Two goals, one foundation
| Aspect | Traditional SEO | GEO (AI search) |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank in search results | Get cited in AI answers |
| Success metric | Rankings and clicks | Mentions and recommendations |
| What it rewards | Relevance and authority | Clarity, structure, and consistent facts |
| Where it happens | Google and Bing results | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Overviews |
The difference matters because a growing share of searches end without a click. When Google shows an AI Overview, or someone asks ChatGPT who to call, the answer itself is the shop window. If your business isn’t in it, ranking well below it helps less than it used to.
Why local businesses shouldn’t treat them separately
AI assistants don’t invent their recommendations. For local questions they lean on the same sources local SEO has always cared about:
- Your Google Business Profile. Categories, services, hours, and posts.
- Reviews. How many, how recent, and whether you respond.
- Citations. Whether your name, address, and phone match everywhere.
- Your website. Clear service pages, honest pricing, and schema markup that spells out who you are.
- Third-party lists. Local “best of” roundups and industry directories.
That’s why we score both in one audit. Fixing your listings and adding schema lifts your Map Pack rankings and makes you easier for AI to cite.
Where to start
- Make your name, address, and phone identical on your site, your Google profile, and the major directories.
- Add LocalBusiness schema to your homepage.
- Build one page per service, each opening with a direct answer to the question customers actually ask.
- Ask every happy customer for a review, and reply to every review you get.
- Check monthly whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews name you for your top three questions.
Want to know where you stand today? A free Local Growth Snapshot scores all six pillars, AI search included.
Frequently asked questions
Is GEO replacing SEO?
No. AI assistants lean on the same signals that drive local rankings, such as your Google Business Profile, reviews, and directory listings. GEO builds on SEO rather than replacing it.
How do I know if AI assistants recommend my business?
Ask them. Run the questions your customers ask, like 'best plumber in [city]', in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google, and note whether you're named. Repeat monthly, because AI sources change often.
What's the fastest GEO fix for a local business?
Add LocalBusiness schema to your homepage and make sure your name, address, and phone match exactly across your website, Google profile, and major directories.