I’m Alëna Protas — market researcher & strategist with 10+ years helping SaaS, e-commerce and tech founders understand their markets and grow. My current focus is AI Visibility (GEO): making sure your brand shows up inside AI answers (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, etc.). What I do: - AI Visibility Audits → check how your brand appears in AI today. - GEO Optimisation → set up data, content & signals so AI models actually know you exist. - Productized services → quick analytical reports, DIY instructions on how to install GEO in your process. 📬 How to reach me: - Telegram: @startupfairy - Project info & ordering: Notion link Pinning this post so you always know how to connect & get started.

I've been using AI for ideas and planning. Working toward starting an AI based business to help local small business.

Founders often think: “We don’t have a site yet / clients / we only publish in a local language — no way AI will pick us up.” True: models currently surface brands with at least some digital footprint. But if you want your brand to show up in AI answers later, you need to plant the seeds now. 👉 Here’s what you can do at the stage of building your website: 1. Make your site English-first or bilingual — even if you sell locally. 2. Add basic metadata & schema.org (company info, product, contacts). 3. Register your brand in open databases (Crunchbase, Wikidata, Product Hunt, GitHub/Behance/Dribbble for creators). 4. Keep at least one social channel in English — minimal activity is fine. 5. Publish 1–2 articles or case studies (Medium, LinkedIn, blog) — so models have content to pull. This won’t make you visible overnight. But it builds the foundation AI systems rely on when surfacing brands. 💭 Question: do you feel it’s “too early” for your brand, or are you already laying the groundwork for AI visibility?

That’s the trap. Every time a new free / organic / cheap channel shows up, most businesses wait. They want “proof” it works. They want a case study. They want to see others do it first. But here’s the thing: By the time everyone jumps in — it’s crowded, expensive, and no longer “cheap traffic.” 👉 The only way these channels work for you is if you start early. Not when it’s obvious. Not when it’s already too late. Whether it’s TikTok in 2019, Substack in 2020, or AI search right now — the upside goes to the ones who experiment before the herd shows up. So if you’re looking for “free” growth… the price is starting before everyone else. 💭 What’s one channel you wish you had doubled down on earlier?

People keep mixing them up, but here’s the vibe: - SEO → playing the Google game. Keywords, backlinks, chasing page one. - GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) → making sure your brand pops up in AI answers (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, etc.). There’s no “rankings” here — it’s all about giving the models the right signals so they actually mention you. 👉 Example: On Google you’d type “best protein powder UK” and fight for that #1 spot. In AI search, someone just asks “Which protein powders are best for beginners?” — and if the model never heard of your brand, you’re invisible. So yeah: SEO is about ranking, GEO is about showing up.