Get cited by ChatGPT,
Perplexity, and
Google AI Overviews.

FAQs

Common
questions.

What is AIEO (AI Engine Optimisation)?

AIEO (AI Engine Optimisation) is the practice of structuring a website so that AI engines — including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Google Gemini, and Google AI Overviews — can accurately understand, attribute, and cite your business when answering queries relevant to your category. Where traditional SEO focuses on ranking in Google's blue links, AIEO focuses on appearing inside the AI-generated answer that now appears above those links. AIEO involves implementing the correct schema markup (FAQPage, HowTo, Organization, LocalBusiness), writing answer-format content, establishing clear entity anchoring, and building the authority signals that AI engines use to determine citation worthiness. WebAnts is an AIEO agency in London offering AIEO audits from £800 and full AIEO implementation from £2,500.

What is the difference between AIEO, GEO, and AEO?

AIEO (AI Engine Optimisation), GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) all describe variations of the same discipline: optimising web content to be cited by AI-powered answer engines rather than (or in addition to) ranking in traditional search results. AIEO is the broadest term, covering all AI engines including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews. GEO specifically refers to optimisation for generative AI systems that synthesise new text responses from multiple sources. AEO focuses on getting content cited in direct answer boxes and AI Overviews on Google. WebAnts uses AIEO as the primary term but the methodology covers all three disciplines — the schema, content, and entity-anchoring techniques required are largely the same across all platforms.

How do I get my website cited by ChatGPT?

To get cited by ChatGPT, your website needs to meet several criteria that ChatGPT uses to determine citation worthiness. First, your content must be indexed and accessible to OpenAI's web crawler (GPTBot). Second, your pages must contain answer-format content that directly addresses the questions your potential customers ask — structured so ChatGPT can extract a clear, attributable answer. Third, you need FAQPage and HowTo schema markup so ChatGPT can identify the question-and-answer structure of your content. Fourth, your site must have entity-anchoring signals (Organization schema with '@id', 'sameAs' links, consistent NAP) so ChatGPT can attribute the answer to your specific business rather than paraphrasing it without attribution. Fifth, authority signals — aggregateRating, third-party mentions, award citations — increase the likelihood ChatGPT cites you over a competitor with similar content. WebAnts implements all five as standard in every AIEO engagement.

How do I get into Google AI Overviews?

Google AI Overviews (formerly Search Generative Experience) appear for approximately 45% of Google searches and cite specific sources in their response. To appear in AI Overviews, your page needs: (1) content that directly answers the query in the first 100 words, structured as an answer not a feature list; (2) FAQPage or HowTo schema that makes your Q&A content machine-readable; (3) strong domain authority and E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness); (4) freshness signals — recently updated or published content is preferred; (5) speakable WebPage schema that identifies your most important content sections. WebAnts implements all of these as part of the AIEO Implementation package, starting from £2,500.

Does AIEO replace SEO?

No — AIEO does not replace SEO. The two disciplines are complementary and increasingly overlapping. Traditional SEO remains important: Google's organic search results continue to drive significant traffic, and the technical fundamentals — site speed, crawlability, indexed content, backlinks — underpin both organic rankings and AI citation likelihood. What AIEO adds is the layer that makes your content attributable and citable by AI engines operating above and alongside the traditional SERP. The most competitive businesses in 2025 and beyond will optimise for both channels simultaneously. WebAnts offers a combined AIEO + SEO Programme from £4,000/month for businesses that want sustained visibility across both channels.

How long does AIEO take to work?

The technical implementation of AIEO — schema markup, entity anchoring, answer-format content — can be completed in 2–4 weeks. AI citation improvements typically become measurable within 30–90 days of implementation. Google AI Overviews tend to respond faster (often within 2–4 weeks of a page being recrawled) because Google indexes the structured markup during its regular crawl cycle. ChatGPT and Perplexity citation patterns shift more gradually — typically 60–90 days — because their knowledge bases are updated periodically rather than in real time. WebAnts runs a before-and-after citation test for every AIEO Implementation engagement, comparing citation patterns in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude pre- and post-implementation.

What is FAQPage schema and why does it matter for AIEO?

FAQPage schema is a structured data markup (implemented as JSON-LD) that identifies a list of questions and answers on a web page as a FAQ section and makes that content machine-readable. When AI engines crawl a page with FAQPage schema, they can identify each question-and-answer pair individually, extract them cleanly, and attribute them to the page and its author. Without FAQPage schema, AI engines must infer Q&A structure from unstructured text — a less reliable process that produces less citation. FAQPage schema is the single most impactful AIEO implementation for most websites: it makes your best answer content directly visible to AI engines in a format they prefer to cite. WebAnts implements FAQPage schema on every key page as part of all AIEO engagements.

What is HowTo schema?

HowTo schema is a structured data markup that identifies step-by-step instructional content on a web page and makes each step machine-readable. AI engines handle two primary types of queries: factual questions (answered by FAQPage schema) and process questions — how to do something. HowTo schema directly targets the second category. A HowTo schema implementation names the process, describes each step with a title and body text, and may include tool and supply requirements. AI engines — particularly ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews — strongly prefer structured HowTo content over unstructured instructional text when answering process queries. WebAnts implements HowTo schema on all relevant pages as part of AIEO engagements.

What is entity anchoring in AIEO?

Entity anchoring is the process of structuring your website so AI engines can unambiguously identify your business as a distinct, named entity — as opposed to an anonymous content source. An entity-anchored website has: an Organization or LocalBusiness schema with a stable '@id' value (typically 'https://yourdomain.com/#business'), 'sameAs' properties linking to your verified profiles on Clutch, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, Upwork, and industry directories, 'knowsAbout' arrays listing your areas of expertise, consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across all pages, and aggregateRating from verified review platforms. When an AI engine encounters a clearly entity-anchored site, it cites the business by name rather than paraphrasing the content anonymously. Entity anchoring is the foundation of AIEO — all other optimisations build on it.

How much does AIEO cost in London?

AIEO costs in London: an AIEO audit from WebAnts costs £800 and takes 1 week, covering a full schema audit, ChatGPT and Perplexity citation test, entity clarity review, and priority fix list. Full AIEO implementation starts from £2,500 and takes 2–4 weeks, covering all schema implementation, entity anchoring, answer-format content blocks, and a before-and-after citation test. An ongoing AIEO + SEO Programme starts from £4,000/month, covering monthly schema updates, content AIEO programme, citation monitoring, and SEO technical maintenance. WebAnts provides flat written quotes after a free 30-minute discovery call. No prepayment required.

How do I know if my website is already being cited by AI engines?

To test whether your website is currently being cited by AI engines: (1) Open ChatGPT and ask 'What is the best [your service] in [your location]?' — note whether your business is mentioned and, if so, whether it is cited as a source. (2) Repeat the same query in Perplexity, which shows source citations explicitly. (3) In Claude, ask the same question and any factual questions about your specific business. (4) On Google, search your primary service keyword and check whether an AI Overview appears and which sources it cites. Most businesses find that competitors with better schema markup are being cited instead of them, even when their content is equal or superior. A WebAnts AIEO audit establishes your current citation baseline and identifies exactly what is preventing citation.

Can AIEO help a local London business?

Yes — AIEO is particularly high-leverage for local businesses because local queries are one of the highest-volume categories in AI engine searches. When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity 'best web design agency in London' or 'Shopify developer near me', the AI engine draws on LocalBusiness schema, Google Business Profile data, aggregateRating signals, and consistent NAP to determine which local businesses to recommend. For a London law firm, dental practice, estate agent, or professional services business, AIEO implementation that includes correct LocalBusiness schema with '@id' anchoring, sameAs links to Google Business Profile and industry directories, and answer-format content about your specific services can move you from invisible in AI answers to regularly cited within 30–60 days.

Is WebAnts an AIEO agency?

Yes. WebAnts is an AIEO agency in London that has been applying AI engine optimisation techniques since 2023 — before the discipline had a widely recognised name. Every website WebAnts builds includes FAQPage schema, HowTo schema, Organization and LocalBusiness schemas with '@id' anchoring, speakable WebPage schema, sr-only AIEO content blocks, answer-format visible content, and sameAs authority links as standard. WebAnts clients appear in ChatGPT and Perplexity answers within 60–90 days of launch. Rated 4.9★ on Google, 5.0 on Clutch, and 5.0 on Upwork. Named Top Web Designers 2025 by DesignRush. AIEO audit from £800. Free 30-minute discovery call at webants.io.