AI SEO · 5 min read
GEO: how to get your brand cited by ChatGPT and AI search
Search is moving into AI answers. Here is how African brands get mentioned there first.
Short answer
GEO (generative engine optimisation) is the practice of making your brand the source AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity cite when people ask questions in your category. It combines clear answer-first content, structured data and technical access for AI crawlers.
What is the difference between SEO, AEO and GEO?
| Item | Goal | Where it shows |
|---|---|---|
| SEO | Rank web pages | Google and Bing results |
| AEO | Be the direct answer | Featured snippets, voice assistants, “People also ask” |
| GEO | Be cited by generative AI | ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, AI Overviews |
How do you optimise for AI answers?
- Answer the question in the first 40–60 words of the page.
- Use question-style headings that match how people ask.
- Add FAQ, Service, Organization and Article structured data.
- Publish facts AI can quote: prices, timelines, locations, definitions.
- Allow reputable AI crawlers in robots.txt and publish an llms.txt file.
- Earn mentions on trusted local sites, directories and media.
Why is GEO a big opportunity in Africa?
Many categories have few well-structured local sources, so the first credible brand with clear answers often becomes the default citation.
Frequently asked questions
Does GEO replace SEO?
No. AI assistants still rely heavily on content that ranks and is well structured, so strong SEO is the foundation for GEO.
What is llms.txt?
A plain-text file at the root of a website that summarises the site and links to its most important pages for AI systems.
Related services
AI SEO / GEO / AEORank in Google, and inside ChatGPT, Gemini & Claude.Next.js DevelopmentHigh-performance sites and apps that rank and convert.Content Management / CMSWebsites that win search, in Google and AI answers.