Show up when the AI answers.
Google AI Overviews appear in approximately 45% of Google searches. ChatGPT and Perplexity are answering questions that used to lead to a search results page. Being ranked is no longer enough — your content needs to be the source these AI engines cite when your customers ask their questions.
AI Search SEO (AEO/GEO) — optimising for the search engines that are replacing traditional results.
AI Search SEO — also called Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) or Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) — is the practice of structuring content to be cited and surfaced by AI-powered search tools including Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT with search, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini. Unlike traditional SEO where the goal is a position on a results page, AI SEO aims to have your content extracted and cited directly in AI-generated answers — appearing as the source when someone asks "who is the best plumber in Essendon" or "what does an electrician cost in Melbourne." Research by Princeton University (KDD 2024, studying Perplexity.ai at scale) identified the specific content signals that increase AI citation probability. Scalepoint implements all of them as a standard part of every content deliverable.
Get a free audit~45% of Google searches now show an AI Overview.
AI Overviews launched globally in 2024 and now appear in approximately 45% of Google searches — reducing clicks to websites by up to 58% for queries where they appear. This is not a future concern; it is happening now. The businesses whose content is being cited in AI Overviews are getting brand awareness and authority signals even when users do not click. The businesses whose content is being bypassed are losing visibility they may not even be tracking. Simultaneously, ChatGPT's user base now exceeds 200 million weekly active users, and Perplexity is growing rapidly as an alternative to Google. The search landscape is fragmenting across AI engines and traditional results. Scalepoint optimises for all of them.
The specific signals that AI engines weight most heavily.
AI engines do not rank pages — they extract passages. The content that gets cited is content structured to be extracted cleanly, with sufficient authority signals that the AI trusts it as a credible source.
Every business whose customers search for information before buying.
If your customers ask "how much does X cost", "what is the best Y for Z", or "how do I find a good [trade]" — these are exactly the queries triggering AI Overviews. Your content needs to be the source AI cites when answering.
AI Overviews increasingly answer local queries — "best plumber in Essendon", "electrician near me" — pulling from GBP data, local landing pages, and review content. Local businesses with well-structured content and strong GBP signals are already appearing in AI-generated local answers.
ChatGPT and Perplexity are increasingly used for B2B research — "best SEO agency for small businesses in Melbourne", "how do I find a mortgage broker in Sydney". Professional services businesses with authoritative, well-structured content are being cited in these AI-generated research summaries.
AI Overviews for product and category queries often include specific brand or product recommendations. Ecommerce businesses with detailed, structured product content, genuine reviews, and transparent pricing are more likely to be cited than those with thin product descriptions.
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What supports AI search visibility.
AI-optimised content structure built into every piece we write
Learn more →Schema markup is the structured data AI engines read
Learn more →GBP and local entity signals feed AI local answers
Learn more →Third-party mentions are the highest-value AI citation signal
Learn more →Common questions about ai search seo
What is AI Search SEO?+
AI Search SEO optimises your content and brand presence to be cited and recommended by AI-powered search tools — Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, and similar. As more users get answers directly from AI rather than clicking to websites, appearing as a cited source or recommended business in these responses is becoming an important visibility channel alongside traditional organic rankings.
How is AI Search SEO different from regular SEO?+
There's significant overlap — well-structured, authoritative content that ranks well in Google tends to perform well in AI Overviews too. But AI Search adds specific requirements: structured data markup, entity definition (establishing what your business is and who it serves), third-party brand mentions, FAQ-style content, and strong E-E-A-T signals. It's an extension of good SEO practice, not a replacement.
How do I know if AI tools are mentioning my business?+
We run structured prompt testing across Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity using queries your customers are likely to ask — and track whether your business appears in the responses. We also monitor branded and category queries over time so you can see whether optimisation work is moving the needle on AI visibility alongside traditional rankings.
Can small businesses compete in AI search results?+
Yes — particularly for local and niche queries. AI tools pulling local business recommendations often draw from Google Business Profile, reviews, directories, and local content — areas where a well-optimised small business can outperform a larger competitor with poor local presence. The barrier to appearing in local AI responses is lower than many businesses expect.
How quickly will AI Search optimisation show results?+
Faster than traditional SEO in many cases — structured data and entity signals can influence AI Overviews within weeks of implementation. Some optimisations, like GBP updates for local AI responses, show movement in days. Broader authority-building for competitive national queries takes longer, but the foundational work delivers results across both traditional and AI search simultaneously.