GEO Agency: What to Look for When Hiring a Generative Engine Optimisation Company

GEO is new enough that the market for GEO agencies is not yet well-regulated by reputation or track record. Many agencies claiming GEO expertise today were offering standard SEO last year with new branding applied. This guide gives you the questions to ask and the standards to apply when evaluating any agency offering GEO services — globally.

The credibility test: do they have their own GEO presence?

Open Perplexity and search “best GEO agencies” or “who offers generative engine optimisation services.” Note which agencies appear. An agency that cannot achieve AI citation for the exact service they sell should not be trusted to achieve it for your business. Apply this test before any initial meeting — it takes two minutes and tells you more than any sales presentation.

Questions to ask in an agency evaluation meeting

“Can you show me specific examples of AI citation improvements you have achieved for clients?” A credible GEO agency should be able to show before-and-after data on AI share of voice, Perplexity citation frequency, or Google AI Overview inclusion for at least two or three clients.

“Which AI platforms do you optimise for and how do you track performance on each?” An integrated GEO programme addresses Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and ChatGPT with web search at minimum.

“How do you approach entity optimisation?” A credible answer should include Organisation schema, sameAs properties, consistent brand representation across directories, and Person schema for key individuals.

“How does your GEO work integrate with SEO?” GEO requires SEO foundations. An agency treating GEO as entirely separate from SEO either does not understand the dependency or is trying to sell two separate services that should be integrated.

“What does success look like after three, six, and twelve months?” This tests whether the agency sets realistic expectations. First Perplexity citations typically appear within six to twelve weeks of implementation for well-executed campaigns.

What a credible GEO proposal should include

An AI visibility audit: a baseline assessment of your current AI citation frequency across target queries and platforms — requiring actual testing in Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google, not a report generated from keyword rank data.

Entity and technical assessment: a review of your Organisation schema, robots.txt, page speed, and brand consistency across platforms.

Content gap analysis: an assessment of which important subtopics in your space are not covered by your current content, with specific recommendations for new content to build topical authority.

A measurement framework: specific metrics the agency will track, how frequently, and what benchmarks they are targeting.

Platform-specific strategy: different approaches for Perplexity (live content retrieval), Google AI Overviews (ranking-dependent), and ChatGPT (training data and live search combined).

Red flags in GEO agency pitches

“We use proprietary AI to get you into AI.” GEO does not involve special access to AI systems. It involves content strategy, schema markup, and authority building.

Rebranded SEO as GEO: if the proposal is primarily about keyword rankings and backlinks with “GEO” added as a descriptor, you are looking at a standard SEO package with different branding.

No discussion of measurement: an agency that cannot describe how it will measure GEO performance has no accountability mechanism.

Unrealistic timelines: claims of AI citation within days indicate either inexperience or dishonesty.

No own-brand GEO presence: if they do not appear in AI answers for their own services, they have not demonstrated the capability they are selling.

Work with KlyverAI

KlyverAI is a specialist GEO, AEO, and SEO agency serving clients globally. If this post raised questions about your own AI search visibility, the fastest next step is a free audit. We check your current GEO and AEO signals, identify the specific gaps holding you back, and give you a prioritised action list — at no cost and with no obligation.

Get your free GEO and AEO audit at klyverai.com →

What KlyverAI delivers

KlyverAI is a specialist in GEO, AEO, and SEO as integrated disciplines, serving clients globally at klyverai.com. Our GEO service includes an AI visibility baseline audit, entity and technical optimisation, content cluster development, topical authority building, and monthly AI share of voice tracking across Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and ChatGPT. Contact us for a free audit covering your current position across all three disciplines.

FAQ

What should I look for in a GEO agency?

A credible GEO agency should demonstrate their own GEO presence, show measurable client results with specific metrics, explain their methodology clearly without jargon, and demonstrate integrated knowledge of SEO, AEO, and GEO as connected disciplines. They should offer specific deliverables and measurement frameworks, not vague promises of improved AI visibility.

How much does GEO agency work cost?

GEO agency retainers typically range from £1,500 to £6,000 per month for small to mid-sized businesses globally, depending on scope. Project-based GEO audits and implementation plans are typically between £1,500 and £5,000.

Can a traditional SEO agency deliver GEO?

Some can. The best traditional SEO agencies are actively developing GEO capability. However, many are not. Ask specifically about their GEO methodology, which AI platforms they track, and what client results they have achieved. Vague answers or reframing of standard SEO tactics as GEO are warning signs.

How do I know if a GEO agency is legitimate?

Search for them in Perplexity for GEO-related queries. Ask for specific client results with metrics. Request a detailed methodology document. Check whether their proposal includes genuine AI visibility measurement, not just traditional SEO metrics.

Written by the KlyverAI Editorial Team. KlyverAI is a global specialist agency in Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO), and SEO. We help brands appear in AI-generated answers across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and traditional search. All posts are reviewed for accuracy and updated when the landscape changes. Learn more about KlyverAI →