What Is GEO and Why Perth Businesses Should Care Right Now

Search is changing faster than most Perth businesses realise. When someone types a question into Google in 2026, they're increasingly likely to see an AI-generated summary at the top of the page (the “AI Overview”) before they ever see a list of links. ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and other AI tools are now answering business questions directly. Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is the emerging practice of making your business and website the source that these AI systems cite and recommend.

How GEO differs from traditional SEO

Traditional SEO optimises your website so that Google's algorithm ranks your pages for specific keyword searches. GEO optimises your content so that AI systems choose your business as a trusted source when answering relevant questions. This means writing content that is authoritative, specific, citable, and structured in a way that AI can parse and quote. It means earning mentions and backlinks from publications that AI systems treat as credible sources. And it means building a clear, consistent digital footprint across multiple platforms: your website, Google Business Profile, industry directories, social media, and press mentions.

What Perth businesses should do now

The good news is that the fundamentals of GEO overlap significantly with good SEO and content marketing. Businesses that have already built genuine authority in their niche, through quality content, real backlinks, and consistent expertise, are better positioned for GEO than those chasing thin keyword content. The key additions are: structuring your FAQ pages to directly answer the questions AI tools are asked, using schema markup to help AI systems understand your business, and building genuine third-party mentions of your business online.

MSA Digital includes AI search visibility as part of our SEO service for Perth businesses. Book a free consultation to find out how prepared your business is for the next evolution of search.