GEO · AI VISIBILITY

Get found when customers ask AI.

More and more people are no longer asking Google — they're asking ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity. If the AI doesn't know you, you don't exist in that answer — GEO changes that.

By Eugen Völker · Runline Automation, Dortmund · Last updated: June 2026
Do you know a good real estate agent in Essen?
Sure — here are three providers that are frequently recommended: …and this is exactly where it's decided whether YOUR name comes up or your competitor's.

What is GEO — and what sets it apart from SEO?

SEO

Optimizes your site to rank high in Google resultlists high up. The user clicks through ten blue links.

GEO — Generative Engine Optimization

Optimizes for AI systems to know you, describe you accurately, and mention or recommend you in their single response. There is no position 7 anymore — only mentioned or invisible.

Both overlap — clean content helps everywhere — but GEO has its own levers.

Three paths lead into an AI response

Training knowledge: What the model read about you during training. For small businesses, this is usually: nothing. Influenceable long-term through consistent presence.
Live web search: Many assistants search the web live when generating answers. The most important lever for small businesses — actionable immediately.
Structured data: Machine-readable information that makes your site unambiguous for AI systems — the foundation that makes paths 1 and 2 work at all.

Test it yourself: What does AI know about your business today? Results in 10 seconds — sobering for most businesses, and that's exactly what makes it an opportunity.

Go to AI Check →

The GEO building blocks

Structured data (Schema.org)Machine-readable details about your company, services, location, opening hours, and reviews — the business card for machines.
llms.txtA new convention: a file that gives AI systems a concise overview of who you are and what you offer.
Crawler accessThe most common mistake: sites block AI crawlers without realizing it — through bot blockers or CDN settings. GPTBot, ClaudeBot & Co. must be explicitly allowed.
Clear, citable contentAI systems prefer to quote clear statements, lists, and Q&As. Vague waffle doesn't get cited.
ConsistencyName, address, and services identical everywhere — website, Google profile, directories. Contradictions make models uncertain.
Patience + measurementAsk AI systems the same questions regularly and document their answers — that's how progress becomes visible.

Honest assessment

GEO is a young field. No one can legitimately guarantee that an AI will recommend you — anyone who promises that is selling hot air. What can be said: the basics cost little, never hurt (they also improve SEO), and those who implement them early gain a head start while the competition is still asleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GEO make a difference if my customers are older and don't use AI?

The shift is happening gradually — but in every direction: Google is already showing AI overviews too. GEO fundamentals improve your traditional findability at the same time, so you have nothing to lose.

What is an llms.txt?

A simple text file on your domain that gives AI systems a compact description of who you are, what you offer, and which pages matter — like a robots.txt, but an invitation rather than a no-entry sign.

Can I implement GEO myself?

Partly yes: allowing AI crawlers and writing clear content is something anyone can do. Structured data, llms.txt, and the technical audit (is my CDN quietly blocking AI bots?) require craft — and that's exactly what we handle.

How do I measure whether GEO is working?

Ask the same questions to the relevant AI systems regularly and document the answers. Change shows up there faster than in traditional rankings.

How visible are you in AI — right now?

Find out in 10 seconds: the live check asks a leading AI model about your business.

Go to the AI Visibility Check Free Initial Consultation