Local SEO meets LLMO: How to get your business into AI-generated answers
Do you run a local business?
If someone asks ChatGPT or Gemini about your business... do you show up in the response?
Until recently, getting local visibility online meant working on your Local SEO:
Reviews
Google Maps
Business listings
Geo-targeted keywords
But there’s a new layer in the visibility game.
What happens when a user skips Google and simply asks an AI like ChatGPT:
“What’s the best yoga studio in Málaga?”
“Where to eat in Valencia for under 30 euros?”
“A good physiotherapist in Zaragoza with great reviews?”
LLMs (Large Language Models) like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity now give direct answers.
If you’re not in those answers…
Someone else is.
And that’s where Large Language Model Optimization (LLMO) comes in.
What Is LLMO and why it matters for Local SEO?
LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization) — also known as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — is the practice of optimizing your content, brand and digital footprint so that AI models cite your business in their responses.
It doesn’t replace traditional Local SEO.
It builds on it.
Think of LLMO as the next evolution of local digital visibility — tailored for generative search engines.
Real examples of local queries AI is already answering
These are not hypothetical:
“Best pizza place near me open late”
“Top-rated hair salons in Austin”
“Affordable coworking spaces in Lisbon”
“Trusted plumber in Manchester for emergencies”
Users are already asking AI instead of searching on Google. And the answers don’t always link back — they’re generated.
How to apply LLMO to Local SEO: 3 practical strategies
Here are three essential tactics to bring your local SEO into the age of generative search:
1. Create conversational, intent-based local content
It’s no longer enough to have a page called “Restaurant in Bilbao”.
You need to create content that sounds like what your customers would ask a chatbot.
❌ “Dental clinic in Valencia”
✅ “What’s the best dental clinic in Valencia open on Sundays?”
LLMs understand natural language and prioritize it. So make your pages:
Answer full, specific questions
Use FAQ formats
Include long-tail conversational keywords
Try targeting these types of prompts:
“Best vegan breakfast spots in Málaga”
“How to choose a physiotherapist in Granada”
“Quiet coffee shops in Seville to work from”
2. Be present in sources AI models trust
Your website isn’t the only thing LLMs reference.
They draw from:
Google Reviews
Tripadvisor, Yelp, Booking, etc.
Local blogs and online media
Curated rankings (e.g. “Top 10...”)
Forums and user-generated content
Make sure your business is visible, consistent, and positively reviewed across these platforms.
The more you show up in trusted data sources, the higher your chances of being cited by AI.
3. Monitor and improve your mentions in AI responses
This is where most businesses fall short — they don’t even know if or how they’re being mentioned in AI results.
With tools like LLMo Metrics, you can:
Track if your business appears in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.
See what content is being cited (yours or your competitors’)
Get recommendations to increase your visibility
Detect if AI says incorrect or outdated things about you — and fix it
This is where LLMO becomes actionable.
Traditional SEO isn’t enough any more
SEO is no longer just about ranking.
It’s about being the answer.
If ChatGPT gives the answer before anyone clicks a link, and it doesn’t mention you — that’s lost visibility.
LLMO lets your business earn trust in AI-generated results, and that’s quickly becoming the new front door to local discovery.
If your business depends on local customers, you can’t afford to be invisible in AI-driven search.
Want to see if you’re already being cited by AI models?
Curious about what they’re saying (or not saying) about you?
Try LLMo Metrics — the first platform that shows how visible your brand is in generative engines.
Monitor
Improve
Win visibility in the era of zero-click search