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Top Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Agencies and Thought Leaders
Published: August 08, 2025• Updated: August 08, 2025
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Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — sometimes referred to as AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) or AI SEO — is the practice of optimizing content to influence how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, Perplexity, and AI “search modes” retrieve, summarize, and present information. While traditional SEO focuses on ranking webpages in search engines like Google or Bing, GEO targets the training data, retrieval mechanisms, and context selection used by AI systems to ensure your brand, product, or expertise is surfaced in conversational and generative answers. This involves structuring information so it’s easily discoverable, semantically relevant, and contextually authoritative to AI models, enabling visibility in emerging AI-powered search experiences beyond standard organic rankings.
Key Takeaways:
- Top Agencies to Work With: Our ranking of GEO SEO agencies is based on proven expertise in influencing large language models, the ability to interpret and apply core Google patents, and demonstrated thought leadership through articles, research, and service pages. Go Fish Digital, iPullRank, and Omniscient Digital lead the pack, with Perrill, Single Grain, and Spicy Margarita rounding out the list for their specialized strengths in content, authority building, and B2B targeting.
- What to Look for in a GEO Agency: The right partner should have deep technical knowledge of AI retrieval systems, mastery of key patents like WO2024064249A1 (stateful responses) and US11769017B1 (retrieval using trained neural networks), and the ability to build custom technology for measurement and reporting. They should also offer a flexible service model that blends technical SEO, engineering support, and GEO strategy, with a track record of results across industries and client sizes.
- Strategies Top GEO Agencies Should Be Using: Leading GEO agencies focus on expanding semantic footprint — covering both direct prompts and query fan-out at scale by becoming a recognized topical authority. They prioritize structured, fact-dense content, citation engineering, and entity optimization to increase inclusion in AI-generated answers. They also integrate buyer’s journey mapping to align content with real customer questions and decision stages, recognizing that AI search is shifting from keyword-based discovery to intent- and context-driven retrieval.
Our Top Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Agency Picks
| Agency | Average Monthly Pricing | Top Clients | Employees | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1: Go Fish Digital | $4,000 to $20,000+ | GEICO, About Amazon, Wayfair, Jelly Belly | 51 – 200 | Visit |
| #2: iPullRank | $10,000 to $20,000+ | No public client names available | 11 – 50 | Visit |
| #3: Omniscient | No public pricing | SAP, Adobe, Loom, Jasper, Order | 11 – 50 | Visit |
| #4: Perrill | No public pricing | Culligan, DuraSupreme | 11 – 50 | Visit |
| #5: SingleGrain | No public pricing | Klassy Network, Superplastic | 51 – 200 | Visit |
| #6: Spicy Margarita | No public pricing | U.S. financial services firm (unnamed) | 11 – 50 | Visit |
Our agency list was last updated: August 8th, 2025. Fact-checked on August 8th, 2025.
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) Agencies to Work With
When evaluating the top agencies for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), we considered more than just service offerings and client lists. A key part of our ranking method was the demonstrated knowledge of generative search systems—specifically, whether the agency has published in-depth written articles, research studies, or dedicated landing pages (service pages) that clearly explain their approach to influencing large language models and AI-powered search. This emphasis ensures our picks aren’t just riding the buzz around AI SEO, but are actively contributing to industry understanding and thought leadership.
Here are the top agencies that we’d recommend working with:
1. Go Fish Digital
Go Fish Digital is one of the most advanced agencies in the Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) space, with a team recognized for its unmatched ability to analyze and apply Google patents directly to client strategies. Their approach is deeply rooted in understanding how AI systems like Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, ChatGPT, and SearchGPT retrieve and prioritize content — and then building tactical plans to influence those systems in measurable ways. This isn’t theory: Go Fish Digital uses custom-built technology with backtested results to identify exactly where and how a brand can increase its inclusion in AI-generated answers.
Proprietary GEO Toolkit
- Semantic Content Audit – Maps your site’s content to the topical authority signals LLMs and search engines use to identify trusted sources.
- AI Overview Analyzer – Tracks how often and in what context your pages appear in Google’s AI Overviews, with tactical recommendations for improvement.
- Similarity Score Extension – Measures how closely your content matches AI-generated responses, providing a reverse-engineered playbook for higher inclusion.
- Barracuda – An AI-powered platform that evaluates your content against 14 key factors from Google patents, surfacing the most impactful page-level changes for GEO success.
Reasons to Work With Them
- Patent Expertise – Go Fish Digital regularly publishes deep research into Google’s and OpenAI’s latest patents, such as context-aware query classification, semantic retrieval, and AI response generation, giving them a forward-looking advantage in GEO.
- Proven LLM Influence – Their backtested methods show measurable improvements in how often and how prominently brands appear in generative results. Influencing AI Search behavior for high-profile clients like GEICO.
- Research-Driven Thought Leadership – Industry-leading insights like How to Find Pages ChatGPT May Be Hallucinating and How to See When ChatGPT is Quoting Your Content keep their strategies on the cutting edge.
If you want a GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) partner that blends data science, AI retrieval modeling, and hands-on technical expertise, Go Fish Digital is one of the most competitive agencies in the field.
2. iPullRank
iPullRank was founded and is led by Mike King—an acclaimed international speaker, technologist, and creative strategist. With a background in computer science and even a stint as a hip-hop artist, Mike brings a unique blend of technical depth and inventive thinking to the agency. He’s consulted with major brands like SAP, American Express, HSBC, Nordstrom, SanDisk, and General Mills.
At iPullRank, GEO is powered by what Mike calls Relevance Engineering—a strategic framework that combines AI, embeddings, content strategy, UX, and information retrieval to ensure your brand is not just present, but authoritative across AI-driven surfaces like ChatGPT, AI Overviews, and AI Mode. Their article “How AI Mode Works and How SEO Can Prepare for the Future of Search” demonstrates a deep and nuanced understanding of how generative search systems operate, making iPullRank our #2 pick for GEO agencies. They delve into the shift from deterministic to probabilistic retrieval, the rise of passage-level retrieval, query fan‑out, and the challenges of navigating visibility in AI Mode.
Pros
- Founder Expertise: Mike King brings world-class authority in SEO, content, and AI-centric search strategies.
- Forward-Thinking Content: Their deep-dive article on AI Mode showcases unmatched strategic insight into this emerging search paradigm.
- Holistic Approach: The Relevance Engineering model blends multiple disciplines—AI, UX, and retrieval engineering—to build content built for generative surfaces, not just rankings.
Cons
- Niche Focus: Their specialized focus on AI search—while forward-looking—may leave traditional SEO needs less emphasized.
3. Omniscient
Omniscient Digital ranks as our #3 GEO agency pick, thanks to their deep understanding of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG — the process LLMs use to surface relevant context before generating answers. Their recognition that source-worthiness is a primary GEO signal shows a level of expertise few agencies match. They know LLMs are far more likely to reference content that is crawlable, topically relevant, clearly structured, and backed by authority signals like brand mentions and reputable citations. While their methodologies are strong, they would rank even higher on our list if they produced more published articles and research specifically focused on influencing LLM behavior.
Pros
- Mastery of RAG – Strong alignment with how LLMs actually retrieve and rank sources.
- Authority-Centric Approach – Emphasis on building brand and author entities to increase trust signals.
- Holistic GEO Framework – Combines technical optimization, authority building, and unique content creation.
Cons
- Limited Published Thought Leadership on LLM Influence – While they excel in methodology, they lack the volume of educational content or public research seen from higher-ranked agencies.
- Niche GEO Focus – Heavy emphasis on RAG and authority-building may leave some broader GEO tactics less explored.
4. Perrill
Perrill secures the #4 spot on our GEO agency list for their clear understanding of how to optimize content for both traditional search and AI-driven environments. Their approach to Generative Engine Optimization blends context-rich content creation, AI-specific technical SEO, and quality brand mention acquisition — all critical to improving visibility in LLM-powered tools like SearchGPT, Perplexity, and ChatGPT. They demonstrate a solid grasp of the need for contextual optimization, structured content, and technical precision to align with AI ranking factors. While their execution framework is strong, they land just outside our top three because their published thought leadership in the GEO space — articles, research, and public insights — is lighter compared to higher-ranked agencies.
Pros
- Balanced SEO + AI Search Expertise – Capable of delivering in both traditional SEO and GEO environments.
- Strong Technical Foundation – Emphasis on AI-specific schema and HTML optimization.
- Brand Mention Strategy – Actively works to secure mentions that reinforce LLM authority signals.
Cons
- Lighter Public Thought Leadership – Fewer in-depth articles or case studies on influencing LLMs compared to top-ranked agencies.
- Less Patent-Driven Research – While their methodology is effective, it’s not as research-heavy as agencies leading in patent and retrieval model analysis.
5. Single Grain
Single Grain lands at #5 on our GEO agency list, thanks to their strong public thought leadership around Generative Engine Optimization, including a dedicated service page and multiple educational articles such as “Optimize Content for AI Search with Generative Engine SEO“. They do an excellent job of explaining the strategic value of GEO, making the concept accessible to a broad audience. However, while their content is informative and well-produced, it doesn’t always dive deep into the technical mechanics of GEO — areas like query fan-out, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, and personalization factors that will be central to upcoming AI Mode experiences in Google Search. This leaves them slightly behind the more technically specialized agencies higher on our list.
Pros
- Excellent Public Education – Among the most active in publishing GEO-focused content for a broad audience.
- Marketing-Forward Approach – Strong alignment with brand building and lead generation goals.
- Blend of SEO & GEO – Applies established SEO skills to new AI search contexts.
Cons
- Shallower Technical Coverage – Lacks detailed public discussions on advanced GEO mechanics like RAG, query fan-out, and personalization algorithms.
- Less Patent-Driven Research – Compared to top-ranked agencies, they publish fewer deep dives into retrieval models and algorithmic signals.
6. Spicy Margarita
Spicy Margarita makes our #6 spot for its focused, B2B-centric approach to Generative Engine Optimization. They specialize in helping marketing teams secure consistent visibility in AI-powered search experiences like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. Their playbooks are designed to “get brands recommended inside high-value answers, win citations from trusted sources, and ensure that AI tools present the brand’s story accurately.” They also put strong emphasis on bottom-of-funnel GEO by identifying entity, source, and content gaps — and then producing content specifically engineered to close them.
Pros
- Focused on B2B GEO – Deep alignment with the needs of professional services and high-ticket product marketing.
- Strong Citation Strategy – Actively works to get brands mentioned in sources AI systems are likely to retrieve.
- Bottom-of-Funnel Targeting – Prioritizes queries most likely to drive revenue impact.
Cons
- Smaller Agency Footprint – As a boutique firm, they may lack the developer support, engineering resources, and enterprise-scale infrastructure needed for complex GEO initiatives.
What to Look for in a GEO SEO Agency
Selecting the right Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) agency is critical for brands that want to secure visibility in AI-powered search environments like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and SearchGPT. Because GEO is still an emerging discipline, not all SEO agencies are equipped to handle its technical, strategic, and engineering demands. When evaluating potential partners, here’s what to prioritize:
1. Deep Knowledge of the Patents Powering GEO
A truly advanced GEO agency should demonstrate mastery of the patents and research that underpin how AI search systems work. This includes:
- Google. Generating a stateful response to a search query — International Patent Application No. WO2024064249A1 (link)
- Google. Retrieval of information using trained neural networks — U.S. Patent No. US11769017B1 (link)
- Google. Generating query answers from a user’s history — U.S. Patent Application No. US20250036621A1 (link)
- Google. Context-aware query classification using user-specific context — U.S. Patent No. US9449105B1 (link)
- Introducing MUM: A new AI milestone for understanding information — Google Blog (link)
These documents reveal how LLMs retrieve, rank, and present content — knowledge that directly informs how to influence AI-driven answers.
2. Ability to Build Custom Technology
GEO requires reporting and insights that often can’t be delivered with standard SEO toolsets. Look for agencies that have built proprietary tools or integrations to:
- Track brand mentions in AI-generated responses.
- Measure similarity between your content and AI output.
- Audit AI Overview inclusion frequency.
- Surface technical and semantic factors directly correlated with retrieval success.
For enterprise-level brands, the ability to create dynamic dashboards, run custom API pulls, and integrate data with internal analytics systems is a significant advantage.
3. Flexible Service Structure
GEO touches multiple disciplines. The best agencies can seamlessly move between:
- Technical SEO — Schema markup, semantic HTML, crawlability.
- Engineering Support — Log file analysis, AI retrieval simulations, data modeling.
- GEO-Specific Strategy — Entity optimization, citation engineering, RAG-informed content creation.
4. Proven Results Across Verticals
Top GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) agencies should show case studies or examples of influencing LLM outputs for different industries and business sizes — from B2B services to eCommerce, and from startups to global enterprises.
In short, the right GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) SEO agency blends patent-driven research, proprietary technology, engineering capabilities, flexible service delivery, and proven results — ensuring your brand is positioned for both the current AI search landscape and its next evolution.
Common Questions and Answers Around GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
Top questions and answers around GEO (Generative Engine Optimization):
1. What KPIs should be tracked for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
Unlike traditional SEO, where rankings, impressions, and organic traffic are primary indicators, GEO KPIs focus on visibility and influence inside AI-driven results. Some of the most important metrics include:
- AI Overview Inclusion Rate – How often your content appears in Google’s AI Overviews.
- LLM Citation Frequency – The number of times your brand is referenced or quoted by tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or SearchGPT.
- Query Match Coverage – Percentage of high-value prompts (including query fan-out variations) where your brand appears.
- Similarity Scores – How closely your content matches AI-generated answers for targeted queries.
- Entity Recognition Strength – How well LLMs and search engines identify your brand or subject matter experts as trusted sources.
- Assisted Conversions from AI Mentions – Conversions or inquiries traced back to customers influenced by AI-generated answers.
2. What are the best strategies for GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?
The most effective GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) strategies center around expanding your semantic footprint — the breadth and depth of content coverage across all relevant prompts, both direct and indirect (query fan-out). This typically involves:
- Earning Topical Authority – Consistently publishing high-quality, expert-level content within a specific topic or niche that increases information gain scoring to semantically boost an overall “topical score.”
- Improving “Site Score” – Google’s pagerank determination also scales to an overall “site score” that’s captured from a variety of User signals. Improving this score tends to improve visibility in AI Search inclusion. See “Site Quality Score” patent.
- Fact Density – At it’s core, LLMs want to capture knowledge. And they crawl the internet for the latest information available on certain subjects. Using grounding methods, these machines can “fact-check” content on pages. Fact-density on individual pages or “at-scale” are also great ways to push on further inclusion in AI Search systems.
- Query Mapping – Identifying and addressing the evolving set of questions your target audience asks, both in search engines and in conversational AI. Both for query-fan out opportunities and directly-related prompts.
- Structured Content – Using semantic HTML, schema markup, rich-content, and clean formatting to improve machine readability.
- Citation & Source Building – Earning brand mentions in authoritative publications and knowledge bases AI systems trust.
- Continuous Monitoring – Staying ahead of new prompts and questions as LLMs and user behavior evolve.
3. Why is buyer’s journey mapping more important in GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) than in traditional SEO?
In a GEO-first world, search is shifting from keyword-driven to question-driven — meaning visibility depends on answering the right questions at the right stage of the buyer’s journey. Mapping the buyer’s journey now requires:
- Understanding the specific questions, concerns, and decision points of each customer segment.
- Recognizing that prompts in LLMs can vary based on demographics, sentiment, and context, not just search volume.
- Creating content that aligns with awareness, consideration, and decision stages in ways AI models can detect and retrieve.
- Anticipating query fan-out, where a single initial question from a user can lead an AI system to surface related follow-up topics your brand should own.
By aligning GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) strategies with buyer’s journey mapping, brands can ensure they remain visible and relevant throughout the entire AI-driven discovery and decision-making process.
More on AI search from Go Fish Digital
- How to Find Pages on Your Site That ChatGPT May Be Hallucinating
- OpenAI’s Latest Patents Point Directly to Semantic SEO
- Everything an SEO Should Know About SearchGPT by OpenAI
- How to See When ChatGPT is Quoting Your Content By Analyzing Log Files
Note: If you’re an agency owner on this list and you feel the information provided is inaccurate, please reach out to us for corrections on this article.
