Is AEO different from SEO?

AEO and GEO extend SEO. Strong technical SEO and helpful content are still the foundation; AEO adds a focus on direct answers, entity clarity, structured data, and the third-party corroboration AI systems rely on.

How long does it take to show up in AI answers?

It varies by how often AI systems refresh their sources and how competitive the category is. Structural fixes can be made quickly, while authority from third-party mentions builds over time.

How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT and AI search

Mrktgrowth Strategies · Updated October 9, 2026

Short answer

AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews recommend businesses they can clearly understand and verify. To be recommended, describe exactly what you do, who you serve, and where in plain language; answer real customer questions directly on your site; add structured data; keep business details consistent across the web; and earn mentions on trusted third-party sites.

What AEO and GEO mean

Answer engine optimization (AEO) and generative engine optimization (GEO) make your business easy for AI systems to understand, cite, and recommend. They build on SEO rather than replacing it: AI answers often draw from pages that already rank and from sources the models trust.

1. State your entity clearly

Within the first lines of your homepage and about page, say what the business is, what it offers, who it serves, and where it operates. Use the same business name everywhere.

2. Answer real questions directly

Write headings that match the questions customers ask, and put the answer in the first sentence below each heading. Short, factual answers are easier for AI systems to extract and quote.

What does this service cost, and what affects the price?
How long does it take?
Who is it for?
How do I choose a provider?

3. Add structured data

Schema markup for your organization, services, FAQs, and articles tells machines exactly what each page is. It must match the visible content.

4. Be consistent and verifiable off your site

AI systems weigh corroboration. The same facts repeated by independent sources increase confidence.

Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, and relevant directories with identical details
Reviews on trusted platforms
Mentions in industry publications, podcasts, and partner sites

5. Let AI crawlers in

Check that robots.txt and any bot-blocking settings at your host or CDN allow the AI crawlers you want to be visible to. Some hosting platforms block them by default.

6. Measure what AI says about you

Ask the major assistants the questions your customers ask, on a regular schedule, and record whether and how your business appears. Track changes as you improve content and listings.