Short answer: GEO means making your shop easy to understand and cite for AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google's AI. These assistants rely on online sources: your website, your Google profile, your reviews and sites that mention you. To be cited: information that is clear, consistent everywhere and verifiable.
Why it matters for a shop
More and more people ask an assistant directly: "a good Italian restaurant near Lille station?", "a florist that delivers on Sundays in Lyon?". The assistant answers with a few names. If your shop isn't readable online, it has no chance of appearing.
What AI assistants read
| Source | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Your website | What you do, where, at what price, your hours |
| Your Google profile | Address, hours, reviews, photos |
| Reviews | Your reputation, in customers' words |
| Directories and articles | Confirmation from third-party sources |
6 concrete actions
- One clear page per service, in plain sentences: what you do, for whom, where, at what price.
- An FAQ that answers directly the questions your customers ask ("Do you deliver on Sundays?").
- Structured data on your site: it describes your business in a format search engines understand.
- The same information everywhere: name, address, phone, hours. See the Google profile.
- Steady reviews and replies. See getting more reviews.
- Get mentioned elsewhere: directories, local articles, partners.
What not to expect
GEO is new and assistants change fast. No one can guarantee an AI will cite your shop. What you can do is maximise your chances with clear information and a good reputation — exactly what also powers local SEO.
FAQ
How do I know if ChatGPT mentions my shop?
Ask it the questions your customers would ask, without giving your name, and note whether it cites you. Repeat every quarter.
Do I have to pay to appear in ChatGPT?
Organic answers in ChatGPT can't be bought. If ads appear, they are separate and labelled as ads.
Does GEO replace SEO?
No. Both rest on the same foundations. Our Croissance plan covers both: see the plans.