Overviews, and we won't pretend it's a magic switch. It takes little time, some AI tools and agents read it, and it gives them a clean summary of who you are. So we add it.
Structured data
Structured data (schema markup) is code that labels your content for machines: this is a business, this is a service, this is a review, this is an FAQ. It doesn't guarantee a citation, but it removes guesswork about what your pages contain.
AI crawler access
We check your robots.txt file, firewall and CDN settings so the crawlers that power AI search (like OAI-SearchBot, PerplexityBot and Bingbot) can reach your pages. We also help you decide which training-only crawlers, like GPTBot, you want to allow. That's a business choice, and we'll explain the trade-off.
50,000+
first-page rankings earned for clients
Why trust MRB with AI search?
Because GEO is built on the same foundation as SEO, and that foundation is what we've done for 25 years. AI engines pull from search indexes. The businesses that win in AI answers are usually the ones that already rank, publish clear content and have strong reputations. That's our work.
We haven't published a GEO case study yet, and we won't invent one. What we can show you is the SEO track record that GEO is built on:
- 50,000+ first-page rankings earned for clients.
- A national pest control company grew clicks by 300% and impressions by 250% in 7 months. Read the pest control case study
- A cannabis e-commerce brand in California tripled its organic clicks and grew sales by 50% within 12 months. Read the cannabis case study
We track AI citations for our clients every month, and we'll share that data with you during your audit. Want to see where you stand right now? Try the free AI Visibility Checker
Review reference: Joey W., an e-commerce client, highlights our detailed reporting and real results in his Google review. Read more reviews
25 years of SEO · 50,000+ first-page rankings · 5-star Google reviews
How does a GEO project work?
1. Free audit (a few days)
Brian checks your crawler access, structured data, entity consistency and how AI tools describe you today.
2. Strategy (week 1 to 2)
We build your prompt set: the 20 to 50 questions your buyers ask AI tools. We map each to a page and a goal.
3. Build and optimize (month 1 to 3)
Fix crawler access, add structured data and llms.txt, rewrite key pages answer-first, clean up listings, start digital PR.
4. Monthly reporting and growth
Track mentions, citations and AI referral traffic. Expand content and mentions for the prompts you're not winning yet.
How do you measure GEO results?
We measure GEO in three ways: how often AI tools mention or cite you for the prompts that matter, how much traffic AI tools send to your site, and what that traffic does once it arrives. You see all three in your monthly report.
- LLM mention tracking. For clients on the Traction plan and up, we track your mentions and citations across a fixed prompt set every month. You'll see which prompts you win, which competitors show up instead, and how that changes.
- AI referral traffic in GA4. We set up a Google Analytics 4 segment for visits that come from AI tools such as chatgpt.com, perplexity.ai, gemini.google.com and copilot.microsoft.com. Then we track leads and sales from those visits, not just sessions.
- Platform reports. Google reports AI Overviews and AI Mode traffic inside Search Console's normal Performance report (under the "Web" search type). Bing Webmaster Tools has an AI Performance report that shows how often Copilot and Bing AI summaries cite your pages and which pages get cited. We set both up and read them for you.
Value tip (even if you never hire us): Open ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini today and ask the three questions your best customers would ask before hiring you. Write down who gets named. Repeat it in 90 days. That's a free, rough version of citation tracking.
How does GEO work on each AI engine?
Each engine finds sources a little differently, but they share one rule: they can only cite pages they can reach and understand. Here's the short version for each.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT search uses OpenAI's OAI-SearchBot crawler to find pages to show in its answers. OpenAI says sites that block that crawler won't appear in ChatGPT search answers. We make sure you're crawlable, build answer-first pages, and earn the third-party mentions that help ChatGPT feel confident naming you.
Google AI Overviews and AI Mode
Google says there are no special requirements beyond being indexed and eligible to show a snippet in Search. That means strong regular SEO is the entry ticket. We focus on the subtopics Google's query fan-out is likely to search, so your pages answer the follow-up questions too.
Perplexity
Perplexity uses PerplexityBot to surface and link websites in its results, and it shows its sources openly. That makes it a good place to see citations early. Clear, current, well-sourced pages tend to do well here.
Gemini
Gemini can ground answers in live Google Search results and attach source links. So your Google rankings and your content's clarity both feed into whether Gemini cites you. Strong Google SEO and consistent entity information help most.
Microsoft Copilot
Copilot is built on Bing's index, so Bing matters more than most businesses think. We set up Bing Webmaster Tools, submit your sitemaps, and watch its AI Performance report to see which of your pages Copilot cites.
Do I need GEO or SEO?
You need both, and they're not really separate. SEO gets your pages into the search indexes AI tools pull from. GEO makes those pages easy to quote and builds the outside trust that gets you named. Doing GEO without SEO is like printing a great brochure and never handing it out.
That's why we don't sell GEO as a separate product. Every MRB plan includes AI visibility work alongside technical SEO, content and links. One strategy, one team, one report. See all SEO services
How much do GEO services cost?
GEO is included in every MRB plan. Plans start at $950/month. LLM mention tracking, where we monitor your citations across a prompt set every month, is included from the Traction plan ($1,950/month starting price) up.
What changes the price: how competitive your market is, how many locations or products you have, how much content you need each month and how many links and mentions it takes to compete. Compare plans · Estimate your cost
Who does the GEO work?
Brian Vastola, our founder, sets your GEO strategy himself and works with our senior team of 5. There are no account managers and no handoffs to junior staff. If your developer needs to change robots.txt or add schema, Brian gets on the call and explains exactly what to do. Meet the team
How long does GEO take to work?
Technical fixes can work within weeks. Content and reputation work takes months. Here's an honest guide:
- Weeks 1 to 4: crawler access fixed, structured data and llms.txt live, key pages rewritten.
- Months 2 to 4: first changes in mentions on engines that search live, like Perplexity and ChatGPT search.
- Months 4 to 12: steadier citations across engines as third-party mentions build and rankings climb.
These are typical ranges, not promises. AI answers change often, even for the same question asked twice. That's why we track a full prompt set over time instead of judging by one screenshot.
What is the difference between GEO and SEO?
SEO helps your pages rank in search results. GEO helps your business get named and cited inside AI-written answers. They overlap heavily, because AI tools pull from search indexes. Good GEO starts with good SEO, then adds answer-first content, entity consistency, structured data and third-party mentions so AI tools can quote and trust you.
Can you guarantee my business will appear in ChatGPT?
No. Nobody controls what ChatGPT or any AI tool says, and answers can vary each time a question is asked. Anyone guaranteeing AI placement is guessing. What we can do is remove the barriers, build the signals these tools rely on, and track your mentions honestly every month.
How much does GEO cost?
GEO is included in every MRB plan, starting at $950/month. LLM mention tracking across a set of buyer prompts is included from the Traction plan, starting at $1,950/month. Your exact price depends on competition, number of locations or products and how much content and outreach you need.
How long until AI tools start mentioning my business?
Technical fixes can take effect within weeks once AI crawlers revisit your site. Changes in mentions often show up in 2 to 4 months on engines that search live. Steady citations across engines usually take 4 to 12 months, because they depend on your rankings and outside reputation growing.
Should I block AI crawlers from my site?
Usually not the ones that power AI search. OpenAI says blocking OAI-SearchBot keeps you out of ChatGPT search answers. Training crawlers like GPTBot are a separate choice. Blocking them doesn't remove you from ChatGPT search. We'll walk you through the trade-off for your business.
Do I need an llms.txt file?
It isn't required. Google says you don't need AI text files to appear in AI Overviews. We add llms.txt because it's quick, some AI agents read it, and it gives them a clean summary of your business. Think of it as a small helpful extra, not a ranking factor.
How do I know if AI tools are sending me traffic?
Check Google Analytics 4 for referrals from sites like chatgpt.com, perplexity.ai, gemini.google.com and copilot.microsoft.com. We set up a dedicated AI traffic segment for every client and report leads or sales from it, not just visits.
Does structured data help with AI search?
It helps machines understand what your pages are about, which removes guesswork. Google says no special schema is required for AI Overviews, so we don't oversell it. We use structured data as part of a bigger plan that includes clear content, strong rankings and outside mentions.
Which AI engine matters most for my business?
It depends on where your buyers ask. Google AI Overviews reach anyone using Google Search. ChatGPT and Perplexity are popular for research and comparisons. Copilot shows up across Windows, Edge and Bing. We track all five so you're not guessing, then focus effort where your buyers are.
Can I check my AI visibility myself?
Yes. Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini the questions your customers ask, and note who gets named. For a faster read, use our free AI Visibility Checker. For a full review, our free audit includes an AI visibility check reviewed by Brian.
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