AI SEO Agency

AI SEO Optimisation

Search has already changed. Most businesses haven't caught up.

Over 50% of searches now end without a single click. AI platforms are answering your customers' questions — and choosing which businesses to recommend. Without an AI SEO strategy, you're invisible where it matters most.

AI platforms are replacing traditional search results

ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews now deliver direct answers instead of a list of links. Without AI search optimisation, your business isn't part of the answer — it's not even in the conversation.

Google SEO rankings alone no longer guarantee visibility

Ranking #1 on Google used to mean traffic. Today, an AI summary sits above position one. Businesses without an AI SEO agency behind them are watching clicks collapse — without understanding why.

Your competitors are building AI authority signals right now

AI tools rank and recommend sources based on structured, authoritative, semantically rich content — the foundation of generative search optimisation. Generic pages and thin blog posts are invisible. The window to act is closing fast.

Your customers are using AI search before they visit any website

"What's the best AI SEO agency near me?" — that question is being answered by an AI right now. If your business isn't being recommended in AI search results, you've lost the lead before it ever started.

"If you’re looking for an ai SEO agency in Auckland that truly understands how to improve visibility and drive real enquiries, I highly recommend her." - Shivas Nair

Sonia Elliott, Founder

Meet your AI SEO Consultant in New Zealand

I help NZ businesses get found — by Google and AI.

I'm Sonia Elliott, founder of Elliott Digital and an AI SEO consultant based in Auckland. With over a decade of experience growing sales and leads for New Zealand businesses, I've built my career on one simple mission: making sure the right customers find you online.

As AI search has transformed the digital landscape, I've gone deeper than traditional SEO — specialising in generative search optimisation that gets businesses recommended in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity. Because ranking on Google is no longer enough. You need to be the answer AI gives.

Whether you're a local Auckland business just getting started, or an established NZ company ready to lead your category — I'll build you the AI SEO strategy that turns search visibility into real leads.

Sonia Elliott

10+ Years Helping SMEs in New Zealand

NZ Based in Auckland

AI Search specialist

What you get from working with Elliott Digital

No locked-in contracts Work with us on your terms. We earn your business every month through results — not fine print. Cancel anytime, no penalties, no awkward conversations.

You work directly with Sonia — Every strategy, every recommendation, every decision comes from Sonia Elliott personally. You get a senior AI SEO strategist in your corner from day one, not handed off to a team you've never met.

Cutting-edge AI SEO technology We use the latest tools to monitor exactly where you appear — and where you don't — across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and beyond. You'll always know what's working and what we're doing about it.

A strategy built around your business, not a template No copy-paste SEO packages. Your industry, your competitors, your customers — every strategy is built from scratch around what will actually move the needle for you specifically.

Transparent reporting you can actually understand No vanity metrics, no confusing dashboards. Every month you get a clear report showing your AI visibility

The solution

AI SEO: built for how search actually works now.

AI SEO — also called generative search optimisation or GEO — is the discipline of making your business the source AI platforms trust, cite, and recommend. It's not a future strategy. It's the competitive edge that's being won and lost right now.

BEFORE AI SEO ✗ Invisible in AI search results ✗ Losing clicks to AI summaries ✗ Generic content ignored by LLMs ✗ No strategy for ChatGPT visibility ✗ Competitors getting recommended instead

WHAT WE DO → AI citation strategy → Semantic content architecture → Authority signal building → Structured data optimisation → Cross-platform AI visibility

AFTER AI SEO ✓ Cited in ChatGPT & Perplexity ✓ Featured in Google AI Overviews ✓ Recognised as a category authority ✓ Qualified leads from AI referrals ✓ Compounding visibility advantage

As Your AI SEO Agency - What we deliver

Every service designed to make AI choose you.

01 — AI Search Optimisation

We optimise your digital presence specifically to be selected, cited, and recommended by AI search platforms including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews, and Microsoft Copilot.

This is not guesswork. We reverse-engineer how large language models evaluate sources — entity recognition, semantic clarity, topical authority, citation patterns — and build your visibility systematically.

LLM entity optimisation — make AI systems understand exactly who you are Semantic content structuring for AI extraction and citation Prompt pattern research — targeting the exact queries your buyers use Cross-platform AI visibility monitoring and reporting Competitive AI citation gap analysis Generative search answer optimisation (GEO)

02 — Google SEO & AI Overviews

Google's AI Overviews now appear above traditional results for 50%+ of commercial queries. We optimise your content to be selected as a source — not buried beneath it. Includes full technical SEO, core web vitals, and rank tracking.

03 — Authority Content Strategy

AI systems cite the sources they trust most. We build content that establishes genuine topical authority — deep, structured, semantically rich resources that make your brand the definitive reference in your category.

04 — Digital PR & Citation Building

AI learns from what the web says about you. We secure coverage in authoritative publications, industry sources, and directories that AI models treat as trust signals — directly increasing the likelihood of recommendation.

05 — Technical SEO & Schema

Structured data and schema markup are how AI systems read your business. We implement precise technical foundations — entity markup, FAQ schema, breadcrumbs, and more — so AI can parse, understand, and cite you with confidence.

ChatGPT. Perplexity. Google AI.

Real results from real businesses we've worked with — recommended by AI, ahead of every competitor.

About Skin (Google AI, Laser Genesis Auckland)

About Skin was recommended by Google AI as the strongest overall option for Laser Genesis in Auckland — above every competitor on the map.

McSweeney Immigration Law (ChatGPT)

When someone asked ChatGPT for the best immigration lawyer in Auckland, McSweeney Immigration Law NZ was recommended by name.

Family Hearing Centre (Google AI Mode, Audiologist Auckland)

Family Hearing Centre appeared as a highlighted top pick in Google's AI Mode for 'audiologist Auckland' — featured above all organic results.

McCabe Family Lawyer (Perplexity)

McCabe Family Lawyer Auckland was listed in Perplexity's top family lawyers in Auckland — recommended directly to anyone searching for legal help.

When Working with an AI SEO Agency Heres How It Works!

A clear process. A measurable outcome.

AI SEO is new territory. We make the path to visibility structured, transparent, and accountable from day one. Every step has a defined output, a clear timeline, and a direct connection to the result you're paying for — being recommended by AI.

01 — AI Visibility Audit

Before we build anything, we need to understand exactly where you stand today. Most businesses have no idea what AI platforms are saying about them — or more importantly, what they're saying about your competitors instead. The audit gives us that picture in full detail.

We systematically prompt ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot, and other platforms with the high-intent queries your ideal clients are actually asking. We document every mention, every recommendation, and every gap. We map your current entity footprint — how clearly AI systems understand who you are, what you do, and why you should be trusted.

We also audit your competitors. Who is being recommended instead of you? What signals have they built that you haven't? Where are the openings in your market that no one has claimed yet? This competitive intelligence is often the most valuable output of the entire process.

What you receive: — Full AI citation report across all major platforms — Competitor recommendation mapping — who AI prefers and why — Entity clarity score and identified gaps in your current presence — Prioritised opportunity list ranked by commercial value — Written action plan delivered within 7 business days

02 — Strategy & Architecture

With the audit complete, we design your AI SEO roadmap from the ground up. This is not a template. Every strategy is built specifically around your business, your industry, your competitive landscape, and the queries your highest-value clients are asking.

The architecture phase determines what content needs to exist, how it needs to be structured, what entity signals need strengthening, and which authority channels will carry the most weight with AI systems in your specific category. We establish the semantic framework that AI platforms will use to understand your business — not just what you do, but who you serve, where you operate, what problems you solve, and why you are the credible, trustworthy choice.

We also map out the technical foundations: schema markup requirements, structured data implementation, internal linking logic, and the content hierarchy that makes your site readable to both AI crawlers and human visitors. Good AI SEO architecture and good user experience are not in conflict — they reinforce each other.

What gets decided in this phase: — Target query list — the exact prompts we want AI to recommend you for — Content architecture — what pages and content clusters need to exist — Entity optimisation plan — how we clarify your brand across every platform — Authority channel selection — where citations will carry most weight — Schema and technical implementation roadmap — Month-by-month execution calendar with defined deliverables

03 — Execution & Content Deployment

This is where the strategy becomes real. We implement across every layer of your digital presence — not just your website, but the broader ecosystem of signals that AI platforms use to evaluate whether a business is credible, established, and worth recommending.

On your website, we build semantically structured content written for the way AI systems consume and synthesise information. This is not keyword-stuffed copy. It is precise, authoritative, deeply relevant content that answers the exact questions your target clients ask — written in a way that makes it easy for AI to extract, trust, and cite. We implement FAQ schema, entity markup, and structured data across every relevant page.

Off your website, we build the citation and authority signals that AI systems use to verify credibility. This includes earning mentions on authoritative platforms in your industry, optimising your presence across review sites, directories, and professional networks, and ensuring complete consistency of your business information across every touchpoint. AI platforms cross-reference these signals constantly — inconsistency is the fastest way to be overlooked.

Everything in this phase is done for you. You are not handed a list of tasks. You provide approvals where needed, and we execute.

Execution covers: — Semantically optimised page content and FAQ sections — Schema markup and structured data implementation — Entity consistency audit and corrections across all platforms — Citation building on authoritative industry and local directories — Review strategy and response optimisation — LinkedIn and professional profile alignment — Content designed to earn natural third-party mentions

04 — Monitor, Measure & Optimise

AI visibility is not a set-and-forget outcome. The platforms change. New competitors enter your space. Query patterns shift as AI search behaviour evolves. What works in month three needs to be refined by month six, and we are with you through every iteration.

Every month, we run a structured monitoring sweep across your target queries on every major AI platform. We track your citation rate, the language AI uses to describe you, which competitors are gaining or losing ground, and how your visibility translates to actual enquiries and leads.

You receive a clear monthly report — not a data dump, but an honest account of where you stand, what has improved, what we are working on, and what the next priority is. No vanity metrics. No confusing dashboards. Just a transparent picture of your AI visibility and the commercial momentum behind it.

As AI search evolves — and it is evolving faster than any channel in the history of digital marketing — your strategy evolves with it. Early movers who stay adaptive hold their position. Those who treat AI SEO as a one-time project get overtaken. We make sure you stay ahead.

Ongoing deliverables: — Monthly AI citation report across all major platforms — Competitor movement tracking — who is gaining and losing visibility — Query coverage expansion as your authority grows — Strategy refinement based on platform behaviour changes — Direct access to Sonia for questions, updates, and decisions

Common questions about Ai SEO Optimisation

Every question you're probably already asking.

UNDERSTANDING AI SEO

What exactly is AI SEO and how is it different from what I already do?

AI SEO is the practice of optimising your business to be found, cited, and recommended by AI-powered search platforms — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot, and others. It is distinct from traditional SEO in a fundamental way: traditional SEO gets you a position in a list of links. AI SEO gets you named as a recommendation in a direct answer.

When someone asks Google or ChatGPT "who is the best immigration lawyer in Auckland?" — they do not see ten blue links. They see a synthesised answer that names specific businesses. AI SEO determines whether your business is one of them. Traditional SEO does not address this at all. The signals that matter — entity clarity, semantic depth, citation trust, topical authority — are different from keywords and backlinks, though there is meaningful overlap.

Businesses that continue optimising only for traditional search are already losing visibility to competitors who have understood this shift. The window to be an early mover in your category in New Zealand is narrow. It will not stay open.

Does AI SEO actually work — or is this still theoretical?

It works, and we have the results to prove it. AI systems like ChatGPT and Perplexity have demonstrated consistent, measurable citation patterns since their public launch. We have built a methodology that influences those patterns — not by gaming them, but by making your business genuinely the clearest, most credible, and most well-documented answer to the questions your clients are asking.

We have helped a laser clinic rank as Google AI's top recommendation for Laser Genesis in Auckland, ahead of every competitor in their market. We have helped an immigration law firm get named by ChatGPT when someone asks for the best immigration lawyer in Auckland. We have placed a family lawyer in Perplexity's direct recommendations for family legal help in Auckland. These are not rankings in a list — they are recommendations in an answer. That is a fundamentally more valuable position.

Clients typically see their first measurable AI citations within 60 to 90 days, depending on industry competitiveness and the state of their current digital presence. The compounding effect of AI SEO means visibility built in month one continues earning you recommendations twelve months later.

Which AI platforms do you optimise for?

We focus on the platforms that are driving commercial search behaviour right now and building the infrastructure that will dominate over the next three to five years. That includes ChatGPT (now the world's most-used AI platform), Perplexity AI, Google AI Overviews and Google AI Mode, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude.

Each platform has different citation behaviours. Perplexity, for example, is heavily driven by web citations and structured information. ChatGPT draws on a combination of training data and, increasingly, live web results. Google AI Overviews are deeply tied to traditional authority signals but weighted differently from organic rankings. We understand these differences and build strategies that work across all of them — not just the one that is most prominent today.

We also monitor emerging platforms as they gain traction, so your strategy stays current as the landscape evolves.

How is AI SEO different from Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)?

The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and there is genuine overlap, but there is a meaningful distinction in how we define them. Traditional AI SEO — as we practise it — focuses on making your business visible and recommended within AI-generated answers on search platforms. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) extends this to optimise specifically for how large language models synthesise and present information about your category and business.

In practice, the strategies that drive AI SEO visibility and GEO visibility are largely the same: entity clarity, semantic content depth, authoritative citations, and consistent signals across the web. We build for both simultaneously. The distinction matters most when deciding what to measure — AI SEO is measured by citation frequency in response to specific queries, while GEO is measured by how accurately and favourably AI models represent your business in broader training and retrieval contexts.

RESULTS & TIMELINE

How long before we see results?

Most clients see their first measurable AI citations within 60 to 90 days. Some see initial movement faster, particularly in lower-competition categories or when their existing digital presence already has strong foundations to build from. The audit process at the start of every engagement tells us where you genuinely stand and gives us a realistic timeline specific to your situation — not a generic estimate.

What is important to understand about AI SEO timelines is the compounding nature of the work. The authority signals, content, and entity clarity we build in month one do not expire. They accumulate. A business that starts today and stays consistent for twelve months will hold a visibility advantage that a competitor who starts six months from now will take years to overcome. This is why timing matters more in AI SEO than in almost any other marketing channel.

How do you actually measure AI visibility?

We measure AI visibility through a structured prompting methodology. We identify the high-intent queries your ideal clients are asking — specific to your industry, location, and service category — and we systematically run those prompts across every major AI platform on a regular basis. We document whether your business is mentioned, how it is described, how prominently it appears, and how this changes over time.

We track citation rate (what percentage of relevant queries mention you), citation quality (how you are described and in what context), query coverage (how many distinct queries you appear for), and competitive position (whether you appear before or instead of named competitors). These metrics are reported to you clearly every month alongside the context you need to understand what they mean for your business.

Can you guarantee results?

No ethical AI SEO agency can guarantee specific citation positions because the platforms themselves — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google — make the final decisions. Anyone who guarantees you a specific ranking is either misrepresenting how these platforms work or planning to use methods that will eventually harm your presence rather than help it.

What we can guarantee is the quality and consistency of the work, full transparency on what we are doing and why, honest reporting on what is and is not working, and a strategy that is built on genuine authority signals rather than shortcuts. Our track record of results speaks directly to what is achievable when the work is done properly. We offer a complimentary audit before you commit to anything — so you can assess the opportunity and our approach before spending a dollar.

WORKING WITH US

What does it cost?

Our engagements are structured for New Zealand businesses that are serious about long-term growth and understand the value of being recommended by AI before their competitors are. We do not publish a fixed rate card because the scope of work varies meaningfully depending on your industry, your current digital presence, and how competitive your category is.

What we can tell you is that the cost of AI SEO needs to be weighed against what it costs to be invisible in AI search while your competitors are being recommended. If even one client a month finds your competitor through an AI recommendation instead of you, the opportunity cost will far exceed our fees. We offer a complimentary AI Visibility Audit so you can see the exact size of that gap before committing to anything.

Who will actually be doing the work?

Sonia Elliott personally. Every strategy, every content decision, every optimisation recommendation comes directly from Sonia — not from a junior team member or an offshore contractor following a template. You will have Sonia's direct contact from day one and ongoing access throughout the engagement.

This is a deliberate choice. AI SEO requires genuine strategic judgement, not just task execution. The decisions that determine whether your business gets recommended by AI — what content to build, which signals to prioritise, how to position your entity — require a level of expertise and contextual understanding that cannot be systematised and handed off. You are paying for strategy and expertise, not hours. Sonia ensures you get both.

Do you require a long-term contract?

No. We work month to month with no lock-in contracts and no penalty for cancelling. We believe the work should earn your business every month through results, transparency, and consistent delivery — not fine print. If we are not delivering value, you should be able to leave. That accountability keeps us focused on what actually matters.

That said, AI SEO is a compounding strategy. The businesses that see the strongest long-term results are those that commit to consistent execution over time rather than treating it as a short-term campaign. We will always be honest with you about where you stand and what a realistic timeline looks like for your specific situation.

What do you need from us to get started?

Not much. The audit phase is designed to be low-friction — we do the research and come back to you with findings. What helps us most at the start is a clear picture of your ideal client, the services or products that drive your highest-value revenue, your primary geographic market, and access to review and directory platforms where you have existing listings.

As we move into execution, we will need your approval on content before it goes live, and occasional input on details only you would know — client stories, specific expertise, areas of focus. We respect that you are running a business and minimise the demands on your time. Most clients spend less than two hours a month on active involvement once the engagement is underway.

TECHNICAL & STRATEGIC QUESTIONS

Does traditional SEO still matter or should I switch entirely to AI SEO?

Traditional SEO still matters, and the businesses performing best in AI search right now are those with strong traditional SEO foundations. Domain authority, quality backlinks, well-structured content, and technical SEO health are all signals that AI platforms use to evaluate credibility. They are not sufficient on their own for AI visibility — but they provide the foundation on which AI SEO is built.

The shift we are in the middle of is not a replacement of traditional SEO — it is an expansion of what organic visibility means. Ten blue links are no longer the only way organic search delivers value. AI recommendations are now a parallel channel that operates on different signals. Businesses that optimise for both will capture significantly more organic reach than those focused on either alone.

Our approach is designed to strengthen both simultaneously wherever possible. AI SEO done properly almost always improves traditional SEO performance as a by-product — because the signals that make AI systems trust you are largely the same signals that make Google trust you.

What if AI search keeps changing?

AI search will keep changing — faster and more unpredictably than any channel that has come before it. Google updates its algorithm hundreds of times a year, and the AI search platforms are moving even faster. This is precisely why you need a specialist who is tracking these changes actively, not a generalist agency watching from the sidelines.

We monitor every major AI platform, follow model and algorithm behaviour changes closely, and adapt client strategies in real time when meaningful shifts occur. What this means in practice is that your strategy is never static. We review it regularly and update it based on what the platforms are actually doing — not based on what worked six months ago. You stay ahead because we stay ahead.

Is AI SEO safe and compliant with Google's guidelines?

Yes. Everything we do is aligned with Google's quality guidelines and best practices. We do not use AI to generate bulk low-quality content, we do not build spammy links, and we do not employ any tactic that provides short-term visibility at the risk of long-term penalties. Our methodology is built on genuine authority signals — real content, real credibility, real citations from real sources.

It is worth understanding that Google's guidelines have always rewarded the same thing: being a genuinely useful, credible, and trustworthy business online. AI SEO done properly is simply a more sophisticated way of demonstrating exactly that — to both traditional search engines and the AI platforms that are becoming the dominant interface for search. There is no conflict between those objectives.

Do you work with businesses outside New Zealand?

Our primary focus and deepest expertise is in the New Zealand market. We understand the NZ search landscape, the competitive dynamics across major service categories, and the specific platforms and directories that carry authority for NZ businesses. That local depth is a meaningful advantage for NZ clients.

We do work selectively with Australian businesses and international clients who are targeting the NZ market. If you are based outside New Zealand and want to discuss your situation, reach out and we will give you an honest assessment of whether we are the right fit. We do not take on work where we cannot deliver genuine value.

Does AI SEO replace the need for content writers?

No. AI can assist with content research, structure, and optimisation — and we use it to work more efficiently — but strong content still requires genuine human expertise, original perspective, and real knowledge of the subject matter. AI platforms are increasingly good at detecting and down-weighting generic, AI-generated content that lacks depth and specificity. The content that earns AI recommendations is content that demonstrates real authority.

Everything we produce is written and reviewed by humans with genuine expertise in AI SEO. We use AI tools to support the process — to identify gaps, check semantic coverage, and analyse competitor content — but the strategy, the voice, and the substance come from real expertise. That distinction matters more than ever as the volume of low-quality AI-generated content on the web continues to grow.

Take the first step

Find out if AI search is sending leads to your competitors.

We'll audit your current AI search visibility — what's being recommended, who's getting your leads, and exactly what it would take to change that. No obligation. No vague promises. Just clear, actionable intelligence.

Request Your Free AI Visibility Audit

Response within one business day. No contracts until you're confident.

7 days Audit turnaround

Free Initial AI visibility audit

NZ Local expert, global strategy