More and more people skip Google entirely and just ask an AI: "What's a good cleaning company near me?" or "Who should build my website?" If AI never mentions your business, you're invisible to those buyers. GEO — generative engine optimization — is how you get named in those answers.
SEO vs GEO in one line
- SEO gets you a high spot in a list of blue links.
- GEO gets your business named inside the answer an AI writes.
They overlap, but they're not the same — and GEO is still new enough that most of your competitors aren't doing it.
How AI decides who to recommend
AI assistants pull from the web and their training, and they favour businesses that are:
- Clearly described — a site that plainly states who you are, what you do, where, and for how much.
- Structured — behind-the-scenes data (called structured data / schema) that spells out your business in a format machines read perfectly.
- Corroborated — mentioned consistently in more than one place (your site, directories, reviews, social profiles). AI trusts what it can cross-check.
- Reputable — real reviews and a real track record.
What you can actually do
- Write clearly and factually. AI quotes clean sentences: "Portawebia builds custom websites for small businesses, delivered in about two weeks, from €1,500." Vague marketing fluff doesn't get quoted.
- Add structured data to your site so machines understand your business, services, and prices. (Every site we build includes this.)
- Answer real questions in plain language — FAQs and guides like this one are ideal for AI to lift.
- Keep your facts consistent everywhere your business appears online.
- Collect genuine reviews — reputation is a major signal.
Why now?
The businesses that got onto Google's first page early — and stayed — had a huge advantage for a decade. AI search is at that same early moment right now. Getting your structure and reputation right today is the cheapest it will ever be.
Every website Portawebia builds is SEO and GEO optimized from day one — clean structure, machine-readable data, and clearly-written content. See what your site could look like, free in 72 hours.
Related reading: How to get your business found on Google · Do I need a website if I have social media?