What is GEO and how is it different from traditional SEO?
TL;DR
GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is the practice of making your business visible in AI-generated answers, not just traditional search results. SEO gets you on page 1 of Google. GEO gets you cited by AI.
Traditional SEO focuses on ranking in the blue links on Google. GEO goes further, optimising your business to be cited as a trusted source when AI engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews generate answers for users. For local businesses in Melbourne, GEO is now as important as having a Google Business Profile.
Why do AI engines ignore most Melbourne businesses?
TL;DR
AI engines skip businesses that lack structured data, verified entity signals, and answer-ready content. Most small business websites have none of these.
When someone asks ChatGPT to recommend a plumber in Richmond or a dentist in Southbank, the AI pulls from businesses it can verify and trust. That trust comes from three signals: consistent NAP data across the web, valid JSON-LD schema on your website, and content structured to directly answer questions. Without these, your business is invisible to AI regardless of how good your service is.
What does the RankMeFirst.ai GEO audit check?
TL;DR
We scan your business across 5 GEO dimensions: AI Visibility, Schema Health, NAP Consistency, Answer-First Content, and Entity Strength.
AI Visibility
Do ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews currently cite your business?
Schema Health
Is your JSON-LD schema present, valid, and complete for your business type?
NAP Consistency
Is your Name, Address, and Phone identical across your website, GBP, and directories?
Answer-First Content
Are your web pages structured to directly answer the questions your customers ask AI?
Entity Strength
Does your business have verifiable signals like a Google Business Profile, LinkedIn page, and Wikipedia-linked location data?
How long does GEO optimisation take to show results?
TL;DR
Most clients see AI citation improvements within 4 to 8 weeks of implementing GEO fixes.
The timeline depends on the severity of the issues found in your audit and how quickly fixes are implemented. Structural changes like schema installation and NAP corrections tend to show results faster, typically within four to six weeks, while content restructuring for answer-first optimisation may take six to eight weeks for AI engines to re-index and cite.
How much does GEO optimisation cost for a small business in Melbourne?
TL;DR
Our free audit is at no cost. Pro plans start at $97 per month AUD with no lock-in contracts.
The free GEO audit gives you a full score across all five dimensions with prioritised fix recommendations at zero cost. For ongoing optimisation, our Pro plan at $97 per month AUD covers unlimited audits, weekly monitoring, and full PDF reports with fix checklists. Businesses that prefer a done-for-you service can work directly with our Melbourne team through our agency packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GEO only for Melbourne businesses?
No. While we are based in Melbourne and specialise in the Australian market, our GEO audit tool and services work for any local business globally. We have clients across Australia including Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth.
Do I need to already have good SEO to benefit from GEO?
No. GEO and SEO are complementary but independent. Many businesses with poor traditional SEO rankings still benefit significantly from GEO because AI engines use different signals to traditional search rankings.
What is the difference between GEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)?
They refer to the same concept with different names. GEO is the more commonly used term in Australia. Both describe the practice of optimising content to appear in AI-generated answers rather than traditional search results.