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What Is GEO? How to Get Your Brand Mentioned in ChatGPT and Google AI
Published By Fisher Media at 24-10-2026
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Ask ChatGPT "Which agency should I hire?" and it will name a few brands. Ask Google the same question and an AI Overview often answers before any website link appears.
So here is the question every brand manager is now asking: how do we make sure the AI mentions us?
The answer is GEO. In this guide we explain what it is, why it matters right now and the exact steps to get your brand mentioned in ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI.
What is GEO?
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the practice of making your brand easy for AI tools to find, understand, trust and quote. These AI tools include ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity and Copilot.
Classic SEO helps you rank as a blue link on Google. GEO helps you appear inside the AI answer itself, as a named brand or a cited source.
Why GEO matters right now
AI search is no longer a side trend. It is where your buyers already are:
- ChatGPT had about 900 million weekly users in February 2026.
- Google's Gemini app reported about 950 million monthly users in July 2026.
- Google AI Overviews reached 2 billion monthly users back in 2025.
- One April 2026 study found AI Overviews on 86.7% of buying-intent searches, up from 56.9% a year earlier.
- Pew Research found people clicked a normal search result in only 8% of visits when an AI summary appeared, compared with 15% when it did not.
In simple terms: more people get their answer from AI and fewer click through to websites. If the AI does not mention your brand, many buyers will never see you.
SEO vs GEO: what is the difference?
- Goal: SEO aims for a high ranking. GEO aims for a mention or citation inside the AI answer.
- Where you show up: SEO puts you in the list of links. GEO puts you in the answer people actually read.
- What counts: SEO leans on keywords, links and site speed. GEO adds clear answers, proof, a strong brand reputation and mentions on other trusted sites.
- How you measure it: SEO tracks rankings and clicks. GEO tracks how often AI tools name you and how they describe you.
The good news: GEO builds on SEO. Google says its AI features use the same core Search systems, so your pages still need to be indexed and eligible to show a snippet. Strong SEO is the base. GEO is the next layer.
How do AI tools decide which brands to mention?
No AI company publishes a full formula. But research and real-world tracking point to a few clear patterns:
- They can only use what they can read. If your site is slow, blocked or hard to crawl, you are out before you start.
- They favour clear, direct answers. Pages that answer a question plainly near the top are easier to quote.
- They trust what others say about you. Studies of millions of AI citations show community sites like Reddit ranking among the most-cited domains. Reviews, press and industry lists matter.
- Content changes can lift visibility. A 2023 research paper from Princeton and partners found some content methods raised visibility in AI answers by up to 40% in tests. Results varied by topic, so treat this as a direction, not a promise.
8 steps to get your brand mentioned in AI answers
- Get the basics right. Make sure Google can crawl and index your key pages. Fix speed, mobile issues and broken pages first.
- Answer real buyer questions. Write pages and blog posts around the questions your customers ask, such as "How much does it cost?" or "Which is better?". Put the direct answer in the first few lines.
- Be specific about who you are. State clearly what you do, where you work and who you serve on your homepage and About page. AI tools need to understand your brand before they can recommend it.
- Show proof. Add case studies, client names, numbers and results. Facts and figures are easier for AI to quote than vague claims.
- Use structure. Clear headings, short paragraphs, lists and an FAQ section make your content easy to pull into an answer. Add schema markup for your business, articles and FAQs.
- Earn mentions on other sites. Get listed in industry directories, win press coverage, join relevant discussions and collect reviews. AI trusts brands that others talk about.
- Keep content fresh. Update key pages and add the date. Outdated pages lose trust with people and AI alike.
- Track and adjust. Check every month which AI tools mention you, for which questions and how they describe you. Then improve the pages behind the gaps.
How to check your AI visibility today
You can run a quick test in 10 minutes:
- Open ChatGPT, Gemini and Google. Ask 5 questions a real buyer would ask, like "best [your service] company in [your city]".
- Note whether your brand appears, where it appears and which competitors show up instead.
- Check if the AI describes your brand correctly. Wrong or old details are a sign your content needs work.
Repeat the same questions every month so you can see progress.
Common GEO mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring SEO. GEO does not replace SEO. Without a healthy, indexed site, AI tools have little to work with.
- Chasing tricks. Google says no special "AI file" or secret schema is needed to appear in its AI features. Focus on clear, useful content.
- Only talking about yourself. Self-promoting "best of" lists exist, but trust built across many independent sites lasts longer.
- Expecting results overnight. Like SEO, GEO builds over months, not days.
Frequently asked questions
Is GEO the same as SEO?
No. SEO helps you rank in search results. GEO helps AI tools mention and cite your brand inside their answers. GEO builds on SEO, so you need both.
Can I pay to appear in ChatGPT answers?
There is no way to pay for a mention inside the AI's organic answer. You earn it through clear content, proof and a strong reputation across the web.
How long does GEO take to show results?
Technical fixes can help within weeks. Building authority and mentions usually takes a few months of steady work.
Is GEO only for big brands?
No. Smaller brands often win specific, local or niche questions because big brands do not answer them well.
How can Fisher Media help my brand appear in AI answers?
Our Search & Generative Optimization service starts with an AI visibility check. We then fix your site's technical base, create answer-ready content, add schema markup and build mentions on trusted sites. Every month we track how ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI describe your brand.
What does the free AI visibility check include?
We ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI the questions your buyers ask. We show you where your brand appears, which competitors appear instead and the top fixes to close the gap. It is free with no obligation.
Get your free AI visibility check
Want to know if ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI recommend your brand? Fisher Media will run a free AI visibility check for your business. We will show you where you appear today, which competitors show up instead and the top fixes to get your brand mentioned.
Get my free AI visibility check
Fisher Media is a digital agency that combines strategy, design, development and AI. Our Search & Generative Optimization service helps brands grow visibility in both Google and AI answers.
