André Sampaio
SEO and Answer Engine Optimisation specialist based in Portugal. I build organic visibility across Google and AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode.
Background in search quality evaluation, digital marketing, and hands-on SEO. I went deep into AI search optimisation early, not as a rebrand of existing services, but because the shift from keyword matching to entity-based, semantic retrieval genuinely changes what works.
Connect on LinkedInHow I think about SEO
Traditional SEO optimises pages for specific keywords. I optimise for the full topic: every question your audience asks, every entity connected to your business, and the content structure that makes it easy for both Google and AI systems to retrieve and cite your pages.
In practice, that means building topical maps instead of keyword lists, covering entities and their attributes thoroughly instead of chasing word count, and structuring content so the most important claims sit where AI actually looks (the first 30% of the page, not buried halfway down).
This isn't theory I picked up from a thread. I study the primary research: how LLMs select sources, which content signals predict citation across different industries, and where traditional SEO principles carry over to AI search versus where they break down. That research directly shapes every recommendation I make.
I write about these topics regularly. You can read my research and thinking on the Insights hub.
Background
I started in search working as a search quality evaluator for Lionbridge, assessing how search engines surface and rank results. That gave me a foundational understanding of search quality from the evaluation side: what signals matter, what doesn't, and how quality is measured at scale.
From there I moved into hands-on digital marketing. I've managed SEO and PPC for a yacht charter company and led the organic growth strategy for Tee Times, a golf booking platform, where I documented measurable results in both traditional search and AI visibility.
See the Tee Times case studyWhat I'm looking for
I do my best work on organic growth that compounds, not quick fixes. Establishing visibility in AI-generated answers, building topical authority in competitive niches, fixing technical foundations that hold back performance. Whether that's as a freelance engagement or an in-house role.
Open to remote roles (in-house or contract), freelance projects, and collaborations.
Get in touch at andre@andrefsampaio.com