AI SEO (AEO / GEO)
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to get your brand cited in ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, Perplexity, Gemini and Bing Copilot.
// What Is AI SEO (AEO/GEO)?
AI SEO is the discipline of getting your brand cited as a source by AI search engines such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, Perplexity, Gemini and Bing Copilot. It combines AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Zep Bilisim works on citable content structure, schema markup, llms.txt and brand signals together.
// Why SEO Changed in the AI Era
In 2025 Google AI Overview is triggered on a large share of desktop searches and over half of mobile searches. Users now get answers "without clicking" the site. At the same time ChatGPT (500M+ weekly users), Perplexity (100M+ monthly queries) and Gemini are taking share from traditional Google traffic. Classic SEO is no longer enough - your brand needs to be cited in AI answers.
Classic SEO worked in 3 layers: keyword → URL → click. In the AI era it's 5 layers: Question → AI parse → Source evaluation → Citation → (optional) Click. In this new world, being #1 on Google isn't enough - you have to be the page the AI picks as a source.
// What Are AEO and GEO?
AI SEO is the work of restructuring your website and brand content so AI-powered search engines cite it as a source. It's the union of two disciplines:
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization): Getting AI Q&A engines (Perplexity, AI Overview) to surface your content as the answer. Technical focus: FAQ schema, extractable answer paragraphs (40-60 words), HowTo schema, Featured Snippet optimization.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): Getting generative LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to cite and mention your brand when they generate answers. Technical focus: entity signals (sameAs schema, Wikipedia/Wikidata presence), citation density, brand mention distribution, llms.txt.
This new layer doesn't replace our classic SEO work - it sits on top. AI Overview picks sources from organic results, ChatGPT Browse uses Bing, Perplexity uses classic crawling.
// Why Now? Data and Trends
An era where being late loses you ground.
AI Overview Impact
On AI-Overview-triggered searches, click-through on the classic 10 blue links has dropped noticeably. Visibility now flows from being cited.
Research Moved to AI
A meaningful share of ChatGPT users now learn about brands directly from AI - shifting research intent from Google to AI.
Perplexity Traffic
A single Perplexity answer can drive more referral traffic than a 3rd-place organic result - source = automatic click.
Co-occurrence Signal
LLMs measure brand trust via co-occurrence - which authoritative sources mention your brand defines credibility.
AI Search Share
By 2026 AI search may reach 30% of total searches (Gartner estimate). Being late equals invisibility.
Open Niche
Few sites are optimized for "AI SEO" - the first-mover advantage is clear.
// What We Do
10 areas of full coverage for the AI era.
Content Audit (AI Lens)
We compute an "extractability" score for your existing content from an AI perspective. Paragraph structure, Q&A logic and schema gaps are identified.
Q&A Structure
Q-A pairs added to each article: a natural question as H2 with a direct 40-60 word answer below. Written for passage optimization.
Schema Markup Enrichment
Article, FAQPage, HowTo, Product, Service, Organization, Person, BreadcrumbList, Review, AggregateRating - 10+ schema types integrated.
Entity SEO
Wikidata registration, Wikipedia where applicable, Google Knowledge Panel application, sameAs chain (social media, directories) to strengthen entity signals.
E-E-A-T Optimization
Author bio pages + Person schema, certificate images, client cases, original research/data content - authority signal building.
llms.txt File
Site summary file for AI crawlers (2025-2026 emerging standard). Adopted by Anthropic and Perplexity - early adoption advantage.
AI Bot Permission Management
Correct configuration of GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot and Google-Extended permissions in robots.txt - which content is open to AI?
Citation Building
Sector directories, authoritative blog mentions, podcasts and interviews, press - increase brand co-occurrence on independent sites.
AI Visibility Tracking
Monthly brand query tests on ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini (manual + Profound, Otterly.AI, AthenaHQ tools).
Monthly Reporting
AI Overview impression tracking (Search Console + manual), ChatGPT/Perplexity mention counts, citation source list, sentiment analysis.
// GEO and AEO Areas of Expertise
Visibility in AI search is not a single setting but a connected chain of work that gets you selected as a source. The model has to find you, parse you, treat you as trustworthy, and then mention you in its answer. Below is every link in that chain, with the work it covers.
AI Search Optimization
The umbrella layer: making your site accessible, parseable and citable by AI search systems.
- AI search optimization groundwork
- Generative search optimization
- Answer engine optimization
- AI visibility optimization
- AI crawler access (robots.txt, llms.txt) configuration
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Generative engines each behave differently. We address why you are missing from each platform separately.
- ChatGPT GEO
- Gemini GEO
- Perplexity GEO
- Google AI Overviews optimization
- AI Mode optimization
- Generative search visibility measurement
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
Users no longer type keywords, they type questions. Content has to be structured so it can be lifted directly as an answer.
- Question-based content optimization
- Answer-focused content structure
- Featured snippet optimization
- FAQ optimization
- Direct answer optimization
- Zero-click search optimization
AI Brand Visibility
Concerns whether your name comes up when someone asks "which company would you recommend?" It is about being mentioned, not ranked.
- AI brand visibility audit
- ChatGPT brand visibility
- Gemini brand visibility
- Perplexity brand visibility
- AI recommendation optimization
- Brand mention optimization
Structured Data (Schema)
The layer that tells machines explicitly what a page is about. It is the most concrete technical precondition for being cited in AI answers.
- Schema.org implementation and validation
- Organization and LocalBusiness schema
- Product and Offer schema
- Service schema
- FAQ schema
- Article schema
- Person schema
- Review schema
AI Content Optimization
Models do not treat all text as equal. Content that gets cited is clear, sourced, carries expertise, and stands on its own in a single paragraph.
- AI search content strategy
- AI-friendly content structure
- Semantic content design
- Question-and-answer content
- Citation-worthy content
- Source-worthy content
- Expertise and authority content — E-E-A-T
AI Visibility Measurement
A classic rank report is useless in AI search. Measurement looks at how often and in what context the models mention you.
- AI visibility tracking
- ChatGPT mention tracking
- Gemini visibility tracking
- Perplexity visibility tracking
- AI citation tracking
- AI brand monitoring
- Generative search reporting
These headings do not replace classic SEO — they are built on top of it. Google's own guidance points the same way: there is no separate ranking trick for AI features, only optimization built on quality content, accessibility, structured data and trustworthiness. That is why GEO work always runs together with an SEO optimization foundation.
// Which AI Platforms Do We Target?
- Google AI Overview: Directly in Google results. AI Overview impression data arrived in Search Console for the TR market in early 2026.
- ChatGPT: Browse mode (Bing-based) + Memory + training data (Common Crawl, GPTBot). Works alongside Local SEO (Google Maps) for local queries.
- Perplexity: Real-time web search with the highest citation transparency - being in the source panel directly drives traffic.
- Gemini: In the Google ecosystem, uses its own search tool. Knowledge Graph influence is high.
- Bing Copilot: In the Microsoft ecosystem, shares infrastructure with ChatGPT - moves with Bing SEO.
// Measurement: AI Visibility Metrics
Classic SEO metrics (rankings, traffic) aren't enough in the AI era. We track these new metrics:
- AI Citation Rate: Percentage of AI answers where your brand is cited (over the top 50 sector questions)
- Share of Voice in AI: Your appearance rate vs competitors in AI answers
- AI Overview Impression: Search Console (new segment)
- Brand Mention Sentiment in LLM: Tone in which ChatGPT/Claude mentions your brand
- Referral from AI platforms: Traffic from chat.openai.com, perplexity.ai in GA4
For tracking, our custom software team can build a dashboard - all AI visibility metrics in one panel.
// Who Is This For?
- B2B tech companies - buyers ask AI early in the journey
- Professional services (lawyers, doctors, consultants) - "best X" queries
- E-commerce - product comparison queries flow to AI
- Brand-building startups
- YMYL content publishers (health, finance, law)
- Local service providers - combine with Google Business Profile + AEO
// Frequently Asked Questions
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) targets Q&A-style engines like Perplexity and Google AI Overview - technical focus: FAQ schema, extractable paragraphs, HowTo. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) targets generative LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini - technical focus: entity signals, citation density, brand mentions, sameAs chain. In practice they're done together.
Zep Bilisim is a UK-registered IT solution partner that has served businesses across Turkey through its Istanbul branch since 2020.
Two-layer work: (1) allow GPTBot to crawl your site and make your content accessible and citable; (2) strengthen Bing SEO and E-E-A-T because ChatGPT Browse uses Bing search. No one can guarantee inclusion in a model's training data; what we measure and improve is how often you are cited in answers. We also increase brand mentions in authoritative sources - LLMs measure trust via co-occurrence. Monthly ChatGPT prompt tests track progress.
llms.txt is a draft standard emerging in late 2024/early 2025. A markdown summary file at the site root - it helps AI crawlers and LLMs quickly understand your site structure. Like an AI-version of robots.txt. Not required yet but early adopters get an advantage - we set it up on every project.
Absolutely yes. AI SEO doesn't replace classic SEO - it's added on top. Google AI Overview picks sources from classic organic; ChatGPT Browse uses Bing; Perplexity does classic crawling. Classic SEO is the foundation; AI SEO is the new layer on top. They run together.
AI measurement differs from classic ranking tracking. We use: (1) AI Citation Rate - the % of top 50 sector questions where your brand is cited in ChatGPT/Perplexity/Gemini, (2) Share of Voice in AI - visibility vs competitors, (3) Google Search Console AI Overview impression segment, (4) GA4 AI referral traffic (chat.openai.com, perplexity.ai), (5) brand mention sentiment. All shared transparently in the monthly report.
Pure unreviewed AI content is definitely risky - Google's "spam policies" (March 2024 update) explicitly bans scaled manipulation. But content using AI as a tool, reviewed by an expert editor with original data and opinion is fully safe - Google's official position. We use a hybrid model: AI draft + human expert editor + original data.
// Related Services
SEO Optimization
AI SEO complements classic SEO - technical SEO, content and Core Web Vitals form the base layer.
View Details → Local SEOLocal SEO (Google Maps)
Local queries also appear in AI Overview - dual-channel visibility in maps and AI.
View Details → CMSWordPress Support
Hands-on support for schema, llms.txt and E-E-A-T optimization on your WordPress site.
View Details →This page was last updated on July 7, 2026.