GEO for AI Search in NZ

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At Net Branding, I think SEO still works. It just works differently now.

Quick answer. is SEO dead in 2025

No. SEO is not dead.

AI changed how results look.
You still need strong SEO.
You now add GEO to win citations inside AI answers.

At Net Branding we see this daily across New Zealand sites.

  • SEO earns rankings on the page.
  • GEO earns mentions inside the AI summary.
  • You want both. Not either or.

Start with small moves

  • Put the answer first on key pages.
  • Use short lists and a tiny fact box.
  • Add a named author. Real person. Real role.
  • Track leads and calls. Not only traffic.

It is a bit messy. That is fine. You can still grow.

What GEO is and how it sits above SEO

The foundation vs layer model

SEO is your base.

  • Crawl. Index. Rank.
  • Site structure and internal links.
  • Helpful pages that load fast.

GEO is a layer above.

  • Make your words easy to quote.
  • Clear answers. Short paragraphs.
  • Evidence, authors, and tidy markup.

At Net Branding we explain it simply.

  • SEO gets you seen.
  • GEO helps you get cited.
  • Together they keep you chosen.

Key differences

  • SEO aims for positions. GEO aims for citations.
  • SEO cares about keywords. GEO cares about questions and claims.
  • SEO is page-led. GEO is entity-led.

Quick test

  • Would a person quote this section
  • Would a model trust the author on it
  • Is the conclusion upfront

When GEO matters

You will feel GEO most when

  • AI Overviews or AI Mode appear on your query.
  • Users ask complex how-to questions.
  • Local best and near me searches show a summary
geo for ai search image by net branding

Net Branding tip

  • Prioritise pages where clicks dipped after AI features appeared.
  • Check where a competitor gets cited and you do not.
  • Start with the few pages that move leads. Then expand.

AI Overviews and AI Mode. What changed and why you felt it

What triggers these features

They show up on

  • Question-led searches.
  • Tasks with steps or safety notes.
  • Comparisons and local choices.

What to do on page

  • Mirror the question in an H2.
  • Give a two-line answer.
  • Add a short list that the model can lift.
  • Add one cautious note if the topic needs care.

You cannot force the trigger.
You can be the safest source to cite when it appears.
At Net Branding, we keep examples and redactions handy. We study the patterns, not the brands.

Click flow and citations

Some clicks move to the AI summary and its sources.
Your goal is to be one of those sources.

Make that easier

  • Answer first.
  • Use headings and lists.
  • Include a tiny fact box with a light reference.
  • Attach a clear author card.
  • Keep the click worth it. Phone and form near the top.

Our Auckland team notices that tidy pages get lifted more often. Small edits help. Perhaps more than you expect.

NZ visibility

In New Zealand, you will see AI features across

  • Trades and home services.
  • Healthcare and clinics.
  • Education and advice pages.
  • Product research and comparisons.

Net Branding workflow

  • Search your top five questions in a clean browser.
  • Screenshot when AI shows.
  • Record who is cited.
  • Adjust your target pages based on patterns.
    It is basic. It works.

SEO vs AI search. The practical differences

Ranking vs referencing

Old goal

  • Get to page one.

New extra goal

  • Be referenced inside the AI answer.

Write accordingly

  • Lead with the conclusion.
  • Keep paragraphs short.
  • Label steps, risks, and time frames.
  • Use a small glossary when terms confuse readers.

We see better lifts when the conclusion is in the first two lines. Net Branding has made this a house rule.

Queries vs tasks

People now ask full tasks. Then refine.
Plan for follow-ups.

On each key page

  • List five likely follow-up questions.
  • Turn them into H3 sections.
  • Answer with two to four sentences.
  • Link to a deeper page if needed.
Area SEO focus GEO focus
Goal Rank eligible pages Earn citations in AI answers
Unit of success Position on page one Brand shown as a cited source
Writing style Topic depth and structure Short answers, lists, fact boxes
Signals Technical health and links Entities, authors, real-world proof
Scope Keywords and pages Questions and claims

Does AI kill SEO? The honest view

Where SEO still wins

SEO remains strong for

  • Branded and navigational queries.
  • Product pages and categories.
  • Evergreen how-to content with tools or visuals.
  • Local discovery where the map pack matters.

Keep doing the basics well

  • Clear site architecture.
  • Helpful evergreen hubs.
  • Image and video – where it helps the task.
  • Sensible linking and mentions.

At Net Branding, we still see a lot of leads from classic SEO. It would be odd to drop it.

Where GEO wins

GEO shines on layered questions.
Example

  • Best heat pump size for a two-bedroom unit in Auckland
  • What to do if a child has recurring ear infections

To win those

  • Give a short answer first.
  • Add context for different cases.
  • Include a tiny chooser table.
  • End with a next step.

Sometimes the citation matters more than the rank. We have seen that. Not always. Enough to plan for it.

Risks and myths

Common myths

  • AI killed all clicks. It did not.
  • You must rewrite everything. You do not.
  • Schema alone will fix it. It will not.

Watch outs

  • Thin summaries.
  • Claims without a source.
  • Fake authors.
  • Over tidy content that feels generated.

Safer path

  • Short human lines.
  • Real authors.
  • Modest citations.
  • Small updates often. Perhaps weekly at first.
    This is how Net Branding ships content. Low drama. Steady gains.

GEO actions you can implement this quarter

Page structure for extraction

On priority pages

  • Two line answer under the H1.
  • Short list or mini table.
  • Labelled fact box with one or two numbers.
  • H2 and H3 that mirror real questions.
  • Two to four line paragraphs.

Add a risk note when needed.
End with a clear next step.

Net Branding rule of three

  • Answer first.
  • Fact box.
  • Five FAQs.
    It sounds simple. It works.

Author profiles and E E A T

Attach real people to important pages

  • Name. Role. Two line bio. Headshot.
  • Link to a fuller profile with credentials and memberships.

Add E E A T touches

  • Experience. A short case line.
  • Expertise. Correct terms in plain English.
  • Authoritativeness. Neutral references.
  • Trust. Contact details and updated dates.

We publish author cards on page one. Not buried. That single change lifts trust.

FAQ blocks mapped to follow-ups

People and AI ask follow-ups. Plan for them.

Do this

  • List five follow-ups you hear on calls.
  • Turn each into an H3.
  • Give a short answer first.
  • Add one line on risks or exceptions.
  • Add FAQ schema.

Net Branding uses client call notes for this. Your inbox is a gold mine.

Entity building and internal linking

Build a clean internal graph

  • An Entity Home page for your brand.
  • Hubs for each service with links to proof.
  • Consistent naming.
  • Org and Person schema where it fits.

Check the path

  • Can a new reader find your expertise in three clicks
  • Does each hub link to evidence
  • Are author bios linked from the pages they reviewed

Local proof and reviews

Show local signals

  • Keep Google Business Profile current.
  • Ask for reviews and reply to them.
  • Add third party mentions that matter.
  • Show your NAP in the footer.
  • Use a small proof block on key pages.

At Net Branding we prefer a single honest line from a client. First name and suburb. Clean and credible.

Table. Citation-ready page checklist

Element What to add Why it helps
Answer first Two lines under the H1 Easy lift for summaries
Fact box One or two numbers with a light source Safer to quote
FAQ block Five follow-up questions users ask Mirrors AI follow-ups
Author card Name, role, short bio Entity and trust
Review proof One line quote with initials and suburb Local signal without oversharing

GEO for New Zealand sectors. fast use cases

Trades and local services

Queries often trigger AI.
Add

  • Short answer with a safety note if relevant.
  • A tiny table. Problem. Quick check. When to call a pro.
  • Suburb details. Response times.
  • FAQs on urgency and who pays.

Make contact easy. Phone and form near the fold.
Net Branding will often surface the phone number twice on mobile.

geo for ai search

Healthcare and clinics

Bar for trust is higher.
Add

  • Symptom overview in plain English.
  • When to seek urgent care.
  • Eligibility and referral steps in NZ terms.
  • Risks and alternatives.
  • Author and reviewer bios.
  • Clear booking paths.

We keep claims modest. We cite neutral guidance where sensible.

E commerce

AI appears in comparisons and is best for searches.
Add

  • Quick chooser table by use case.
  • Returns, delivery times, and warranty basics for NZ.
  • Setup or sizing tips.
  • One-line review quote.

Link smoothly to product pages.
Net Branding checks the add to cart path on mobile first. Always.

Education and professional services

Users want steps, eligibility, and outcomes.
Add

  • Step by step path with time frames.
  • Entry requirements.
  • Cost structure in plain ranges.
  • Small glossary.
  • Contacts and next intake dates if relevant.

Measurement when tools lag

Baselines

Before you change pages, record

  • Leads by type. Calls. Forms. Bookings.
  • Lead quality tags.
  • Top pages that drive those leads.
  • Search terms that matter.

Update content.
Annotate the date.
Watch trends for four to eight weeks.

Net Branding shares a two column view. Changes on the left. Outcomes on the right. It keeps the team honest.

SERP capture for AI answers

Simple weekly habit

  • Search your target questions in a clean browser.
  • Screenshot when AI appears.
  • Note which sources are cited.
  • Track frequency by query.
  • Store in a dated folder.

If citations rise, keep polishing.
If not, tighten the answer or add a small stat.

Server-side events and annotation

Clicks can be noisy.
Make conversions solid.

Do this

  • Track server side events for key leads.
  • Respect consent.
  • Note content updates in your analytics.
  • Align ad and organic reports to the same lead sheet.

You will not measure everything perfectly. Few can.
Focus on reliable signals.
Net Branding leans on calls and booked jobs as truth.

FAQs

Is SEO dead in 2025

No. Keep your SEO base and add a light GEO layer on pages that trigger AI features. Net Branding uses this combined approach across NZ projects.

Does AI kill SEO

No. Some clicks shift. You optimise for rankings and for references. We plan for both.

AI Overviews’ impact on SEO

When they appear, users scan the summary and its sources first. Aim to be one of those sources and still win on page. That is our working model.

SEO vs AI search. what changes

Classic SEO targets rankings. GEO targets citations inside AI answers. Use clear structure, sources, and visible authors. We keep it human and plain.

How do I get cited in AI answers?

Put the answer first. Use short lists and a small fact box. Attach a real author. Add modest citations where they matter. Net Branding keeps this checklist short on purpose.

Do I need schema for GEO?

Schema helps machines understand your page. Use Article, FAQ, and HowTo where it fits. Clarity and trust still lead.

Can I keep my current SEO and add GEO

Yes. Keep what works. Add GEO tactics to pages with complex questions or clear follow-ups. Start small. Review monthly.

Contact

Net Branding Limited
Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: 09 523 0478
Email: info@netbranding.co.nz
Website: netbranding.co.nz