Working with Red + White Agency has been a game-changer for our brand. Their strategic approach and creative insight have significantly boosted our brand awareness and elevated how we connect with our audience. From day one, they demonstrated a deep understanding of our goals and delivered solutions that not only resonated with our audience but also improved the overall user experience across our platforms. Their team is proactive, responsive, and incredibly easy to work with — always going the extra mile to ensure we're ahead of the curve. We've seen measurable improvements in engagement and customer satisfaction since partnering with them. If you're looking for a team that truly understands how to grow and refine your brand, Red + White Agency is the way to go. Highly recommended!
What is AI search optimisation? AEO and GEO explained.
red&white · 9 Jun 2026 AI Intro
A growing share of your buyers no longer search the way they used to. Instead of typing a query and scanning a page of links, they ask ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google’s AI Overview a question and read the answer. The engine names a few businesses. If yours isn’t one of them, you never existed as far as that buyer is concerned.
Getting named in those answers is what AI search optimisation is about. Two acronyms come up, and they’re worth separating.
What is AEO?
AEO stands for answer engine optimisation. It’s the practice of making your content the direct answer to a specific question. Not a page that mentions the topic, but a clear, self-contained answer a machine can lift and trust.
In practice that means writing the way people ask. A heading that poses the actual question, followed immediately by a plain-language answer in the first sentence or two, before any throat-clearing. If a reader gets the answer fast, so does the engine.
What is GEO?
GEO stands for generative engine optimisation. It’s the broader job of making your whole business citable by generative AI systems. Where AEO is about a single answer on a page, GEO is about everything that makes an engine confident enough to recommend you: consistent business details across the web, structured data it can parse, genuine expertise it can verify, and mentions from sources it already trusts.
Think of AEO as winning one question and GEO as earning a reputation the machine believes.
How do AI engines pick their sources?
They favour what they can read and verify. That comes down to a few things.
Clean structure: clear headings, real answers, machine-readable markup like schema and an llms.txt file that hands the engine a summary of who you are.
Consistency: your name, services and location matching everywhere they appear, so the engine isn’t guessing which business is which.
Expertise it can see: content that demonstrates you actually do the work, written by a credible source, not spun from a template.
Third-party trust: being referenced by sites the engine already rates. You can’t fake this, you earn it.
How do I get my business cited?
Start by asking the engines the questions your buyers ask, and write down whether you appear. That’s your baseline. Then fix what blocks you: tighten your structured data, make your business details identical across every listing, and rewrite your key pages so each answers one real question in plain prose. We walk through the full sequence, with the current citation research, in how to get cited in AI search.
None of this is mysterious. It’s mostly the discipline of being clear and consistent, applied to a new audience that happens to be a machine.
Is this different from SEO?
It builds on SEO rather than replacing it. The technical foundation is shared, and a site that does the SEO fundamentals well is already most of the way there. AI search adds a layer on top: structured answers, entity consistency and machine-readable summaries. We cover the overlap in more detail in SEO vs AI search, but the short version is that you don’t choose between them, you do them together.
Where to start
Pick the ten questions a buyer would ask before choosing someone like you. Make sure your site answers each one, clearly, on a page built to be found. Get your structured data and business listings consistent. Then test the engines monthly and watch your share of answers grow.
If you’d rather have it audited and fixed properly, that’s exactly what our AI search service does. Get in touch and we’ll show you where you stand today.
What our clients say.
5.0I have worked with a few agencies before, but none come close to the great service, communication and results we have had while using Red+White! They have managed our Google Ads account, running P-Max, Search and Dynamic Search ads - and helped us achieve a great return on investment by reaching targets for our e-commerce store! Thank you Darren and Jean for your clear communication and undying dedication to detail while handling our account!
Wow guys! Thank you to Jean and his team for making it super easy and effective to get my website and website traffic to where it is now. With so much knowledge in the space, our SEO and Google tracking has proven itself monthly!! Can't recommend this enough for ALL business 👏 Many thanks from IVgo Cape Town!
I recently had the pleasure of working with Red+White Marketing Agency, and I couldn't be more impressed with their services! From the outset, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and creativity. They took the time to understand my business needs and crafted a tailored marketing strategy that truly resonated with my target audience. The communication throughout the process was outstanding — they kept me informed at every stage and were always receptive to feedback. Their innovative approach to digital marketing helped elevate my brand's online presence significantly. I noticed an increase in engagement and leads almost immediately after implementing their strategies. What I appreciated most was their dedication to results. Red+White Marketing Agency not only delivered on their promises but exceeded my expectations. If you're looking for a marketing agency that combines passion, expertise, and a personal touch, I highly recommend Red+White. They are a powerhouse in the marketing world, and I look forward to continuing our partnership!
As a team of creatives, having RED & WHITE to pass our clients on to has been a massive help for our team. They offer the necessary advertising services that our team do not have the capabilities , or specialist understanding to offer. Transparent and trustworthy are the best way I could describe what to expect if you decide to work with their team. It also goes without saying they know what they are doing in the advertising space but you can ask them anything you like to bring your own peace of mind, as I mentioned earlier, they are very transparent with their capabilities and what you can expect from them.
We couldn't be happier with the results our SEO agency Red + White have delivered! Their expertise, dedication, and strategic approach have significantly improved our website's rankings and online visibility. Thanks to their efforts, we've seen a noticeable increase in traffic and conversions. Highly recommend their services!
We are incredibly grateful to Jean and the team for elevating Royal Paving's, landscaping services. Thanks to their support, we've experienced significant growth in our business. Highly recommend their expertise!
Strategic, attention to detail, hands on expertise. Great service! Highly recommend Red+White.
We moved over to red and white and experienced immediate increases in leads. They are a pleasure to deal with.
Fantastic service! Highly recommend red+white Agency for any digital marketing needs!
Knowledgeable and efficient 👌 We trust Red + White with all our collaborations!
Excellent service!! Great creativity and brilliant communication. Thanks Jean & team!!
Awesome service
I had the pleasure of working with RED MARKETING, and I can confidently say they are an outstanding agency. Their efficiency and creativity are truly impressive, and they maintain a remarkably high standard of attention and insight for their clients. What sets them apart is their commitment to treating each client as a unique individual, ensuring that every strategy is tailored to specific needs. They pride themselves on being at the top of their game, and it shows in their results. If you're looking to elevate your brand, I highly recommend RED MARKETING!
Working with Red + White Agency has been a game-changer for our brand. Their strategic approach and creative insight have significantly boosted our brand awareness and elevated how we connect with our audience. From day one, they demonstrated a deep understanding of our goals and delivered solutions that not only resonated with our audience but also improved the overall user experience across our platforms. Their team is proactive, responsive, and incredibly easy to work with — always going the extra mile to ensure we're ahead of the curve. We've seen measurable improvements in engagement and customer satisfaction since partnering with them. If you're looking for a team that truly understands how to grow and refine your brand, Red + White Agency is the way to go. Highly recommended!
I have worked with a few agencies before, but none come close to the great service, communication and results we have had while using Red+White! They have managed our Google Ads account, running P-Max, Search and Dynamic Search ads - and helped us achieve a great return on investment by reaching targets for our e-commerce store! Thank you Darren and Jean for your clear communication and undying dedication to detail while handling our account!
Wow guys! Thank you to Jean and his team for making it super easy and effective to get my website and website traffic to where it is now. With so much knowledge in the space, our SEO and Google tracking has proven itself monthly!! Can't recommend this enough for ALL business 👏 Many thanks from IVgo Cape Town!
I recently had the pleasure of working with Red+White Marketing Agency, and I couldn't be more impressed with their services! From the outset, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and creativity. They took the time to understand my business needs and crafted a tailored marketing strategy that truly resonated with my target audience. The communication throughout the process was outstanding — they kept me informed at every stage and were always receptive to feedback. Their innovative approach to digital marketing helped elevate my brand's online presence significantly. I noticed an increase in engagement and leads almost immediately after implementing their strategies. What I appreciated most was their dedication to results. Red+White Marketing Agency not only delivered on their promises but exceeded my expectations. If you're looking for a marketing agency that combines passion, expertise, and a personal touch, I highly recommend Red+White. They are a powerhouse in the marketing world, and I look forward to continuing our partnership!
As a team of creatives, having RED & WHITE to pass our clients on to has been a massive help for our team. They offer the necessary advertising services that our team do not have the capabilities , or specialist understanding to offer. Transparent and trustworthy are the best way I could describe what to expect if you decide to work with their team. It also goes without saying they know what they are doing in the advertising space but you can ask them anything you like to bring your own peace of mind, as I mentioned earlier, they are very transparent with their capabilities and what you can expect from them.
We couldn't be happier with the results our SEO agency Red + White have delivered! Their expertise, dedication, and strategic approach have significantly improved our website's rankings and online visibility. Thanks to their efforts, we've seen a noticeable increase in traffic and conversions. Highly recommend their services!
We are incredibly grateful to Jean and the team for elevating Royal Paving's, landscaping services. Thanks to their support, we've experienced significant growth in our business. Highly recommend their expertise!
Strategic, attention to detail, hands on expertise. Great service! Highly recommend Red+White.
We moved over to red and white and experienced immediate increases in leads. They are a pleasure to deal with.
Fantastic service! Highly recommend red+white Agency for any digital marketing needs!
Knowledgeable and efficient 👌 We trust Red + White with all our collaborations!
Excellent service!! Great creativity and brilliant communication. Thanks Jean & team!!
Awesome service
I had the pleasure of working with RED MARKETING, and I can confidently say they are an outstanding agency. Their efficiency and creativity are truly impressive, and they maintain a remarkably high standard of attention and insight for their clients. What sets them apart is their commitment to treating each client as a unique individual, ensuring that every strategy is tailored to specific needs. They pride themselves on being at the top of their game, and it shows in their results. If you're looking to elevate your brand, I highly recommend RED MARKETING!
See also.
AI Do you need an llms.txt file? The honest answer.
Do you need an llms.txt file? The honest answer.
Google says llms.txt does nothing for rankings, yet everyone's suddenly adding one. The honest answer on who needs an llms.txt file and what to do instead.
AI How to get cited in AI search: the 2026 playbook.
How to get cited in AI search: the 2026 playbook.
The practical steps to get your business named by ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. What the citation studies show, and what we found auditing our own site.
Google Ads Why are my Google Ads not converting?
Why are my Google Ads not converting?
Getting clicks but no conversions on Google Ads is almost never a budget problem. Here's the five-step diagnostic we run, with proof each fix works.