For twenty years, being visible online meant one thing: ranking well in Google's results. That is SEO, search engine optimisation. Today, part of all searches goes through artificial intelligence assistants: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, or the AI-generated answers at the top of Google itself.
These assistants do not give a list of links: they write an answer and cite a few sources. Being one of those sources is what GEO is about.
SEO in one sentence
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) covers everything that helps your website appear in search engine results: a technically sound and fast website, pages that answer users' questions with the right keywords, and links from other trusted websites.
GEO in one sentence
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), sometimes called AI SEO or AI search optimisation, covers everything that helps AI assistants understand your business and cite it in their answers.
The goal is no longer just to appear in a list, but to be recommended when someone asks "which agency should I choose in Paris" or "how much does this service cost".
What changes
Assistants favour clear, factual content: a question, a precise answer, figures, definitions, verifiable sources. Vague or overly promotional text is unlikely to be picked up.
They also cross-check information: if your name, services or prices differ between your website, your Google profile and directories, they trust you less.
Finally, they rely on your reputation beyond your own website: customer reviews, articles that mention you, presence on recognised websites in your sector.
An important technical point: your website must allow AI crawlers in its robots.txt file. Some websites block them without knowing it.
What does not change
GEO does not replace SEO, it extends it. Assistants that search the web rely largely on pages that already rank well. A fast, well-structured website with useful content remains the foundation of both.
In other words: if your SEO is weak, start there. If your SEO is solid, GEO is the next step, and a way to get ahead while few businesses are paying attention to it.
Can being cited be guaranteed?
No, and beware of anyone who promises it. AI answers vary with the question, the person and the moment. What can be done: increase your chances of being cited and measure progress.
The method we use: a fixed list of questions asked every month to the main assistants, noting who is cited, plus visits coming from AI in your website statistics.
Where to start
Check that your website is open to AI crawlers, that your information is identical everywhere, and turn your key pages into real answers: one question per section, with a clear answer at the start.
Our AI search optimisation service starts at €390 a month, with no commitment, including an audit of your presence on four assistants and monthly citation tracking. It can be combined with classic SEO.