Service
AI search visibility and generative engine optimization
We help agencies and brands show up when people ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI features for answers and recommendations. We check how these tools describe you today, then improve the content, technical setup and outside references they draw from.
What's included.
- AI visibility audit across ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI features
- list of priority questions and topics
- crawler access and technical review
- content review and new page recommendations
- business information and structured data cleanup
- outside references and listings plan
- correction plan for wrong information
- tracking of mentions, citations and AI referral traffic
- regular written reports
What AI search visibility means.
More people now get answers directly from AI tools, sometimes without visiting a list of search results. AI search visibility is about whether your brand gets mentioned, described correctly and linked when that happens.
You'll see several names for this work. Generative engine optimization (GEO), answer engine optimization (AEO), LLM optimization and AI SEO all describe roughly the same goal. The names matter less than the work behind them.
How it differs from SEO.
The two overlap heavily. Google says there are no additional requirements or special optimizations needed to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, and that a page has to be indexed and eligible to show with a snippet in Google Search. So solid SEO is the foundation, and an agency selling a secret trick for Google's AI features should make you cautious.
The differences are in what you watch and how the answer gets formed. A regular search result shows a ranked list. An AI answer gives one summary and may mention only a few brands, sometimes based on what other sites say about you. That makes clear information and outside references especially important.
Each tool also works differently. ChatGPT search, for example, relies on OpenAI's own crawler to surface websites, and OpenAI says sites that block OAI-SearchBot won't be shown in ChatGPT search answers. So it's worth checking that your site isn't blocking it by accident.
What affects whether AI tools mention you.
Access
The tools have to be able to reach your pages. We check your robots.txt, your firewall and CDN settings, and whether your important content can be read without problems.
Clear content
Pages should say plainly what you do, who it's for, where you work and what it costs where you can share that. Vague marketing language is hard for anyone to summarize, including an AI tool.
Answers to real questions
People ask AI tools longer, more specific questions than they type into Google. We build pages that answer those questions directly, using what you actually know from your work.
Outside references
Directories, reviews, press, partner sites and industry discussions all shape how your brand gets described. A brand that only talks about itself gives these tools little else to go on.
Consistent facts
Your name, services, locations and details should match across your site and other listings. Conflicting information can lead to wrong answers about your business.
How we measure AI visibility.
This measurement is still imperfect, and we'd rather say that plainly. AI answers change from one session to the next and can differ by person, wording and location, so a single screenshot doesn't prove much.
We track a set list of questions across the main tools over time, and we record whether you're mentioned, how you're described, which competitors appear and which sources get cited. We also look at referral traffic from AI tools in your analytics, and at branded search, which can rise when more people hear about you.
We treat those numbers as direction rather than precision. We can't guarantee that any AI tool will recommend your brand, because nobody controls those answers.
What we don't recommend.
We keep our advice tied to what the platforms say and what we can measure. Google says you don't need new machine-readable files, AI text files or special schema to appear in its AI features. We may still use structured data and clear files where they help in general, but we won't sell them to you as a shortcut.
We also don't recommend mass-producing AI pages to chase questions. Google's spam policies target pages generated at scale to manipulate rankings. And we won't plant fake reviews or fake mentions in forums, because it's dishonest and can damage the reputation you're trying to build.
How it works.
- 01
See how you appear today
We ask the main AI tools the questions your customers are likely to ask. We record whether you appear, what they say and which sources they use.
- 02
Check the foundation
We review crawler access, indexing, structured data and your existing SEO. Anything blocking the tools from reading your site comes first.
- 03
Plan the content and references
We work out which questions you should own, which pages need to change and where outside references are missing. We then rank those by priority.
- 04
Make the changes
We write or brief the pages and fix the information that's wrong or inconsistent. We also work on legitimate listings, partner mentions and press.
- 05
Track and adjust
We run the same questions regularly and compare results over time. A written note explains what changed and what we plan next.
How we price it.
We bill hourly and set the scope in hours. Strategy and advisory are CAD $175/h. Media management and execution are CAD $110/h. Tracking software, engineering and content production are identified separately where relevant.
You can engage one discipline without buying the others. A one-time AI visibility audit doesn't require ongoing work.
Questions before we start.
What is generative engine optimization?
Generative engine optimization, or GEO, is the work of improving how a brand appears in answers from AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI features. It covers content, technical access, business information and what other sites say about you.
What's the difference between GEO, AEO and AI SEO?
They overlap so much that many people use them interchangeably. AEO often refers to answers more broadly, while GEO focuses on generative AI tools. We care less about the label than about whether you show up correctly.
How do I get my business recommended by ChatGPT?
There's no setting that makes it happen. Make sure OpenAI's search crawler can reach your site, publish clear pages that answer real questions and build references on other credible sites. We can't guarantee a recommendation, but those steps give the tool better material to work from.
Do I need an llms.txt file?
Google says AI text files aren't needed for its AI features. Adding one is low effort, but we wouldn't count on it to change your results.
Does SEO still matter?
Yes. Google's AI features use pages that are indexed and eligible for Search, so SEO remains the foundation. We treat AI visibility as an extension of that work.
How long does it take to see results?
Technical fixes can be quick, while content and outside references take longer to have an effect. AI tools also update at different speeds, so we watch the trend over several months rather than a single result.
What if an AI tool says something wrong about us?
We look for the source of the error, then correct it on your site and on any outside pages where it appears. You can also report wrong answers to the tool itself, but no one can guarantee a quick fix.
Is this different from advertising on ChatGPT?
Yes. This work focuses on unpaid answers, whereas ads are paid placements. We scope them separately.
Related services.
Start a conversation.
Tell us what you are trying to move. We will tell you which disciplines are worth engaging, and which are not.