How to get cited by ChatGPT and Perplexity
· by the Agence Web Premium team, Guéliz Marrakech
Direct answer: being recommended by an AI cannot be bought: it is built with verifiable facts, direct answers and structured data. This is the method we apply on our own site and on those of our clients.
We call this GEO, for Generative Engine Optimization. It is not a replacement for SEO but an additional layer, with partially different rules.
How does an AI choose who to cite?
In short: It favors sources that respond directly, display verifiable facts and are corroborated by other sites.
A language model does not “classify” like Google. He seeks to produce a reliable answer and support it with credible sources. Three signals carry weight:
- The clarity of the answer. A paragraph that answers the question asked in one sentence is much more easily repeated.
- Verifiability. Prices displayed, physical address, telephone number, consultable references, dates.
- Corroboration. If three independent sources mention your business, the model has confidence.
How to format content to be used?
In short: Ask the title question, answer in one to two sentences just below, then elaborate.
This is exactly the structure of this page. Each section begins with a question, followed by a highlighted short answer, and then the development.
This format serves three purposes at once: it is picked up by AIs, it powers Google's rich snippets, and it is more comfortable to read for a busy human.
Avoid: introductions that circle around the topic for three paragraphs. The model does not find the answer and moves to another source.
What structured data should be included?
In short: FAQPage, Organization or LocalBusiness, Service, Offer with real price, and BreadcrumbList. The markup should accurately reflect the visible content.
Structured data gives models direct access to facts, without interpretation. The most useful:
FAQPage— explicit, directly quotable questions and answers.LocalBusiness— address, telephone, opening hours, geographic coordinates.offerwithpriceetpriceCurrency— a real price, not “on quote”.ReviewetaggregateRating— if they correspond to real opinions.
Absolute rule: never mark up information that is not on the page. It is detected and punished.
Is the llms.txt file really useful?
In short: It's an emerging convention, inexpensive to set up, that summarizes your verifiable facts for models. To do without expecting a miracle.
A file llms.txt placed at the root of the site sets out in clear text what an AI needs to know: who you are, where, at what price, with what references.
Our own file includes a “verifiable facts” section: address in Guéliz, telephone number, public prices, deadlines, number of online projects. Everything is controllable.
In Morocco, very few agencies publish one. This is a benefit available immediately.
Should mentions be made on other sites?
In short: Yes, it's even decisive. A model trusts what is corroborated by multiple independent sources.
The most useful mentions in Morocco:
- Complete Google Business Profile, with real reviews.
- Local and sectoral professional directories.
- Press or blog articles that cite you.
- Pages of your clients which mention your intervention.
- Profiles on professional platforms.
Consistency matters as much as number: same name, same address, same number everywhere.
How to measure your visibility in AI?
In short: Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot the questions yourself, and note if you are cited. There is no reliable tool yet.
Simple and free method: establish a list of ten questions that your customers would ask, and test them once a month on each AI.
Examples for a restaurant in Marrakech: “best Moroccan restaurant in Marrakech”, “where to eat a tagine in Guéliz”, “Marrakech restaurant online reservation”.
Record the result in a table. The evolution over three months is much more telling than an isolated measurement.
Classic SEO and GEO: what’s changing
| Criteria | Google SEO | GEO (AI) |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | To be classy | Be quoted |
| Winning format | Full page | Direct answer |
| Main signal | Inbound links | Verifiable facts + corroboration |
| Role of prices | Secondary | Determinant |
| Structured data | Useful | Essential |
| Measure | Average position | Repeated manual testing |
Summary of our observations as of October 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How to appear in ChatGPT responses?
By publishing direct answers to specific questions, verifiable facts (price, address, references) and structured data, then getting mentions on other sites.
What is GEO?
Generative Engine Optimization: optimization to be cited by generative AI. A layer that is added to classic SEO.
Does GEO replace SEO?
No, it adds to it. Both share the same basics: quality content, clear structure, authority.
Can you pay to be cited by an AI?
No. There is no advertising space in the generative responses of the main models to date.
How long before being cited?
From a few weeks to a few months, depending on how often each model updates the sources.
Is structured data mandatory?
Not obligatory, but highly advantageous: they give direct access to the facts.
Should we publish an llms.txt?
Yes, it is inexpensive and still rare in Morocco. An advantage available immediately.
How do I measure my results in GEO?
By manually testing ten customer questions per month on each AI and recording the quotes obtained.
Have your visibility in AI audited
We test ten customer queries on ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini, and tell you where you stand. Free.
