What Is GEO? How to Write Pages ChatGPT Can Quote

Short answer: GEO, or generative engine optimisation, is the work of getting your business named and quoted in AI-written answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. It builds on SEO. The core idea is simple: write each page so a machine can lift a clear, accurate answer from it in one go.

When someone asks an AI "Which accounting firm in Colombo helps small businesses with VAT?", the AI reads a few pages and writes a short answer. It quotes the pages that make its job easy. GEO is making your page that page.

How is GEO different from SEO?

SEO gets you onto the list of results. GEO gets you into the answer itself. They overlap a lot, because AI tools often read pages that already rank. GEO adds a focus on clarity, specific facts and consistent information about your brand across the web.

What does a quotable service page look like?

Open with the answer. "We handle VAT registration and monthly VAT returns for small businesses in Colombo, from LKR X per month." One or two sentences that answer who, what, where and how much.

Use question headings. "How much does VAT filing cost?", "How long does registration take?", "What documents do I need?" These match how people ask AI tools.

Answer under each heading straight away. First sentence answers, the rest explains. No warm-up paragraphs.

Use lists for steps and options. AI tools lift lists easily, and readers scan them.

Add specifics. Prices or ranges, timeframes, service areas, qualifications, years in business. Vague claims like "high quality service" give the AI nothing to quote.

Add an FAQ with schema markup. It hands the AI ready-made question and answer pairs.

What else does the AI look at?

Who is behind the page and whether others agree. Show real names, roles and photos of your team. Get reviews and mentions on other trusted sites. Keep your details identical everywhere. An AI hesitates to recommend a business it cannot verify.

How do you test whether it works?

Ask the AI tools your customers' questions every month and note who is named and which pages are cited. Watch Search Console for impressions on question-style searches. When your page starts being cited, update it regularly to keep it there.

We do this every day under GEO, AEO and AIO. If you want your pages checked against this structure, request a free growth audit.