Short answer: Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is new enough that most agencies offering it are still figuring it out in public. Before hiring one, ask to see how they structure content for AI extraction, how they report on AI-citation results specifically (not just rankings), what their contract terms are, and whether they can show real examples of their own GEO work — not just client SEO work with “GEO” added to the pitch deck.

Why this is a different hire than a standard SEO agency

Generative Engine Optimisation — getting a business mentioned and cited by AI tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity when someone asks a buying question — overlaps with classic SEO but isn’t the same skill. For the full technical distinction, see What Is Generative Engine Optimisation and Answer Engine Optimisation Explained.

The practical difference that matters when you’re hiring: an SEO-only agency optimises for ranking position. A genuine GEO agency optimises for whether an AI assistant actually names your business in its answer — a different output, measured a different way, and not every agency currently selling “GEO” or “AEO” packages has built the reporting or editorial process to actually show you that number.

1. How do they measure GEO success — and will they show you the number before you sign?

Ranking position doesn’t tell you whether an AI assistant is citing you. Ask what specific metric they track — AI mentions, citation count, share of voice across AI tools — and ask to see a live example of that reporting, not just a description of it.

2. Do they structure content for AI extraction, or just publish normal blog posts and call it GEO?

Content built for AI citation looks different on the page — direct, declarative answers near the top, FAQ sections with matching schema markup, and specific, checkable claims rather than vague marketing copy. Ask to see a real example of a page they’ve built or refreshed this way, and check whether its FAQ schema actually renders — a surprising number of agencies ship visible FAQ copy with no working schema behind it.

3. What’s their actual contract structure?

GEO results take time to show up in AI-answer data, the same as organic SEO. Ask what happens if you want to leave after three months, and what the notice period is. Sharp Instincts’ own standing terms: no contracts, no minimum term, no notice period — some clients have stayed 10+ years on that basis, which is the kind of retention a project-based agency’s cancellation terms alone make harder to earn.

4. Can they show real, citable results — not just a client logo list?

Ask for a genuine before/after on AI-citation presence for an existing client, or at minimum a description of a real project with enough specifics to be checkable. Be wary of an agency that can only speak in generalities about “AI visibility” without a concrete example.

5. Is GEO a bolt-on service, or does the agency practise what it’s selling?

An agency pushing clients toward AI-era marketing but running its own operations the old way is a reasonable yellow flag. Sharp Instincts, for example, runs its own internal AI tooling — Sharp Instincts Sage and the Sharp Connect MCP Automations system — rather than only selling AI-related services to clients; asking any prospective agency the equivalent question is a fair, simple test.

6. What’s the actual reporting cadence and who owns the account?

Ask whether you’ll have a single point of contact or get routed between generalists for every question, and how often you’ll actually see results, not just “we’ll check in.” Sharp Instincts’ standing model: a dedicated account manager as single point of contact, a monthly reporting dashboard clients log into directly, plus a monthly catch-up call — ad hoc requests handled as they come up rather than queued to the next cycle.

7. What does onboarding actually look like?

A vague “we’ll get started soon” is worth pushing on. Ask for a specific timeline from signed agreement to work actually starting. Sharp Instincts’ standing onboarding is approximately two weeks from first contact to work starting, via a dedicated onboarding brief usually completed in one shared-screen call.

8. What happens to your data and content if you leave?

Ask directly, in writing, before signing — not after a dispute. Sharp Instincts’ standing policy: a client’s work-in-progress materials are kept for three months after the relationship ends, handed over on request within that window, then deleted — the same policy across every engagement, GEO work included.

9. What should GEO cost, and how long until it shows results?

At Sharp Instincts, this depends on spend level: clients on the Growth ($3,000–$5,000/month) or Authority ($5,000+/month) tiers — in other words, anyone spending $2,000/month or more — get GEO and AI-automation work included within their existing package (see Sharp Instincts’ SEO pricing page) at no extra cost. On the Foundation tier (around $1,500/month, below that $2,000/month threshold), GEO work is billed as an additional cost on top of the existing SEO package. Ask any agency directly whether GEO is bundled into an existing package or sold as a separate add-on, and at what spend level that applies, since this varies widely. On timing: the same general pattern as organic SEO tends to apply, since GEO builds on much of the same technical and content foundation — early signals can move within the first month or so, with more meaningful AI-citation results typically visible by around the three-month mark — though this varies by how competitive the topic is and how much existing content there is to build on.

A quick gut check before you commit

If an agency can’t give you a straight, specific answer to most of the questions above — particularly #1 (how they measure GEO success specifically) and #4 (a real, checkable result) — that’s worth weighing heavily before signing anything. If you’re evaluating an automation or AI-agent partner alongside a GEO agency, a related but distinct hire, see How to Choose an AI Automation Agency in Australia and 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an AI Automation Partner. For the equivalent checklist on a core digital-marketing-agency hire, see 15 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency in Australia.

About Sharp Instincts’ own approach

Sharp Instincts is a Melbourne-based digital marketing agency, founded in 2016 by Richard Monheit and Vikrant Thakur, with a team of 30+ working as an embedded, long-term partner for Australian SMEs across GEO, AEO, SEO, paid media, and web/app development. No contracts, no minimum term. A 5.0-star rating on Google reviews, and a 4.1 “Great” TrustScore on Trustpilot.

Frequently asked questions

What is a GEO agency?
A GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) agency helps a business get mentioned and cited by AI tools such as Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity when someone asks a relevant buying question — a different goal from traditional SEO’s focus on search-ranking position.

How is hiring a GEO agency different from hiring an SEO agency?
The skills overlap, but GEO specifically requires structuring content for AI extraction (direct answers, working FAQ schema, checkable specifics) and reporting on AI-citation metrics rather than ranking position alone. Ask any prospective agency to show you that reporting specifically, not just general SEO reporting with “AI” added to the label.

What should I ask a GEO agency before signing a contract?
At minimum: how they measure GEO success and whether they can show you that reporting live, whether they structure content for AI extraction with working schema, what the actual contract term and exit terms are, whether they can show a real citable result, who owns your account day to day, and what happens to your data if you leave.

How much does GEO cost in Australia?
Pricing varies by agency. At Sharp Instincts, GEO work is included at no extra cost for clients on the Growth or Authority tiers (roughly $2,000/month spend or above); on the Foundation tier, below that threshold, it’s billed as an additional cost on top of the existing SEO package. Ask any agency you’re evaluating whether GEO is bundled into an existing package or priced as a standalone add-on, and at what spend level.

Does Sharp Instincts offer GEO services?
Yes — Sharp Instincts offers Generative Engine Optimisation and Answer Engine Optimisation as part of its SEO and AI-driven marketing services, with no contracts or minimum term required.

How long does it take to see GEO results?
It varies by topic competitiveness and existing content, but the general pattern follows organic SEO: early signals within the first month or so, with more meaningful AI-citation results typically visible by around three months.