How to Get Your Newcastle Business Cited by ChatGPT and Google AI

|Sarah McKevitt
How to Get Your Newcastle Business Cited by ChatGPT and Google AI
In Newcastle, user search behaviour has changed. It’s no longer just about being at the top of the ‘blue links’; it’s about being the answer that Google’s AI Overview or ChatGPT gives when a local user asks, "Who’s the best for X in the North East?" We’ve moved from SEO to GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation). If you want your local business to be the one AI cites, you need to stop writing for bots and start writing for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Here is how we’re helping our clients rank in AI.

Be Direct

AI models like Gemini and Claude are built for speed. They scan the web for clear, standalone sentences they can lift directly into a summary.
  • Strategy – Put the direct answer to a query right at the top of your section.
  • Example - If you’re a local solicitor, don't bury your expertise. Use a H2 like "What are the conveyancing fees in Newcastle?" and follow it immediately with a 40–60 word summary.
  • Action - Keep it quotable. If an AI can’t summarise your point in one breath, it’ll find a competitor who did.

Optimise for Entities, Not Just Keywords

AI doesn't just see words; it sees entities. The relationships between people, places, and things. To rank in Newcastle, you must prove you are part of the city’s digital fabric.
  • Strategy - Use Schema Markup to tell AI exactly who you are.
  • Action - Ensure your LocalBusiness schema is flawless. It should link your business to "Newcastle upon Tyne", "Tyne and Wear", and even local landmarks to help AI's Knowledge Graph connect your brand to the physical location.

Double Down on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness)

With low-value content filling the web, search engines are desperate for first hand experience.
  • Strategy - Shift from "What is..." to "How we did it in the Toon."
  • Example - Include original local data or case studies. Instead of a generic post about industry trends, write "How we helped a local business achieve X." AI models are programmed to prioritise unique insights that aren’t already in their training data.

Get Reference Ready

Tools like Perplexity and SearchGPT use numbered footnotes. If your site isn't structured to be cited, you’ll be skipped over.
  • Strategy - Use lists, tables, and clear signposting to enhance readability.
  • Action -
    • Tables - Comparison tables are AI gold.
    • Bullet Points - Perfect for step-by-step local guides.
    • Citations: Link to local authorities, AI is more likely to trust and cite you.
 

Is your business ready for the shift to AI search?

We can run an audit on your current site to see if AI models are actually reading your content correctly. Shy bairns get nowt, get in touch!

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