GEO vs SEO: How to Rank on ChatGPT | LP Consulting

Someone just asked ChatGPT for the best kitchen designer in their area.

Did your business come up?

Most business owners have spent years mastering Google SEO. They rank on page one. Traffic is steady. Leads are coming in.

But something's changed.

40% of people aren't using Google anymore. They're asking ChatGPT. They're asking Claude. They're asking Perplexity AI.

And these AI platforms aren't just summarizing Google results. They're making their own recommendations based on entirely different signals.

Your perfect Google ranking? It might mean nothing on ChatGPT.

This is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and it's the new frontier of getting found online.

Why Traditional SEO Isn't Enough Anymore

For the past 20 years, the formula was simple: rank on Google, get traffic, get customers.

Businesses invested in SEO. They built backlinks. They optimized title tags. They created keyword-targeted content.

And it worked.

But customer behavior is shifting faster than most businesses realize.

ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months. 40% of consumers now use AI chatbots to research products and services. 65% of people under 35 prefer asking AI for recommendations over traditional search.

People aren't using AI for fun. They're using it to make real purchasing decisions.

"Best groundworks contractor near me." "Recommend a good salon in Oxford." "Who should I hire for kitchen design?"

These aren't hypothetical queries. They're happening right now. Thousands of times per day.

And if you're not showing up in those AI recommendations, you're losing business to competitors who are.

Here's the problem. You might think: "I rank on Google, so I'll automatically show up on ChatGPT, right?"

Wrong.

AI search engines evaluate businesses using different criteria. Google cares about backlinks, domain authority, keyword optimization, and page speed. AI platforms care about citations across multiple platforms, review quality and quantity, structured data, consistency of business information, and content that demonstrates real expertise.

You can rank number one on Google and be completely invisible on ChatGPT.

I've seen it happen.

A construction company spent fifteen thousand pounds on SEO. They dominated Google for their target keywords. Page one rankings across the board.

I asked ChatGPT to recommend groundworks contractors in their area.

They didn't show up.

Why? Because while they optimized for Google's algorithm, they ignored the signals AI platforms use to make recommendations.

How AI Search Engines Decide Recommendations

AI platforms like ChatGPT don't have a "secret algorithm" like Google. They work differently.

When you ask ChatGPT for a recommendation, it generates a response based on training data and real-time information from across the web.

Here's what influences those recommendations.

Citations and mentions: AI platforms look for businesses mentioned across multiple reputable sources. Business directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Trustpilot. Industry-specific directories like Checkatrade or Rated People. Local news mentions. Industry publications. Chamber of Commerce listings.

The more places your business appears with consistent information, the more real and established you appear to AI.

A business mentioned in three or four places might not show up. A business mentioned in fifteen to twenty places with consistent details is much more likely to be recommended.

Reviews and ratings: AI platforms heavily weight review quality and quantity. This isn't just about star ratings. AI can read and understand review content.

A salon with 200 Google reviews averaging 4.8 stars will almost always get recommended over a salon with 12 reviews at 5 stars.

Volume matters. Recency matters. Response rate matters. Businesses that engage with reviews signal they're active.

NAP consistency: NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. AI platforms check if your business information is consistent across the web.

If your Google Business Profile says "LP Consulting, 123 High Street, Oxford, OX1 2AB" but your website says "Liam Parker Consulting Ltd, 123 High St, Oxford" and your Trustpilot profile says "LP Consulting Limited, Oxford," AI platforms get confused.

Inconsistent data equals less trustworthy equals less likely to recommend.

Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are exactly the same everywhere they appear online.

Content depth and expertise: AI platforms reward businesses that demonstrate real expertise through content. Not blogging for SEO keywords. Creating content that answers real questions your customers have.

A groundworks contractor with a detailed blog post about "How to prepare a site for groundworks in winter conditions" signals expertise. A kitchen designer with case studies showing before and after projects with specific details about materials and timelines signals expertise.

AI platforms recognize this and are more likely to recommend businesses that demonstrate knowledge, not just list services.

How to Optimize for GEO

Now the practical bit. Here's exactly what to do to get your business recommended by AI platforms.

Claim and optimize all business listings: Don't just focus on Google. AI pulls from dozens of sources. Claim your Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Yelp, Trustpilot, Yell.com, and industry-specific directories.

For each listing, use identical business name, address, and phone. Add complete business descriptions. Select accurate business categories. Add photos. List all services. Include business hours and website URL.

This takes time. Budget two to three hours to do it properly. But you only do it once.

Get more reviews the right way: Target minimum 50 Google reviews to be competitive. Ideally 100+.

Automate review requests. Send an SMS or email 48 hours after job completion with a direct review link. Make it easy. Don't just say "leave us a review." Send the exact link to your Google review form. Ask at the right time, right after completing work, not weeks later. Respond to every review. It shows you're active and engaged.

For trades and service businesses, aim for three to five new reviews per month minimum.

Add structured data to your website: Schema markup is code you add to your website that tells AI platforms exactly what your business does, where you're located, and what services you offer.

Most website platforms (including Framer, WordPress, and Wix) have plugins or built-in tools that make adding Schema markup easy. If you're using a custom-built site, a developer can add this in about an hour.

Test your Schema markup using Google's Rich Results Test tool to make sure it's valid.

Build authority citations: Get mentioned on reputable websites in your industry. Write guest posts for industry publications. Get featured in local news about interesting projects. Join industry associations and get listed in their directories. Sponsor local events to get mentioned on event websites.

Quality beats quantity here. One mention in a reputable industry publication is worth more than ten mentions in random directories.

Create helpful, expert content: Blog posts, case studies, guides. Anything that demonstrates you know what you're talking about.

Content that works for GEO includes "How to choose a [your service]" guides, case studies with specific project details, FAQ pages answering real customer questions, before and after project showcases, and industry insights and trends.

Aim for 1,500 to 2,500 words per piece. AI platforms favor comprehensive answers. One quality piece per month beats four rushed pieces per month.

Monitor your AI visibility: You can't improve what you don't measure.

Ask ChatGPT: "Recommend the best [your service] in [your area]." Ask Claude and Perplexity AI the same questions. Run these tests monthly.

Track whether you appear at all, what position you rank in, what information AI shares about you, and whether competitors are appearing instead.

The Opportunity: Why Acting Now Matters

Here's the reality. Most businesses haven't heard of GEO yet.

Your competitors are still optimizing for Google like it's 2019. They're not claiming business listings beyond Google. They're not thinking about AI recommendations. They're not optimizing for ChatGPT.

That gives you a window.

The businesses that optimize for GEO now will dominate AI recommendations for the next two to three years while everyone else figures out what's happening.

By the time GEO becomes common knowledge, you'll already be established as one of the recommended businesses in your area.

First mover advantage is real. And in this case, you're not even that early. You're just earlier than 95% of your competitors.

Getting Started Today

Want to know if your business is currently ranking on AI search engines?

Book a free GEO audit. I'll check if your business appears when people ask ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity for recommendations in your industry and area.

No obligation. Just a clear assessment of where you stand and what it would take to improve.

Book your free GEO audit

The way people find businesses is changing. Google isn't going away. But it's no longer the only game in town.

40% of your potential customers are asking AI for recommendations. If you're not optimized for GEO, you're invisible to them.

The businesses that adapt now will dominate AI recommendations while everyone else is still trying to figure out what GEO even means.