More and more people now ask an AI assistant instead of searching — "who's a good web developer for a Shopify store?", "what does a custom CRM cost?". When they do, tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity answer in a few sentences and sometimes cite their sources. Being one of those cited sources is the new version of ranking on page one. This guide explains, honestly and practically, how to make your website the kind of source AI tools quote.
This is what people mean by GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation). The reassuring news: it builds on good SEO rather than replacing it.
AI tools quote content that clearly and trustworthily answers a specific question. Write to be the best answer, not to game an algorithm, and you become citable.
Answer real questions, clearly
AI assistants pull from content that directly answers the question being asked. So structure your pages around real questions your customers have, and answer each one clearly and completely near the top, before adding detail. A page that says "here's exactly what a Shopify store costs" in plain terms is far more quotable than a vague sales page. This is why every article on this site includes a focused FAQ section.
Be trustworthy and specific
- Show real expertise: genuine experience, examples, and honest advice — not fluff.
- Be specific: concrete numbers, ranges, and steps beat vague claims.
- Use clear structure: headings, short paragraphs, lists, and FAQs AI can parse.
- Add schema: FAQ and other structured data help machines understand your content.
- Build reputation: being mentioned and linked elsewhere raises your credibility as a source.
It's still built on good SEO
AI tools largely draw on the same web they've been trained on and can search, so much of what helps you rank also helps you get cited: quality content, a fast and crawlable site, clear structure, and a solid reputation. There's no separate trick — GEO and AEO are good SEO plus a sharper focus on directly and honestly answering questions.
Where to start
List the real questions your customers ask before they buy, then write a clear, genuinely helpful page or FAQ answer for each. Keep the answers specific and honest. Over time, that library of straight answers is exactly what AI tools — and search engines — reach for. Our whole blog is built on this principle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my website cited by AI tools like ChatGPT?
Write content that clearly and completely answers the specific questions your customers ask, near the top of the page and in plain language. Show real expertise, be specific with numbers and steps, use clear structure and FAQ schema, and build a solid reputation. AI tools quote sources that directly and trustworthily answer a question, so aim to be that best answer.
What are GEO and AEO?
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimisation and AEO for Answer Engine Optimisation. Both describe optimising your content so AI assistants and answer engines use and cite it when responding to users. In practice they build on good SEO, with a sharper focus on directly and honestly answering the specific questions people ask, rather than replacing SEO entirely.
Is getting cited by AI different from normal SEO?
It's closely related, not separate. AI tools largely draw on the same web that search engines index, so quality content, a fast crawlable site, clear structure, and a good reputation help with both. The main shift is focusing even more on clearly and directly answering real questions. There's no hidden trick — it's good SEO with an answer-first mindset.
Does structured data help AI cite my site?
It helps. Structured data like FAQ schema makes it easier for machines to understand what your content says and which parts answer which questions. It's not a magic switch, but combined with clear writing and genuine expertise it improves the odds that AI tools and search engines correctly interpret and surface your content as a useful answer.
Why do FAQ sections help with AI search?
Because they pair a real question with a clear, self-contained answer — exactly the format AI assistants look for when responding to users. A good FAQ answers the question directly in a few sentences, which is highly quotable. That's why building pages around genuine customer questions, each answered plainly, is one of the most effective things you can do.
How do I start optimising for AI search?
Start by listing the real questions your customers ask before they buy, then write a clear, genuinely helpful answer for each as a page or FAQ. Keep answers specific and honest, use clean structure, and add FAQ schema. Over time that library of straight answers is exactly what AI tools and search engines reach for when someone asks.
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