For twenty years “being found online” meant one thing: ranking on Google. That is no longer the whole story. A growing share of people now ask an AI assistant — and get one answer with two or three names in it, instead of ten blue links. If you run a business in Sri Lanka, you now have two games to play. The good news: the second builds on the first.
The difference in one table
| SEO | GEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Search engine optimization | Generative engine optimization |
| Where you appear | Google and Bing results | Answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Google AI Overviews |
| What success looks like | A page ranking and getting clicked | Your business being named, cited or recommended |
| What drives it | Technical health, relevant content, links | Clear citable answers, consistent business facts, mentions on other sites |
You may also hear “LLM optimization”, “AI SEO” or “AEO”. They describe the same idea.
Why it matters more in Sri Lanka than you’d think
In competitive markets, hundreds of businesses fight over each AI answer. Here, very few local businesses have done even the basics — a readable website, structured data, a complete Google Business Profile. When an assistant is asked for “a good dentist in Colombo” or “who builds Shopify stores in Sri Lanka”, it has little to choose from. Being merely clear and consistent is often enough to be the one it names. That window will not stay open for long.
Where to spend first
GEO does not replace SEO. AI assistants that browse the web lean on search results to find their sources, so a site Google can’t read is a site AI can’t cite. The sensible order:
- Technical basics. A fast site that works on phones, with pages Google can crawl and index.
- Google Business Profile. Complete, verified, with real reviews — still the biggest lever for local searches.
- Answer-first pages. One page per service, opening with a plain two-sentence answer to “what is this, who is it for, what does it cost”.
- Consistency. The same name, description, location and contact details on your site, Google, LinkedIn, Facebook and directories.
- Mentions. Directories, partner pages, press, client sites — AI trusts what others say about you.
A 30-day plan
- Week 1: Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity the five questions your customers ask. Write down who gets named. Check your site loads in under three seconds on a phone.
- Week 2: Rewrite your top three service pages to open with a direct answer, and add real prices or price ranges — in rupees.
- Week 3: Make your business details identical everywhere. Add structured data. Check AI crawlers aren’t blocked.
- Week 4: Get listed in three relevant directories and ask five happy customers for Google reviews. Re-run the questions from week 1.
What to be sceptical of
Nobody can guarantee a number-one ranking or a ChatGPT recommendation. Be wary of anyone selling “AI ranking” as a package with guaranteed results, or charging a monthly fee without showing you what changed. Ask for the list of questions they tested, before and after.
Want to see where you stand? We’ll test the questions your buyers ask across the main AI assistants and send a one-page scorecard — free. Request a free AI visibility check. For the longer playbook, read how to get recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.