What is AI search (GEO) and why it matters for local business

More and more people ask ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, or other AI assistants instead of Google: "dentist nearby," "where to buy X in my city." If a business isn't in the answer, that client never finds out it exists.

What GEO means

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is optimizing for AI systems that generate an answer instead of just showing a list of links. Unlike classic SEO, where the goal is ranking in the top 10 results, here the goal is for the AI model to know about your business at all and consider it a relevant answer.

Why this is already here, not just coming

AI Overview shows up for a significant share of Google searches, and assistants like ChatGPT are increasingly used for local search - "recommend a cafe nearby," "a good dentist in my area." For queries like these, traditional SEO is no longer the only factor.

What actually affects GEO visibility

Structured data (schema.org markup), clear and consistent business information (address, contact details, services), real reviews, and content that directly answers the questions clients actually ask - all of this raises the odds that an AI model 'knows' about the business and surfaces it.

Where to start

The simplest first step is making sure the site has correct structured markup (LocalBusiness, Organization) and that basic business information doesn't contradict itself across different platforms. That's the foundation the rest of GEO work depends on.

AI search doesn't replace classic SEO - it adds to it. But ignoring this channel means handing part of your clients to competitors who already took care of it.