Is your brand visible in AI-generated search results?
With the rise of Google’s AI Overviews and AI-powered search assistants like CoPilot, SearchGPT, and Perplexity, more users are getting answers directly from AI (rather than clicking through traditional search results).
According to a study by BrightEdge, nearly 84% of search experiences are expected to be influenced by generative AI in the coming years.
This shift means that traditional SEO strategies alone aren’t enough—brands must now focus on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to ensure their content stays discoverable by potential customers.
But how does generative search decide which brands to include in its responses?
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 factors that influence your brand’s visibility in AI-generated search results and how you can optimize for this new search landscape.
1. Topical Authority & Expertise
AI models prioritize brands and sources that consistently demonstrate expertise and authority on a specific subject. Just as Google rewards high-E-E-A-T content in SEO, generative AI models reference brands that are well-established thought leaders in their field.
Why it matters for GEO
Generative AI doesn’t just pull information from random web pages—it leans on trusted, expert sources to generate accurate responses. If your brand is widely recognized as a leader in its industry, AI is more likely to reference it in search results and chatbot responses.
How to build topical authority for GEO
- Publish in-depth, high-quality content – AI favors comprehensive and informative content over thin, keyword-stuffed pages. Create long-form guides, case studies, and original research.
- Cover topics thoroughly – Build a content hub with well-structured pillar pages and supporting articles that fully cover your niche.
- Get cited on authoritative websites – Use sites like Link-able to secure mentions in news articles, expert roundups, and high-quality industry blogs.
- Engage in expert discussions – Participate in industry forums, webinars, and podcasts to increase brand visibility and recognition.
- Be recognized in structured data sources – Getting listed in Google Knowledge Graph, Wikipedia, and Wikidata strengthens your credibility in AI models.
Example in action
A cybersecurity company that regularly publishes detailed reports on emerging threats, is cited in industry publications, and is referenced in expert discussions is more likely to be pulled into AI-generated search responses than a competitor with only a few basic blog posts.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
To get AI to recognize and cite your brand, you need to prove your expertise consistently, across multiple authoritative channels. The more your brand is associated with a particular topic, the more likely it is to be featured in generative search results.
2. Content Structure & Readability
AI models don’t just extract information—they summarize, reformat, and present it in a way that’s easy for users to understand. If your content isn’t well-structured and readable, AI may struggle to interpret it, reducing your chances of being included in generative search results.
Why it matters for GEO
Generative AI prefers structured, scannable, and clearly formatted content because it makes extracting key insights easier. Well-organized content increases the likelihood that AI will use and reference your information.
How to optimize content structure for GEO
- Use clear headings and subheadings – AI tools scan content for logical structure. Use H1, H2, H3 tags properly to create a hierarchy that AI can easily follow.
- Write in short, digestible paragraphs – Avoid large walls of text. Use concise sentences and break up long content for better readability.
- Include bullet points and numbered lists – AI models often extract lists and step-by-step guides for direct answers in search results.
- Provide clear, direct answers – Start with a concise summary or answer at the beginning of a section before diving into more detail (similar to how featured snippets work in SEO).
- Use tables for structured data – AI can better interpret comparisons, statistics, and key information when presented in tables.
Example in action
A digital marketing agency writes a long-form guide on email marketing best practices. Instead of a massive text block, they structure it with H2 and H3 subheadings, bullet points, numbered steps, and a summary table. This increases the chances that AI tools will pull key insights from their content when generating responses.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
By improving structure and readability, you increase your chances of being featured in AI-generated search results.
3. Conversational & Natural Language Optimization
AI models are designed to understand and generate natural, human-like language. Unlike traditional search engines that rely heavily on keywords, AI-generated search results prioritize content that aligns with how people naturally ask questions and seek information.
Why it matters for GEO
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude process search queries in a conversational way, meaning they favor content that mirrors real user intent and phrasing. If your content is too rigid, overly technical, or keyword-stuffed, AI may bypass it in favor of sources that provide clear, natural, and contextually relevant answers.
How to optimize for conversational AI
- Write how people talk – Use natural, conversational language instead of robotic, keyword-heavy text.
- Optimize for long-tail, question-based queries – AI models prefer content that answers specific user questions (e.g., “How does GEO impact SEO?” instead of “GEO SEO benefits”).
- Use FAQs and Q&A formats – Structuring content as questions and answers makes it easier for AI to extract and use.
- Incorporate semantic search principles – Instead of repeating the same keyword, use related terms and concepts to provide more depth and context.
- Leverage AI-generated summaries – AI often pulls concise answers from well-written summaries, intros, and conclusions.
Example in action
A travel website writing about “Best Destinations for Digital Nomads” structures its content with subheadings like ‘Where is the best place for remote work?’ and ‘What factors make a city digital nomad-friendly?’ This matches how people naturally search, increasing the chances of being cited in AI-generated responses.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Generative AI favors content that reads like a conversation, answers real user questions, and flows naturally. By optimizing for conversational search, you improve your brand’s chances of being featured in AI-driven results.
4. High-Quality Backlinks & Brand Mentions
While traditional SEO heavily relies on backlinks for rankings, GEO shifts the focus toward brand mentions and entity recognition. AI models don’t just look at links—they analyze where and how your brand is mentioned across authoritative sources.
Why it matters for GEO
AI-generated search results prioritize trustworthy, well-cited sources. If your brand is referenced frequently in high-authority publications, industry blogs, and expert discussions, AI models are more likely to recognize and cite your brand in responses.
How to strengthen your brand mentions for GEO
- Get featured in authoritative publications – Aim for mentions in news articles, industry reports, and high-quality blogs related to your niche.
- Leverage digital PR & guest contributions – Contribute expert insights, quotes, and guest posts to build credibility and increase citations.
- Encourage discussions about your brand – Engage in forums, podcasts, social media, and expert roundups to increase organic mentions.
- Focus on brand mentions – AI models analyze text for brand recognition, so even unlinked mentions help establish authority.
- Get Niche Edits on Listicles – Use Link-able’s AI Link Finder to find relevant listicle articles where you can add niche edits, increasing your brand’s credibility and recognition.
Example in action
A health & wellness brand is frequently cited in Forbes, Healthline, and government medical reports as a trusted source on nutrition. Even without backlinks, these references increase the brand’s visibility in AI-generated search results.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
For GEO, brand recognition matters as much as (if not more than) backlinks. The more trusted sources mention your brand, the more likely AI is to include you in its responses.
5. Structured Data & Schema Markup
AI models rely on structured data to better understand and categorize content. Just as traditional search engines use schema markup to enhance search visibility, generative AI tools use structured data to identify key information and improve content retrieval.
Why it matters for GEO
AI looks for clearly defined data points. By adding structured data, you help AI models interpret your content correctly, increasing the chances of your brand being included in AI-generated responses.
How to optimize structured data for GEO
- Implement Schema.org markup – Use structured data types like FAQ schema, How-To schema, and Article schema to provide clear context for AI.
- Mark up key entities – If your content mentions brands, people, locations, or products, ensure they are properly labeled with structured data.
- Use metadata and alt text effectively – AI models process image and video metadata, so include descriptive alt text and captions.
- Add structured lists and tables – AI tools extract key points from ordered lists, bullet points, and well-formatted tables.
- Ensure consistency with Knowledge Graph sources – Align your structured data with Google’s Knowledge Graph and Wikipedia to reinforce AI recognition.
Example in action
A health website publishes a comprehensive guide on migraine treatments. By adding FAQ schema, AI models can directly pull preformatted questions and answers into generative search results, improving visibility.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Structured data helps AI models better understand and categorize your content, making it more likely to be retrieved and cited in AI-generated responses. If you’re not using schema markup, you’re missing a GEO opportunities.
6. Brand Mentions in High-Authority Sources
In generative search, brand mentions—whether linked or unlinked—help AI models determine credibility. Unlike with traditional SEO, unlinked brand mentions can pass positive signals for GEO.
Why it matters for GEO
AI models generate responses by pulling from sources they deem reliable. If your brand is frequently mentioned in respected industry sites, news publications, and expert roundups, AI is more likely to recognize it as a trusted authority and reference it in responses.
How to increase high-authority brand mentions
- Get featured in industry publications – Secure mentions in high-authority blogs, news outlets, and research reports (e.g., Forbes, Harvard Business Review, or niche-specific sites).
- Leverage PR and digital outreach – Publish press releases, contribute guest articles, and participate in interviews to increase brand exposure.
- Be cited by experts and influencers – Use Author+ to engage with experts in your industry so they reference your brand in their content.
- Participate in research studies and case studies – Provide insights or data that industry sources will cite in reports and whitepapers.
- Encourage discussions in forums and communities – Having your brand mentioned in places like Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, and industry-specific forums strengthens AI recognition.
Example in action
A fintech startup is frequently mentioned in TechCrunch, Bloomberg, and industry whitepapers discussing digital payments. Even without backlinks, these citations establish credibility, increasing the chances of being referenced in AI-generated financial advice.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Generative AI doesn’t just rely on links—it looks for brand mentions across trusted sources. The more your brand appears in respected, high-authority content, the more likely AI is to recognize and feature it in search results.
7. Content Freshness & Regular Updates
AI models prioritize up-to-date, accurate content when generating responses. Just like Google values fresh content for SEO, generative AI favors recent, well-maintained information over outdated sources. If your content is outdated, AI may exclude it from search results in favor of newer references.
Why it matters for GEO
AI models retrieve and summarize information in real-time. If your brand’s content hasn’t been updated recently, it’s less likely to be recognized, trusted, or referenced.
How to keep content fresh for GEO
- Regularly update key pages and blog posts – Refresh statistics, case studies, and outdated information to keep content relevant.
- Add new insights and expert opinions – AI models prioritize sources that reflect the latest trends and expert analysis.
- Use date-based schema markup – Implement Last Updated schema so AI knows your content is current.
- Repurpose and expand older content – Turn existing articles into new formats like videos, infographics, and social media content to increase engagement.
- Monitor AI-generated search results – Check how AI tools reference your content and update pages accordingly to align with current discussions.
Example in action
A digital marketing agency publishes an SEO trends report every year, updating statistics and best practices. Because the report is consistently refreshed, AI models recognize it as a reliable, up-to-date source and reference it in search results.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
If your content isn’t fresh, AI models may ignore it. By regularly updating your content, you increase its chances of being retrieved, cited, and featured in AI-generated search results.
8. Multimodal Content Optimization
Generative AI is evolving beyond just text-based responses. AI search engines and large language models (LLMs) are increasingly integrating images, videos, and audio into search results. If your brand’s content isn’t optimized for multimodal AI retrieval, you could be missing valuable visibility opportunities.
Why it matters for GEO
AI-powered searches don’t just process text—they analyze images, videos, infographics, and even podcasts to provide richer responses. Brands that leverage multiple content formats are more likely to appear in AI-generated search results.
How to optimize for multimodal AI
- Use descriptive alt text and metadata for images – AI models scan and categorize images, so include detailed alt text, file names, and structured metadata.
- Optimize video content with transcripts and captions – AI extracts insights from YouTube videos, webinars, and podcasts, so provide SEO-friendly descriptions and transcripts.
- Leverage structured data for multimedia – Use VideoObject and ImageObject schema markup to help AI understand your non-text content.
- Create AI-friendly visual content – AI-generated results often feature diagrams, charts, and infographics, so ensure they’re clear, high-quality, and labeled properly.
- Embed multimedia elements into articles – Adding videos, images, and interactive content to blog posts increases the likelihood of AI selecting your content.
Example in action
A fitness brand creates a comprehensive guide on weight loss that includes an infographic, embedded YouTube videos, and a podcast episode. When AI models generate responses, they pull insights from multiple content formats, increasing the brand’s exposure.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Generative AI is shifting toward multimodal search experiences. Brands that optimize for images, videos, and audio—alongside text—will have a greater chance of being featured in AI-generated results.
9. Sentiment & Engagement Signals
AI models don’t just analyze content—they assess how people interact with it. Generative AI tools prioritize content that receives positive engagement, social validation, and user trust. If your brand has strong audience engagement and a positive sentiment online, AI is more likely to feature your content in responses.
Why it matters for GEO
AI-generated search results aim to provide reliable and well-received information. To determine credibility, AI models consider user interactions, sentiment analysis, and engagement metrics. Content that is widely shared, discussed, and positively received has a higher chance of being referenced.
How to improve sentiment & engagement signals for GEO
- Encourage social sharing and discussions – AI recognizes content that is frequently shared on LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, and industry forums.
- Foster positive brand sentiment – Monitor and manage brand reputation to ensure that AI models associate your brand with trustworthiness and reliability.
- Engage with audiences across platforms – Participate in discussions, respond to comments, and be active on Quora, Medium, and relevant online communities.
- Earn high-quality user-generated content – Reviews, testimonials, and forum discussions mentioning your brand can strengthen AI recognition.
- Optimize for user interaction – Content that generates comments, reactions, and longer dwell time signals that it is valuable and engaging.
Example in action
A SaaS company publishes an in-depth LinkedIn post about AI automation, which receives hundreds of shares, comments, and discussions. Because the post sparks engagement and is cited in blog articles, AI models recognize it as a relevant source and include it in generative search results.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Engagement and sentiment shape how AI perceives your brand. By fostering positive discussions, social sharing, and audience interactions, you increase your chances of being featured in AI-driven search results.
10. Entity-Based Optimization & Knowledge Graph Inclusion
AI models rely on entities (people, places, organizations, and concepts) to understand relationships between topics. If your brand is recognized as an entity in structured databases like Google’s Knowledge Graph, Wikipedia, and Wikidata, AI is far more likely to reference it in generative search results.
Why it matters for GEO
Generative AI doesn’t just look at keywords—it connects concepts and entities to provide relevant answers. If your brand is not recognized as an entity, AI may struggle to associate your content with a given topic, reducing your visibility in AI-generated search results.
How to optimize for entity recognition & knowledge graphs
Get listed in Google’s Knowledge Graph – This increases AI’s ability to recognize and validate your brand as a trusted source.
- Create and optimize a Wikipedia page – Many AI models pull information from Wikipedia and Wikidata, making these powerful sources for GEO.
- Use schema markup to define your brand – Implement Organization, Person, and Product schema to help AI understand key details about your brand.
- Be cited in authoritative sources – AI models cross-reference news articles, research papers, and industry websites to verify entity information.
- Maintain consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data – Ensure that your brand information is accurate and consistent across directories, business listings, and structured databases.
Example in action
A personal finance expert is added to Google’s Knowledge Graph, has a Wikipedia page, and is cited in Forbes. When users ask AI-powered search engines about financial advice, their name is frequently referenced in AI-generated responses.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
AI models rely on entity recognition and structured data to determine credibility. Ensuring your brand is included in Knowledge Graphs, Wikipedia, and authoritative sources significantly boosts your chances of appearing in AI-driven search results.
Conclusion
As AI-driven search continues to evolve, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is becoming just as critical as traditional SEO. By focusing on factors like topical authority, structured data, brand mentions, engagement, and entity recognition, you can increase your chances of being referenced in AI-generated search results. Unlike traditional search rankings, GEO is about ensuring AI models recognize your brand as a trusted source. As AI-powered search tools like Google’s AI overview, ChatGPT, and Bing’s Copilot reshape digital discovery, now is the time to adapt your strategy and optimize for the future of search.
Need more high-authority brand mentions to boost your GEO? Join Link-able and build the most relevant, impactful backlinks to improve your AI search visibility today!
