SEO · 6 min read ·
How to Get Your Brand Cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI
AI assistants answer questions by reading the web. Here's how to make sure they can read, understand and cite you.
More buying research now starts with an AI assistant. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of making your brand easy for those systems to find, understand and cite. It builds on classic SEO — it doesn't replace it.
1. Be crawlable by the right bots
Check that your robots.txt allows the crawlers you want — search and AI assistants — and declare your preferences with Content Signals (search, ai-input, ai-train). Blocking AI crawlers by accident is surprisingly common.
2. Put meaning in the HTML
AI crawlers often don't execute JavaScript. Your headings, text and links must be in the server-rendered HTML. Visual effects, 3D and animations should decorate content, never contain it.
3. Offer machine-readable versions
- An llms.txt file summarising what you do and linking to key pages.
- Markdown versions of pages for agents that request text/markdown.
- Structured data — Organization, Service, Article, BreadcrumbList — that matches visible content.
4. Write answers, not slogans
AI systems quote clear, specific statements. Pages that define terms, explain processes, give numbers and answer common questions directly are far more citable than vague marketing copy.
5. Build authority
Mentions on reputable sites, consistent company information and genuine expertise signals help AI systems trust your brand enough to recommend it.
Want to know how visible you are today? Our AI search visibility service audits both classic and AI search readiness.