2026-03-28
What Does a GEO Agency Do? (And Why Dorset Businesses Need One)
A GEO agency optimises your business to be cited by AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Here's what that means in practice and why it matters now.
By Tyler Stocks · Stocks Local
Search Has Changed. Most Agencies Have Not.
When someone in Dorset searches for a plumber, a web designer, or a solicitor, they increasingly get an AI-generated answer instead of a list of blue links. ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity now summarise, recommend, and cite — and most local businesses are invisible to them.
A GEO agency exists to fix that.
What GEO Actually Means
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimisation. It is the practice of structuring your online presence so that AI search engines can find, understand, and recommend your business.
Traditional SEO focuses on ranking in Google's organic results. GEO focuses on being cited in AI-generated answers. These are different outcomes that require different approaches.
What a GEO Agency Does Day-to-Day
Structured data implementation. Schema markup — LocalBusiness, ProfessionalService, FAQPage, BreadcrumbList — tells AI systems what your business does, where you operate, and what questions you can answer.
Entity building. AI models recommend businesses they can verify across multiple sources. A GEO agency builds your presence across authoritative platforms — Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, industry directories, Crunchbase.
Content structure for citation. AI models cite content that directly answers questions in clear, factual language. A GEO agency restructures your website content so it is formatted for extraction.
AI crawler access. Many websites accidentally block AI crawlers through misconfigured robots.txt files. A GEO agency audits and fixes these access issues.
Monitoring and auditing. GEO is new. The systems change quickly. A GEO agency tracks whether your business appears in AI answers and what changes are needed.
How GEO Differs From Traditional SEO
SEO optimises for rankings. GEO optimises for citations. A business can rank on page one of Google and still be absent from every AI-generated answer.
SEO targets keywords. GEO targets questions. AI search is conversational.
SEO measures position. GEO measures presence. The metric is not "are you on page one?" It is "does the AI mention you at all?"
Why This Matters for Dorset Businesses
Dorset is a local market. When a potential customer asks an AI "who is the best accountant in Poole?" there are only a handful of slots in that answer.
Right now, most of your competitors have no GEO strategy. The window to establish your business as the AI-recommended option in your category is open. It will not stay open.
Stocks Local: Dorset's First GEO Agency
Stocks Local is the first agency in Dorset to specialise in Generative Engine Optimisation. Every website we build is structured for AI citation from day one.
Request a free GEO audit. No jargon. No sales pitch. Just a clear assessment of your AI search visibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GEO agency?
A GEO agency optimises your business to be found and recommended by AI search engines like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity. This involves structured data, entity building, content formatting for AI citation, and ensuring AI crawlers can access your website.
Do I still need SEO if I invest in GEO?
Yes. GEO does not replace SEO — it extends it into a new channel. Traditional SEO ensures you rank in Google's organic results. GEO ensures you are cited in AI-generated answers. Both matter.
How do I know if AI search engines can find my business?
Ask them. Type your business category and location into ChatGPT or Perplexity and see if you appear. If you do not, your site likely lacks structured data, has blocked AI crawlers, or does not have enough corroborated entity information. A GEO audit can identify the specific issues.
Want to know where your business stands with AI search?
Get a free GEO audit