Appear in Google AI Overviews
AI Overviews now appear in 15-20% of all searches. When your ideal customer asks Google a question, your brand should be the answer, not a competitor’s.
AI Search Optimisation (GEO) is the practice of making your business visible in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, and other AI-powered answer engines. Buttercup provides AI search optimisation services for Australian businesses, including entity optimisation, social profile signals, BLUF content structuring, schema markup, and E-E-A-T authority building, so your brand gets cited when AI answers your customers’ questions.
Get found when AI answers your customers’ questions
Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, and Perplexity are now the first place millions of people look for answers. We optimise Australian businesses to be cited, referenced, and recommended by AI systems, not just ranked in blue links.
What is AI search optimisation?
AI Search Optimisation, also called Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) or Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO), is the practice of structuring your online presence so AI systems cite and recommend your business. Where traditional SEO targets Google’s blue-link rankings, AI search optimisation targets the AI-generated summaries that now appear above those results. It includes:
GEO content structuring: answer-first (BLUF) formatting that AI systems can parse and cite.
Entity & brand signals: establishing your business as a recognised entity in Google’s Knowledge Graph.
Social profile optimisation: LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, and other platforms AI systems reference.
Schema markup: structured data that tells AI systems exactly who you are and what you do.
E-E-A-T authority: demonstrating Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
Why AI search optimisation matters for your business
AI search is not replacing traditional SEO, it’s changing where and how buying decisions are influenced.
Cited by ChatGPT & Perplexity
ChatGPT Search and Perplexity are used by millions of people researching products and services. Optimised content positions your brand as the authoritative source these systems reference.
Social Profiles as AI Signals
LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, and brand citations across the web aren’t just social media hygiene, they’re the signals AI systems use to verify your entity and authority.
Built on Your Existing SEO
AI search optimisation doesn’t replace what’s working. Technical SEO, backlinks, and strong content are still the foundation, GEO builds on top of them for the AI layer.
Zero-Click Proof Your Brand
65%+ of searches are now zero-click. Even if users don’t visit your site, an AI Overview citation means your brand name, service, and value proposition is still delivered.
Future-Proof Digital Presence
AI search adoption is accelerating. Brands optimising now build knowledge graph authority, entity recognition, and citation history that compounds over time.
What’s included in AI search optimisation
A complete GEO and AEO service, from entity signals to content restructuring.
GEO Content Optimisation
- BLUF (answer-first) content restructuring for AI parseability
- Query fan-out mapping, anticipating the sub-questions AI asks
- Featured snippet optimisation (the precursor to AI Overview citation)
- People Also Ask (PAA) coverage across target topics
- Topical authority cluster development
- AI search disclosure and transparency practices
Entity & Brand Signals
- Google Knowledge Graph entity establishment
- Wikidata / structured entity profiles (where eligible)
- Brand name consistency audit (NAP across all platforms)
- Crunchbase and business directory optimisation
- Press and media mention strategy
- Backlink authority signals for entity validation
Social Profile Optimisation
- LinkedIn company page and founder profile optimisation
- Google Business Profile setup and content strategy
- Consistent brand signals across social platforms
- Author entity profiles for E-E-A-T signal building
- Social proof signals (reviews, endorsements, connections)
- Cross-platform brand citation tracking
Schema & Technical Foundation
- Organisation, LocalBusiness, and Person schema markup
- Service, FAQ, and Article schema for rich results
- Breadcrumb and WebSite schema implementation
- Core Web Vitals, AI systems still prefer fast pages
- Structured data testing and validation
- Monthly AI visibility monitoring and reporting
Our AI search optimisation process
A systematic, four-phase approach to building AI visibility, from audit to sustained citation.
- 01
AI Visibility Audit
Week 1-2- Audit current visibility across Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity
- Identify which queries your competitors are being cited for
- Review existing schema markup and structured data
- Assess entity recognition in Google Knowledge Graph
- Map content gaps against AI query fan-out patterns
- 02
Entity & Signal Setup
Week 2-4- Establish or optimise Google Business Profile
- Audit and optimise LinkedIn company page and founder profiles
- Implement Organisation, Person, and LocalBusiness schema
- Ensure brand name / NAP consistency across all platforms
- Submit entity data to relevant directories and databases
- 03
Content Restructuring
Week 3-8- Reformat existing high-value pages to BLUF structure
- Create new AI-targeted content for high-priority queries
- Implement FAQ and Article schema across key pages
- Build topical authority clusters around core service topics
- Optimise for People Also Ask and featured snippets
- 04
Monitor & Compound
Month 3+- Track AI Overview appearances and citation frequency
- Monitor brand mentions in AI-generated responses
- Identify new query opportunities from AI search data
- Scale content production into citation-worthy topics
- Monthly reporting on AI search visibility and traditional SEO performance
Brands we’ve worked with, past and present.
Common questions about AI search optimisation
AI Search Optimisation, also called Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) or Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO), is the practice of structuring your digital presence so AI systems like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, and Perplexity cite and recommend your business. Where traditional SEO targets ranked positions in blue-link results, GEO targets the AI-generated summaries that now appear above those results, often answering users' questions without requiring a click.
Traditional SEO optimises for ranked positions and clicks. AI search optimisation targets citations and mentions within AI-generated responses. The key differences: (1) structure matters more than keywords, AI systems parse content for direct answers, not keyword density. (2) Entity signals matter, AI systems verify your business through schema, social profiles, and knowledge graph data. (3) Authority is explicit, E-E-A-T signals, author credentials, and named expertise are now critical ranking factors, not just nice-to-haves.
No. AI search optimisation builds on your existing SEO foundation. Technical SEO (site speed, crawlability, Core Web Vitals) still matters, AI systems still prefer fast, well-structured websites. Backlinks still signal authority. What changes is the content structure and the entity signals layer: BLUF formatting, schema markup, and social/brand profile optimisation. Think of it as an upgrade, not a replacement.
Google AI Overviews (formerly Search Generative Experience / SGE) are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of Google search results for qualifying queries. They pull from multiple sources to synthesise a direct answer, often citing the websites they draw from. They currently appear in 15-20% of all Google searches, and that percentage is growing. Being cited in an AI Overview positions your brand as authoritative even for users who never click through to your site.
AI systems, including Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, use a business's wider web presence to verify entity identity and authority. Your LinkedIn company page, Google Business Profile, founder LinkedIn profile, Crunchbase listing, and brand mentions across reputable sites all contribute to how confidently AI systems can identify and cite you. A business with consistent, complete profiles across platforms is significantly more likely to be cited than one with sparse or inconsistent online presence.
Timeline varies by query competitiveness and starting point. Typically: entity recognition improvements (schema + profiles) show results within 4-8 weeks. Content restructured to BLUF format often appears in AI Overviews within 60-90 days of being indexed. Full brand citation across AI platforms, Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, builds over 3-6 months. Unlike traditional SEO, AI Overview citations can happen faster for informational and comparison queries where good structured answers are scarce.
Indirectly, yes, in a positive way. AI Overview citations increase branded search volume as users see your name in AI responses and search specifically for you. This typically improves branded keyword performance in paid search. Additionally, strong entity signals and E-E-A-T correlate with higher Quality Scores in Google Ads, as Google's systems increasingly evaluate advertiser credibility holistically. An optimised digital presence benefits both organic and paid channels.
AI search optimisation at Buttercup starts from $900/month as part of a comprehensive SEO engagement, or as a standalone service. Initial entity setup and content restructuring is available as a one-time project. Unlike traditional SEO which builds slowly over 6-12 months, AI search optimisation can deliver initial visibility results within 60-90 days, making it a high-ROI starting point for businesses not yet ready for a full ongoing SEO engagement.
Perth business? See our Perth GEO & AI search service.
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Book a 20-minute strategy call. We’ll audit your current AI search visibility, show you where competitors are being cited, and give you a clear plan to get there.
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