SEO, AEO & GEO Agency | NZ & Australia
Get found on Google, by AI search, and by AI agents
SEO that ranks you higher in traditional search, plus AEO and GEO that get your business cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and the growing number of AI agents people use to research and shortlist services. The search landscape is changing, and we make sure you're visible everywhere.
Long-term results for AU businesses
What is SEO, AEO and GEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of improving your website so it ranks higher in search results when people look for your services on Google and Bing. It covers everything from the technical health of your site to the quality and relevance of your content. Good SEO means more of the right people find your business without paying for every click.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is about future-proofing your website as more people shift towards asking search engines and AI engines longer, more answer-focused queries. By structuring your content so tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews cite your business, AEO helps you optimise for both AI engines and traditional search engines at the same time, so you're covered no matter how people search.
GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) goes a step further. While AEO covers how you appear in AI-driven answers, GEO is about executing specific optimisation tasks that help your business show up directly in AI engines, ensuring you rank when people use AI agents to research, compare, and shortlist services on their behalf. AEO and GEO are closely related because AI agents often work by asking questions, just like a person would, but GEO focuses specifically on how generative AI models choose which businesses to recommend. At SME Growth, we combine all three disciplines to future-proof your search visibility.
AEO and GEO: two sides of the same coin
AI is changing how people find businesses. We make sure you're visible across every part of that shift.
AEO: get cited in AI answers
As people increasingly ask longer, answer-focused queries across both search engines and AI engines, AEO future-proofs your website by ensuring your business is the one being cited. We structure your content with clear, authoritative answers that tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews naturally pull from, helping you optimise for both AI and traditional search results at the same time.
GEO: get recommended by AI agents
AI agents go further than answering questions. They research, compare, and shortlist businesses on behalf of users. When someone asks an AI agent to find the best provider in their area, GEO ensures your business makes the cut. We optimise the signals that generative AI models use to decide which businesses to recommend.
Why we deliver them together
AEO and GEO are naturally connected. AI agents work by asking questions on behalf of users, which means the content foundations you build for AEO directly feed your GEO performance. A business that's well-structured for AI answers is also one that AI agents are more likely to recommend. That's why we don't treat them as separate add-ons. Every SEO engagement at SME Growth includes AEO and GEO as part of our core approach, because ranking on Google is only part of the picture when AI is reshaping how people discover and choose businesses.
Everything you need to own your search results
Technical foundations, content strategy, and AI optimisation. We cover the full spectrum of modern search.
Keyword Research & Strategy
We identify the search terms your customers actually use, then build a content and optimisation strategy around the opportunities with the highest commercial value.
On-Page & Technical SEO
Site structure, page speed, meta data, and internal linking. We make sure your site meets Google's technical standards and is built to rank.
Local SEO & Google Business Profile
Dominate the local pack. We optimise your Google Business Profile, build local citations, and ensure your site ranks for location-based searches.
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)
Future-proof your website as search shifts towards longer, answer-focused queries. We structure your content so AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews cite your business, optimising for both AI engines and traditional search at the same time.
Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)
We execute specific optimisation tasks to help your business show up directly in AI engines. As more people use AI agents to research and shortlist services, GEO ensures you're the business that gets recommended.
Website Content Development
Strategic content creation that targets the keywords and topics your audience is searching for. We develop engaging, SEO-optimised pages, blogs, and landing pages that drive organic traffic and convert visitors into enquiries.
Backlink Profile Management
Build and maintain a strong, authoritative backlink profile. We identify link opportunities, manage outreach, and monitor your backlink health to strengthen your domain authority and search rankings.
Site Speed & Core Web Vitals
Page speed is a direct ranking factor. We audit and optimise your Core Web Vitals (loading time, interactivity, and visual stability) to improve both search rankings and user experience.
Monthly Performance Reporting
Clear, actionable monthly reports that show exactly how your SEO is performing. We track rankings, traffic, conversions, and provide strategic recommendations so you always know what's working.
From quiet to fully booked. +340% patient bookings
Auckland Physiotherapy needed more patients finding them online. Through targeted keyword strategy, local SEO optimisation, and content improvements, we delivered a 340% increase in patient bookings, with better quality enquiries across the board.
- 340% increase in patient bookings
- Improved quality of enquiries
- Dominant local search presence
- Clear tracking from search to appointment
increase in patient bookings
“Our patient bookings have increased dramatically, and the quality of enquiries has improved significantly. We can clearly track the connection between our digital marketing and actual patient appointments.”
Helen Van Praagh, Owner
Auckland Physiotherapy
How we grow your search visibility
SEO is a long game, but it doesn't have to be a mystery. Here's our process.
SEO audit & opportunity analysis
We run a thorough technical audit, competitor analysis, and keyword research to identify where the biggest opportunities are for your business.
Strategy & roadmap
We build a prioritised SEO roadmap, tackling quick wins first while laying the groundwork for long-term ranking improvements and AEO visibility.
Ongoing optimisation
Monthly on-page updates, content improvements, technical fixes, and link building. SEO is never finished. We continuously refine based on data and algorithm changes.
Report, refine, repeat
Monthly reporting on rankings, traffic, and conversions. We review what's working, adjust our approach, and keep pushing for better results.
of continuous improvement
“Over the past five years we have seen a vast improvement in our digital performance. Most impressive wasn't just the initial improvements but also the SME team continued to monitor, refine and optimise our campaigns year after year.”
Doug Morris, Owner
Direct Pest Control
Five years of continuous improvement
Direct Pest Control is proof that SEO isn't a one-off project. Over five years of partnership, we've continuously refined their strategy, adapted to algorithm changes, and expanded their keyword footprint. The result? Year-on-year growth that compounds over time.
That's the value of working with an agency that treats your SEO as an ongoing investment, not a box to tick.
Frequently asked questions
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) focuses on ranking your website higher in traditional search results on Google and Bing. AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is about structuring your content so AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews cite your business when people ask questions. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) takes this further. It's about making sure your business ranks when people use AI agents to research, compare, and make decisions. AEO and GEO overlap because AI agents often work by asking questions on behalf of users. You need all three: SEO drives direct traffic, while AEO and GEO build your authority across AI-powered search.
Most businesses start seeing meaningful improvements in three to six months, with significant results at six to twelve months. SEO is a compounding investment. The work we do in month one continues to deliver value in month twelve and beyond. We've been improving Direct Pest Control's results for five years running, which shows the long-term power of consistent SEO.
It starts with a free consultation where we assess your current search visibility, review your competitors, and identify the biggest opportunities. From there, we build a prioritised roadmap that tackles quick wins first while laying the groundwork for long-term growth. Most clients see meaningful progress within the first three months.
If you serve customers in a specific area, whether that's a city, region, or even a suburb, then yes, local SEO is essential. It helps you appear in Google's local pack (the map results), Google Business Profile searches, and location-based queries. For most NZ service businesses, local SEO is where the highest-intent traffic comes from.
Right now, SEO still drives the majority of search traffic. But AI search is growing fast. ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews are changing how people find information. On top of that, AI agents are increasingly researching and shortlisting businesses on behalf of users. If you're only optimising for traditional search, you're missing these emerging channels. We build AEO and GEO into our SEO work so you're covered as the landscape shifts.
GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is about making sure your business shows up when AI agents research, compare, and recommend services on behalf of users. As more people rely on AI tools to do the legwork, asking questions like 'find me the best SEO agency in Auckland', GEO ensures your business is in the answers. It's closely related to AEO because AI agents work by asking questions, but GEO specifically focuses on how generative AI models select and rank the businesses they reference.
Yes. We've helped businesses recover from both manual actions and algorithmic penalties. We start with a full technical audit to identify the issues, whether that's toxic backlinks, thin content, or technical problems, then build a recovery plan. It takes patience, but recovery is absolutely possible with the right approach.
Ready to get found by more customers?
Book a free consultation and find out exactly where the opportunities are, on Google and in AI search.
