Your brand needs to show up in AI search.
LLM Optimization (LLMO) is the new frontier. When your customers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini for recommendations, is your brand in the answer? These tools help you find out, and fix it.
What is LLM Optimization?
LLM Optimization (LLMO), also called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), is the practice of optimizing your content and brand presence to appear in AI-generated answers. Think SEO, but for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini.
- AI Search is Growing Fast
- Over 40% of product research now starts in an AI chat interface. If your brand isn't in those answers, you're invisible to a growing segment of buyers.
- Different from Traditional SEO
- LLMs don't rank pages; they cite sources. Optimization means structured data, authoritative claims, clear attribution, and content formats that AI models prefer to reference.
- First-Mover Advantage
- Most brands haven't started LLMO yet. CMOs who optimize now will capture AI search visibility while competitors are still figuring out what LLMO even means.
Why CMOs Need LLMO Tools Now
- Your competitors are already in AI answers
- Try asking ChatGPT to recommend tools in your category. If your competitors appear and you don't, you're losing deals you'll never know about. LLMO monitoring tools show you exactly where you stand.
- Traditional SEO alone isn't enough
- Ranking #1 on Google doesn't guarantee you'll be cited by AI. LLMs have their own criteria for sourcing: structured data, authoritative claims, and content freshness matter more than backlinks.
- AI search traffic is zero-click
- When someone gets a complete answer from ChatGPT, they don't visit 10 websites. They trust the cited sources. Being in that citation list is the new "Page 1", and there are far fewer slots.
- The measurement problem is solvable
- "We can't measure AI search" is no longer true. New tools track your brand's AI citation frequency, sentiment, and competitive positioning across all major LLMs.
LLMO Tools & Strategies
Tools and approaches to get your brand cited by AI search engines.
-
1. Otterly AI
AI search monitoring that tracks your brand visibility across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Gemini, and Copilot. See how often you're cited, what sentiment, and which links get referenced.
Usage tip. Start with 15 prompts on the Lite plan to benchmark your brand vs competitors. You'll quickly see where you're invisible in AI answers.
- Pricing
- $29 Lite / $189 Standard / $489 Premium
- Site
- otterly.ai
-
2. Profound
Enterprise AI search analytics platform that monitors brand presence across all major LLMs. Tracks citation frequency, competitor positioning, and provides optimization recommendations.
Usage tip. Use the competitor comparison to see exactly which brands get cited for your key topics, then reverse-engineer what their content does differently.
- Pricing
- $99 Starter / $399 Growth
- Site
- tryprofound.com
-
3. Surfer SEO (GEO)
Surfer's GEO module optimizes content for AI search citations with a dual SEO + GEO score. Evaluates content across Authority, Readability, and Structure dimensions for LLM discoverability.
Usage tip. Focus on structuring content with clear, citable claims and statistics. AI models prefer content with authoritative data points.
- Pricing
- $149 Advanced (includes GEO)
- Site
- surferseo.com
-
4. Adobe LLM Optimizer
Adobe's enterprise solution for AI search optimization. Provides automated insights, recommendations, and optimizations for how your content is cited across major LLMs.
Usage tip. If you're already in the Adobe ecosystem, this plugs directly into your content workflows. It identifies which assets need optimization for LLM visibility.
- Pricing
- Enterprise (contact sales)
- Site
- business.adobe.com
Frequently asked questions
- What is LLM optimization (LLMO)?
- LLM optimization (LLMO), also called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), is the practice of optimizing your brand and content to appear in AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude. It is similar to SEO but targets AI search engines instead of traditional search results.
- What are the best LLMO tools for marketers?
- The top LLMO tools include Otterly.AI for AI search monitoring, Profound for brand visibility tracking across LLMs, Peec AI for content optimization, and HubSpot AI Search Grader for quick assessments. The best tool depends on whether you need monitoring, optimization, or competitive analysis.
- How is LLMO different from SEO?
- Traditional SEO focuses on ranking web pages in Google search results through backlinks, keywords, and technical optimization. LLMO focuses on getting your brand cited in AI-generated answers. LLMs prioritize structured data, authoritative claims, clear attribution, and content freshness over traditional ranking factors like backlinks.
- Do CMOs need to worry about AI search optimization?
- Yes. Over 40% of product research now starts in an AI chat interface. If your brand does not appear when prospects ask ChatGPT or Perplexity for recommendations in your category, you are invisible to a growing segment of buyers. CMOs who optimize for AI search now will capture visibility while competitors are still catching up.
Related reading
All resources →- AI marketing strategies and frameworks Our latest thinking on AI's impact on marketing, from automation to LLM optimization to the future of search.
- The frameworks behind effective marketing In-depth analysis of the strategies, mental models, and uncomfortable truths that shape modern marketing leadership.
- Complete AI tools directory Browse all 125 curated AI marketing tools: copywriting, automation, SEO, design, video, and more.