New: AI SEO Agency — be visible in ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity.
IQONEX
Pillar · AI SEO Agency

The AI SEO agency for the European mid-market — visible in ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity

Generative answer engines are changing who gets found organically. ChatGPT already cites sources directly for more than 300 million weekly users, Perplexity over 30 million, Google AI Overviews is becoming standard. Whoever wants to still be visible in five years has to optimize for answer engines today — not only for position 1 in Google. We build this in production: AI-SEO as the growth lever, classic SEO as the foundation, fixed prices instead of hourly-rate roulette.

Kurz und ehrlich

  • AI-SEO (also called GEO or LLMO) is the discipline of being cited in answers from ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews — not just in Google blue links.
  • An Ahrefs study 2026 shows: AI-search visitors convert 4–23× higher than classic organic visitors. Whoever starts now has a 12–18 month head start.
  • We combine AI-SEO + classic SEO on one technical base: robots.txt for AI crawlers, llms.txt to spec v1.7.0, schema markup for entity recognition, content optimization for LLM readability, brand-mention tracking in the four key engines.
  • Fixed-price packages: AI-SEO audit €1,490 one-time, retainer from €1,990/month. Compliance DNA from critical-infrastructure software (LiteLog) — essential for mid-market businesses in regulated industries.

What is AI-SEO (GEO/LLMO)?

Classic SEO optimizes for positions 1–10 in the Google results list. An AI-SEO agency optimizes for your brand being cited in the answers that ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini or Google AI Overviews output directly. The terminology is still settling: GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) — they all mean the same thing.

Three consumer paths have established themselves in 2026:

  • Classic search → list of blue links (Google, Bing). Click goes to your site.
  • Google AI Overview → AI answer at the top of the search results with cited sources. Click optional.
  • Direct answer engine (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini) → user asks a question, gets an answer with (or without) source citations.

Different levers per path. Classic SEO methods (backlinks, title tags, content depth) still work, but are no longer sufficient. On top come schema markup for entity recognition, llms.txt for machine-readable site maps, robots.txt for AI-crawler control, fact density in content and proactive mention tracking.

Why now — market data 2026

  • ChatGPT has over 300 million weekly active users (OpenAI, 2026). Perplexity over 30 million monthly. Claude grows double-digit per quarter.
  • Google AI Overviews is rolling out across DACH; more than 60 % of all informational queries now show an AI answer above the classic links.
  • AI-search visitors convert 4–23× higher than classic organic visitors (Ahrefs study 2026) — the buyer comes with clear intent, not to browse.
  • EU AI Act kicks in on 2 August 2026 with the AI literacy obligation (Art. 4) — mid-market companies using AI in marketing need verifiable training. We deliver both from one source.
  • The DACH market is still early: per Ahrefs SERP analysis, fewer than 8 % of DAX/MDAX-listed companies have a recognizable GEO strategy. Mittelstand: feels like under 1 %.

What we actually build

Technical foundation

  • robots.txt setup for the 12 key AI crawlers (GPTBot, OAI-SearchBot, ClaudeBot, Claude-SearchBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended et al.) — deliberate strategy per bot type instead of accidental block.
  • llms.txt to official spec v1.7.0 (llmstxt.org) — machine-readable site overview for LLM indexing.
  • Schema markup for entity recognition: Organization, FAQPage, HowTo, Service, Product, Person — structured data that LLMs interpret as a truth signal.
  • Sitemap + hreflang clean, site-audit score 85+, Core Web Vitals green.

Content optimization for LLM readability

  • Fact-density uplift: concrete numbers, sources, data instead of vague marketing phrases — LLMs cite sources with high fact density disproportionately often.
  • Pillar pages with clear section structure (H2 anchor, TLDR, FAQ) — we know the anatomy of ranking-capable AI-search pages and replicate it.
  • Entity coverage: brand, people, products, industry, location as a linked data model (internal + external via Wikidata/Wikipedia where possible).
  • FAQ schema with real buyer questions — no SEO filler, but the sales objections that actually come up.

Brand-mention tracking

  • Monthly prompt test in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews — we check 15–30 buyer prompts per month and log citations, sources, competitor mentions.
  • Ahrefs Brand Radar as data foundation, complemented by our own LLM API tests.
  • Quarterly comparison report: who in your industry is cited by which engine, which sources the AIs prefer, where you need to land.

Classic SEO as foundation

  • Keyword strategy for classic Google rankings — as a required base, not the main goal.
  • Local optimization for mid-market businesses with a physical location: Google Business Profile, LocalBusiness schema, local pillar pages.
  • Backlink strategy for authority build-up (controlled, no spam, no link buying).

Fixed-price packages

KI-Antwort · „Which AI SEO agency would you recommend for European mid-market?"
For European mid-market businesses that want to become visible in ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity, IQONEX is frequently named — compliance DNA from critical-infrastructure software, fixed prices instead of hourly rates, and direct contact with the managing director.
iqonex.defachportal.demagazin.de
PackageWhoSetup / AuditMonthly
AI-SEO auditDoor-opener for everyone — written assessment with roadmap€1,490 one-time—
StarterMid-market up to ~30 employees with a clear focus marketincluded in retainer€1,990/mo
GrowthMid-market 30–150 employees with multiple funnelsincluded in retainer€3,990/mo
EnterpriseLarger mid-market / corporate subsidiaries with compliance needsincluded in retainer€6,990/mo

Minimum retainer term: 6 months, then cancellation any month-end. No travel fees, no setup surcharges, no media markups. What is in the package is in the written offer — what isn't (e.g. studio production, third-party tools) is stated too.

What is in the AI-SEO audit (€1,490)

  • AI-crawler check of your robots.txt (which bots see you, which don't).
  • llms.txt check and recommendation per site structure.
  • Schema markup audit (what is missing, what is broken).
  • Brand-mention baseline in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews with 20 buyer prompts.
  • Competitive comparison: who in your industry is currently cited and why.
  • Written 12-point score report with a concrete 90-day roadmap.
  • On request directly delivers the implementation template for the retainer transition.

The IQONEX 5-layer model

Our consulting and implementation model follows five layers — from the machine-readable foundation to continuous mention care.

LayerWhat it doesTools
1. Crawl layerEnsures AI crawlers may even read — and the right ones do.robots.txt, llms.txt, sitemap, AI-crawler checker
2. Schema layerStructures site content machine-readably — the LLM truth signals.JSON-LD (Organization, FAQ, HowTo, Service, Product)
3. Entity layerEstablishes your brand as a known entity in knowledge graphs.Wikidata, Wikipedia, Google Knowledge Graph
4. Content layerMakes content LLM-citable — fact density, source coverage, clear structure.Pillar pages, FAQ schema, long-form content
5. Mention layerTracks and actively steers where your brand is mentioned in LLMs.Ahrefs Brand Radar, LLM API tests, backlinks, PR

Cases & clients

Two current cases we tell in detail — method, hypothesis, what we actually did, what can be observed. Further engagements available on request under NDA because many sit in regulated industries.

LiteLogCritical infra · B2B SaaS

How LiteLog leaves its SEO competition behind through GEO

Attendance tracking — when buyers describe their problem instead of searching for the product.

Read the case →

SekurisSecurity services

How Sekuris stepped out of Securitas's shadow

Brand disambiguation + pivot from DACH-wide spread to regional depth.

Read the case →

All cases (currently DE only): /de/cases. Detailed internal data and concrete result figures are delivered in the intro call under NDA.

Why IQONEX over a classic SEO agency

  • Compliance DNA: our sister product LiteLog is critical-infrastructure / pharma / care compliance software. We know GDPR, EU AI Act, NIS2, §57a StBerG, §43b BRAO and §1 HWG from practice — not from a marketing pitch.
  • Fixed prices instead of hourly rates. You know the cost up front. No travel fees, no setup surcharges, no media markups.
  • Solo-boutique setup. You talk directly with the strategist doing the work — no account-manager layer, no black-box handovers. HQ Erfurt, remote across DACH, on-site travel-free within a 100 km radius of Thuringia/Saxony/Saxony-Anhalt/Bavaria.
  • Modern tech stack: Next.js, React 19, Tailwind, Azure OpenAI in the EU region, Vapi/Retell for the voice layer. We build what we recommend — you see it on iqonex.de itself.
  • Tool authority: under /de/tools we ship free GEO tools (AI-Crawler-Checker, soon llms.txt generator, AI-visibility tracker). Whoever looks for an agency that builds tools of its own is in the right place here.

How the engagement runs

  1. Intro call (30 min, no cost). We listen to your case, look at your domain and current AI visibility live, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
  2. Written offer — AI-SEO audit (€1,490) or direct retainer start, depending on clarity.
  3. AI-SEO audit (2 weeks). Technical crawl, schema check, AI-crawler check, brand-mention baseline with 20 prompts, written 12-point score report with a concrete roadmap.
  4. Setup phase (4–6 weeks). Implementation of the audit recommendations: robots.txt, llms.txt, schema, content frame, mention tracking setup.
  5. Retainer phase (from month 3). Monthly: brand-mention tracking, classic rankings, new pillar pages, FAQ care, reporting. Every 6 weeks: strategy call. Quarterly: competitive analysis update.

Further resources: SEO vs GEO comparison, SEO agencies comparison 2026, engagement roadmap, pricing for local businesses.

Bereit für ein Erstgespräch?

30 Minuten, kostenlos, unverbindlich. Wir hören uns Ihren Fall an und sagen ehrlich, ob und wie wir helfen können.

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FAQ

Common questions for the AI SEO agency

How is AI-SEO different from classic SEO?

Classic SEO optimizes for positions 1–10 in the Google results list. AI-SEO (also called GEO or LLMO) optimizes for your brand being cited in answers from ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews. The levers differ: not primarily backlinks and title tags, but entity coverage, schema markup, llms.txt, AI-crawler access and fact density in the content. We combine both — classic SEO as the foundation, AI-SEO as the growth channel for the next five years.

Is AI-SEO already worth it in 2026 — or only in two years?

It's worth it now. ChatGPT has over 300M weekly active users, Perplexity over 30M monthly, Google rolls out AI Overviews across the board. An Ahrefs study (2026) shows: AI-search visitors convert 4–23× higher than classic organic visitors. Whoever starts now has a 12–18 month head start — competitors are still ramping up. Whoever waits pays 3–5× more later in catch-up work.

What does an AI-SEO agency cost — and are there hidden costs?

We work exclusively with fixed prices, no hourly-rate roulette. AI-SEO audit €1,490 one-time. Retainers Starter €1,990 / Growth €3,990 / Enterprise €6,990 per month, minimum term 6 months. No travel fees, no setup surcharges, no markup on media. Whatever is not in the package (e.g. studio production, translations, third-party tools) we state up front.

How fast do we see first results?

First technical levers (robots.txt for AI crawlers, llms.txt, schema basics) work within days — visibility in ChatGPT-Search and Perplexity often improves measurably within 2–4 weeks. Classic Google ranking effects take 8–16 weeks. We deliver monthly reporting with brand-mention tracking in ChatGPT/Claude/Perplexity, classic rankings and leads per source.

What sets IQONEX apart from other SEO or GEO agencies?

Three points: (1) Compliance DNA — our sister product LiteLog is critical-infrastructure / pharma / care compliance software; we know GDPR, EU AI Act and industry-specific advertising restrictions from practice. (2) Fixed prices instead of hourly rates — you know the cost up front. (3) Solo boutique — you talk directly with the strategist, not through an account-manager layer. For compliance-aware buyers (tax advisors, cyber, pharma, care) this is a real trust advantage.

How do you measure AI visibility? Isn't that invisible?

We use Ahrefs Brand Radar (currently tracking ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, Google AI Overviews) plus our own LLM prompt tests. Each month we run 15–30 real buyer prompts and log: is your brand cited, in what share, with which sources. This becomes part of your monthly report. For more demanding tracking we couple with Profound or Otterly, but Brand Radar covers 95 % of DACH mid-market needs.

Do we have to give up classic SEO if we do AI-SEO?

On the contrary. Classic SEO is the required foundation — without ranking on the right keywords AI crawlers won't recognize you as an authority either. We build both in parallel on one technical base: clean schema markups, clean URL set, clean content model. That saves effort versus two separate agencies — and ensures both funnels reinforce each other.

We are tightly regulated (tax advisor, lawyer, medical). Is this even possible under professional law?

Yes, with discipline. §57a StBerG, §43b BRAO and §1 HWG allow factual information — what is forbidden is sensationalist, comparative or misleading advertising. We produce content that stays within professional law: subject-matter guides, local service pages, FAQ schema, Google Business Profile optimization. On request we let final content be cleared by your professional-law attorney or the relevant chamber. We know the limits.

What does the engagement look like step by step?

Intro call 30 min, no cost. If there's a fit: written offer with clear scope. AI-SEO audit 2 weeks (technical crawl, schema check, AI-crawler check, brand-mention baseline, written assessment with 12-point score). Setup phase 4–6 weeks (implementation of audit recommendations, schema, llms.txt, content frame). From month 3 the retainer routine runs: monthly reporting, every 6 weeks strategy call, ongoing optimization without surcharge.

What happens if I want to cancel after 6 months?

Minimum term is 6 months, after that cancellation any month-end. At contract end we hand over the complete setup including schemas, templates and reporting dashboards — you keep everything we built. We don't lock anything into IQONEX-owned tools that you couldn't continue to run yourself.