AI Search Optimisation – all the acronyms explained

AI search optimisation helps your business get found, quoted and recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot.

People now increasingly ask an AI tool a question instead of scrolling through a list of Google results. They’ll ask “who’s a good sustainable web designer in Bristol?” or “what’s the best charity near me for rewilding?” and get one short answer.

I’ve been doing SEO for over 10 years, and I now help businesses and charities make sure AI tools understand who they are, what they do, and why they’re worth recommending.

GEO, AEO, AIO… what do all the acronyms mean?

The industry hasn’t settled on one name yet, so you’ll see lots of terms. They mostly mean the same thing: making your website easy for AI to find, understand and cite.

• GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation): optimising your content so that AI tools which generate answers, like ChatGPT and Perplexity, use and cite it.
• AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation): structuring your content so it directly answers the questions people ask, whether in AI chat, voice assistants or Google’s answer boxes.
• AI SEO: a catch-all term for SEO that takes AI search into account.
• AIO (AI Optimisation) and LLMO (Large Language Model Optimisation): other names for the same idea, focused on the language models behind AI tools.
• SGE (Search Generative Experience): Google’s original name for what became AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Whatever you call it, the goal is the same – we just need to get your business into the AI results.

How I Can Help Your AI Search Visibility

Good AI search optimisation is built on good SEO, and I’ll adapt the approach to your business, your sector and your goals. So if the fundamental SEO is good, we’re already a large part of the way there.

AI Visibility Audit

First, I find out where you stand. I test the questions your customers actually ask across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot, and see whether you’re mentioned, how you’re described, and who’s being recommended instead. You get a clear report showing the gaps and what to do about them.

Content That Gets Cited

AI tools favour content that’s clear, well structured and trustworthy. I analyse, edit and write your content so it answers real questions directly, uses clear headings and summaries, and includes the specific details AI tools look for: facts, figures, prices, locations and expertise. Good copywriting matters more than ever.

Structured Data and Schema

Schema markup is code that tells machines exactly what your content is: your business, your services, your reviews, your FAQs, your location. I add and test structured data across your WordPress site so AI tools and search engines don’t have to guess.

Technical Foundations

AI tools can only recommend what they can read. I check your site is fast, crawlable and accessible, and that your robots.txt isn’t accidentally blocking the AI crawlers you want. I also look at emerging standards such as llms.txt. Lightweight, well-built sites are easier for machines to read, which is another reason my sustainable websites work well here. Yoast SEO helps a lot with this.

Brand and Reputation Signals

AI doesn’t only read your website. It builds a picture of your business from across the web: your Google Business Profile, directories, reviews, press coverage, Bing listings and industry sites. I make sure your information is consistent and credible everywhere it matters, so AI tools are confident recommending you.

Tracking and Ongoing Improvement

AI search changes fast, so this is an ongoing job. I track how AI tools describe and recommend you over time, and keep refining your content and setup as the platforms change.

Does Traditional SEO Still Matter?

Most AI tools draw on search engine results when putting their answers together, so strong SEO is still the foundation. AI search optimisation builds on it rather than replacing it. I do both together, so you’re visible whether someone is Googling or asking ChatGPT. Read more about my SEO services in Bristol.

AI Search FAQs

Can you guarantee my business will appear in ChatGPT or AI Overviews?

No, and you should be wary of anyone who says they can. Nobody controls what AI tools say. What I can do is give AI tools the best possible reasons to understand, trust and recommend you, and track the results so you can see progress.

How long does it take to see results?

Some changes, like fixing technical issues or adding structured data, can make a difference within weeks. Building authority and reputation across the web usually takes a few months, just like traditional SEO.

I’m a small business or charity. Is this relevant to me?

Especially so. AI tools often recommend just a handful of options, so being one of them has a big effect. Local businesses and charities with clear, trustworthy information can often be recommended over larger organisations with poorly structured sites.

Do you do AI search optimisation when you build a website?

Yes. Every site I build now includes the technical foundations as standard: structured data, clean code, fast loading and well-structured content. Read more about SEO when I build your site.

How much does it cost?

Like any work, I generally quote it based on your requirements. Get in touch and we can talk about what would suit you.

AI search optimisation in Bristol and beyond

I work with businesses and charities in Bristol and across the UK to get them seen in both traditional and AI search. Get in touch to find out how AI tools currently see your business.