LLM SEO
LLM SEO (LLMO): what it means in plain words.
This work is about getting your brand named and cited in answers from AI assistants. Here is how it works, how it differs from classic SEO, and what to do.
Short answer
What is this work?
LLM SEO, also called LLMO, is the work of making your brand easy for large language models to find, trust and cite. Classic SEO ranks pages in Google's results. LLM SEO targets the answers assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini write.
In brief
Four things to know first.
Two names, one idea
Optimizing for large language models goes by two names. Most teams use both terms for the same work.
Cited, not ranked
AI engines cite. They do not rank. The goal is a mention or citation inside the answer, not a position in a list.
Foundations still apply
Google says SEO best practices stay relevant, because its AI features rest on its core ranking and quality systems.
Measure by prompt
Track citations across the buyer prompts you agree on, against a baseline taken before any work starts.
Definition
LLM optimization, side by side with SEO.
This work is search optimization for large language models, also called LLMO. It sits close to GEO, which a 2023 research paper defined as improving visibility in generative engine responses.
| Classic SEO | This work | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | A high position in search results | A citation or mention in an AI answer |
| What the engine returns | A list of links | One answer with a few sources |
| Unit of success | Ranking for a keyword | Citations across buyer prompts |
| Where it works | Mostly your own pages | Your pages and the sources assistants read |
How it works
How an AI answer gets its sources.
Assistants return one answer with a few sources, not ten links. ChatGPT decides on its own whether to search the web, and often rewrites your question into targeted queries first.
Google describes the same idea as grounding: its AI features retrieve relevant pages from the Search index, then link to pages that support the response.
The assistant reads the question
It may rewrite it into several narrower searches before it looks for pages.
It retrieves pages
Crawlers must be able to reach and read a page, or it cannot be used.
It writes one answer
A few sources are cited. A brand that is not cited is not considered.
What changes
Where AI answer optimization differs from SEO.
Google says there are no additional technical requirements for its AI features. The difference is where the work happens and how you measure it.
Answer-first pages
State the claim and the specific facts first, so an assistant has something specific to quote.
Presence beyond your site
Community threads, reviews and directories shape answers, so facts there should match your site.
Per-assistant checks
ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini each answer differently, so you check each one.
Citations as the metric
Mentions and citations, tracked per prompt, replace a rank for a single keyword.
Want to see how AI answers describe you?
We map the prompts your buyers use in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini, then show where you appear and where you are absent.
Myths
Skip the unsupported tricks.
Google notes that terms like AEO and GEO are common online, but says many suggested “hacks” are not effective or supported by how Search works.
| Common claim | What Google says | |
|---|---|---|
| llms.txt | You need one to appear | Google Search does not use it |
| Chunking | Split content into tiny pieces | No requirement to do this |
| Schema | AI needs special markup | No special schema.org markup is needed |
What to do
Start optimizing for LLMs in five steps.
Start with the buyer questions, then work outward to the pages and sources that answer them.
Map your buyer prompts
List the questions buyers ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini before they contact you.Baseline your citations
Record where you are named, cited or absent, and who appears instead, before changing anything.Fix crawler access
Check that AI crawlers can reach your key pages. OpenAI says allow OAI-SearchBot to be eligible for ChatGPT search.Write answer-first pages
Put the direct answer and the facts at the top of the pages that matter most.Track and adjust
Review citations against your baseline on a set schedule, then choose the next fix from the data.
FAQ
LLM optimization: common questions.
What does this term stand for?
Large language model optimization is the full name behind the short label. It and this term name the same work: making your brand easy for AI assistants to find, trust and cite. Both sit alongside the related terms GEO and AEO, which describe closely connected work.
Is it the same as GEO?
GEO and this term overlap heavily. GEO was introduced in a 2023 research paper as a way to improve content visibility in generative engine responses. The other label is more casual for similar work, so most teams treat them as one effort.
Does GEO replace classic SEO?
GEO does not replace classic SEO. Google says SEO best practices stay relevant because its AI features rest on its core ranking and quality systems. Crawlable, indexed, useful pages remain the base, and this work adds focus on answers and sources.
Do I need llms.txt for GEO?
An llms.txt file is optional, and Google says Google Search does not use it. Some teams still publish one to describe their brand to AI systems. It does not replace crawlable pages, answer-first content or presence on the sources assistants read.
How do you measure GEO results?
GEO results are measured in citations and mentions across the fifty buyer prompts agreed before work begins. Each assistant is tracked against a baseline set at the start. Rankings and clicks still matter for Google, but they do not show whether an assistant names you.
Can GEO guarantee citations?
No one controls what an assistant writes. OpenAI says it does not promise placement in ChatGPT search. GEO improves the conditions for citation: reachable pages, clear answers and consistent facts. Results are tracked against a starting baseline.
Find out where AI answers mention your brand.
We run your buyers' questions through ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini and show you the gap.