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How to Choose a GEO Agency for AI Search Visibility

Choose a GEO agency that can explain how it will assess your current AI visibility, improve the information available about your business, and measure changes over time. Look for sound SEO capabilities, accurate content, clear implementation responsibilities, and realistic expectations about what AI platforms may cite or recommend.

Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO, is the term used for work intended to improve a brand’s visibility and representation in AI-generated answers. For a business owner, the practical questions are straightforward: Can prospective customers find us? Does the answer describe us correctly? Does it explain when we are a suitable choice?

Big Fin SEO offers GEO services alongside SEO and local SEO. We believe buyers should understand the proposed work before investing in a new service category.

Begin with the questions your customers actually ask

A useful assessment should reflect your buying process. Testing only your business name tells you little about discovery by someone who does not already know you.

Consider questions that include a service, customer type, location, or specific constraint. For example:

  • Which SEO agency can help a local service business attract qualified leads?
  • What should a small business look for in an SEO and GEO partner?
  • Who provides white-label GEO support for marketing agencies?
  • Should I hire a search specialist or a broader marketing partner?

These are sample research prompts, not claims that Big Fin SEO currently appears in the answers. A prospective agency should create a relevant set for your business and document what it observes.

Require a baseline that you can revisit

Before discussing improvements, establish a starting point. Ask which platforms, prompts, dates, and settings the agency will use for its assessment.

A practical monitoring record might include:

Observation Why it matters
Your business is mentioned Shows inclusion in the sampled answer
Your website is cited Identifies a link to your own content
Your services are described accurately Helps identify incorrect or outdated information
Competitors are included Provides context for the buyer’s alternatives
Sources used in the answer Helps identify information worth reviewing

A mention, a citation, and a recommendation are different observations. Ask the agency to keep those distinctions clear and avoid presenting a single favorable screenshot as a broad performance result.

Treat the findings as a sample of observed answers. Repeat the same test set at agreed intervals and record the conditions so the comparison is useful. Then examine whether any identifiable AI referral traffic produces inquiries or other valuable actions.

Ask what the agency will improve on your website

The proposal should name concrete work. An assessment that ends with “publish more content” does not explain which customer questions are missing or which business information needs attention.

Useful recommendations might include clearer service pages, better explanations of who you serve, accurate business details, author information, relevant case studies, and links that help visitors find supporting evidence. Technical recommendations should identify barriers to accessing or indexing important pages.

These improvements also help customers evaluate your business. A service page should explain the offer, who it suits, what an engagement includes, and how to take the next step. A case study should distinguish the work performed from the results observed and state the period measured.

Ask the agency to connect each recommendation to a specific gap rather than promise that a particular content format will trigger an AI recommendation.

Evaluate SEO foundations and structured data honestly

For Google’s AI search features, established SEO practices remain relevant. Google says there are no additional requirements or special optimizations needed for AI Overviews and AI Mode. This guidance is specific to Google; it should not be presented as documentation for every AI assistant.

Structured data can describe page content, but it must agree with what readers can see. There is no special Google AI schema that guarantees inclusion. Ask which markup the agency proposes, why it is appropriate, and how it will avoid duplicating markup already generated by your website’s SEO plugin.

Google’s guidance on AI features and websites is a useful reference when evaluating claims about its search products.

Review the evidence outside your own website

Ask the agency to assess whether public information about your business is accurate and consistent. Relevant sources may include business profiles, professional biographies, genuine customer reviews, industry organizations, and editorial coverage.

The goal should be credible information that customers can verify. Buying fabricated reviews or publishing unsupported “best agency” claims creates a weak foundation for trust.

When an agency proposes outreach or profile updates, ask which sources are relevant to your customers and what evidence supports the description. The agency should not imply it controls how an independent publication or AI platform evaluates your business.

Choose a partner that can implement the work

A GEO audit can reveal gaps, but those gaps still need to be addressed. Confirm who edits pages, fixes technical issues, coordinates with your web developer, and reviews the finished changes.

For marketing agencies, the same questions apply to a white-label partner. Establish who owns client communication, how deliverables are reviewed, what access is required, and how the work fits your existing SEO programs.

Big Fin SEO provides GEO and SEO support for agencies as well as businesses. Our GEO services page explains the offering, while our company information identifies the team behind it. Michael Fleischner, our founder and CEO, leads strategy across our search and digital marketing programs.

For a broader agency selection framework, read How to Choose an SEO Agency That Helps Generate Qualified Leads.

Connect AI visibility to a business decision

An AI visibility program should answer more than “Did our name appear?” It should help you decide which information to improve, which audiences to prioritize, and whether the work contributes to your marketing goals.

Ask for reporting that separates completed work, observed visibility, and business outcomes. A change in mentions is useful context, but it does not by itself establish additional sales or prove which edit caused the change.

If you are comparing providers, start with your industry, customer questions, target market, and budget. Contact Big Fin SEO to discuss whether a focused GEO assessment, SEO work, or coordinated program is appropriate for your business.

Frequently asked questions

What is a GEO agency?

A GEO agency helps businesses evaluate and improve how they are represented in AI-generated answers. Its work may include visibility assessments, website content improvements, technical reviews, and ongoing monitoring.

Can a GEO agency guarantee that ChatGPT will recommend my business?

No agency can guarantee a particular recommendation from ChatGPT or another independent AI platform. Evaluate the proposed work, documented observations, and measurement approach instead of relying on guarantees.

Does GEO replace SEO?

GEO and SEO can be planned together. For Google’s AI search features, established SEO practices remain relevant, so a GEO proposal should explain how it supports your existing search strategy.

Does Big Fin SEO offer white-label GEO services?

Yes. Big Fin SEO provides white-label GEO and SEO support for marketing agencies, as well as services for businesses working with Big Fin directly.

Michael Fleischner

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Corine RigbyCorine Rigby
SEO Specialist

Corine Rigby is the technical heart of Big Fin SEO’s search engine optimization practice. From deep-dive audits to link acquisition strategy, Corine brings precision and insight to every project, helping clients rank higher and stay visible in an ever-changing search landscape.

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

At Big Fin SEO, I work behind the scenes to help our clients’ websites sail smoothly and rank higher. From deep-dive technical SEO audits and onsite optimizations to strategic keyword mapping, I make sure everything’s shipshape. I also lead our link acquisition efforts to help boost domain authority and increase organic visibility, so our clients stay ahead of the current.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

I really enjoy the collaborative vibe and the chance to make a measurable impact on our clients’ growth. It’s rewarding to be part of a tight-knit crew that values both smart strategy and solid execution, and where every win feels like a team victory.

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

I love walking along the shore collecting shells, soaking in the sound of the waves, and watching the sunset. It’s the perfect reset.

Laura AyresLaura Ayres
Chief of Operations

Laura Ayres is the operational backbone of Big Fin SEO, ensuring that every client engagement runs on time, on budget, and above expectations. As Chief of Operations, she oversees the day-to-day functions of the agency, supports account managers in delivering standout results, and keeps the entire crew aligned and moving in the same direction.

Before joining Big Fin SEO, Laura served as Executive Director at The CIO Initiative, a leadership organization dedicated to advancing senior technology executives. She held that role for nearly six years across two tenures, developing deep expertise in organizational operations, stakeholder management, and executive-level program delivery.

Background

  • Chief of Operations, Big Fin SEO (current)
  • Executive Director, The CIO Initiative (2018–2021, 2023–2025)
  • Experienced in operations leadership, account management, and team development

LinkedIn Profile

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

As Chief of Operations at Big Fin SEO, I’m the one making sure the ship runs smoothly. I support our account managers in delivering standout results for clients, assist with day-to-day operations, and help keep everything sailing in the right direction. My role touches nearly every part of the business, ensuring we stay efficient, effective, and ready to ride the next wave of growth.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

The people, hands down. Our crew is smart, supportive, and genuinely fun to work with, and the same goes for our clients. Big Fin SEO is the kind of place where collaboration, flexibility, and good vibes come naturally. It makes every day feel purposeful (and just a little bit fun, too).

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

The beach is my favorite place; it energizes me. When I go, I love to lay in my favorite chair and watch the ocean while my daughter builds sand castles at my feet. Then as a family, we walk the shore to collect shells.

Michael FleischnerMichael Fleischner
Founder & CEO

Michael Fleischner is a digital marketing entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience helping businesses grow their online visibility. He founded Big Fin SEO in 2014 after seeing firsthand that agencies were being asked to deliver services they could not staff, and businesses were being sold SEO programs that produced reports but not results.

Today, Big Fin operates as a white-label GEO and SEO fulfillment partner for marketing agencies nationwide, helping over 1,000 brands achieve measurable search visibility without building internal teams. Michael leads strategy across the agency’s GEO, SEO, paid search, and website development programs.

Credentials & Recognition

  • TEDx Speaker, “The Freelance Journey”
  • Author of SEO Made Simple, The 7 Figure Freelancer, Local Marketing Made Simple, and Blogging Made Simple
  • Featured on the TODAY Show and in USA Today
  • President, American Marketing Association Professional Chapters Council (2022–2023), representing 15,000+ marketers across 70+ chapters
  • Executive Producer, “The Strange” (feature film)
  • Founder, CapitalQuest AI

LinkedIn Profile  |  Media Kit

What do you do at Big Fin SEO?

As Captain and CEO at Big Fin SEO, I navigate our skilled crew through the ever-changing tide of digital marketing solutions. My role involves charting a strategic course, anchoring solid client relationships, and ensuring we stay ahead of industry currents to reel in outstanding results.

What do you like about working at Big Fin SEO?

What I enjoy most about Big Fin SEO is our vibrant, collaborative crew. It’s rewarding to see our combined efforts help businesses ride the waves of online growth, helping them make a lasting impact. Watching our clients elevate their online visibility, expand their reach, and net significant revenue through the strategies we deploy is deeply gratifying.

When you go to the beach, what do you love to do?

At the beach, I love to explore the shoreline, relax under the sun, and dive into a captivating book. I’m always on the lookout for fresh inspiration, particularly anything that resonates with our shark-inspired branding or reminds me of adventures on the open sea!