Belfast, Northern Ireland—(Newsfile Corp. – May 11, 2026) – GEKKO1, an AI search optimisation agency based in Belfast and led by CEO Warren Giffin, has been shortlisted for the European Search Awards 2026 in the Best Use of Search – Finance (SEO) category. This nomination highlights the agency’s successful collaboration with Belfast mortgage broker The Mortgage Clinic. For an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images. newsfilecorp. com/files/9405/296444_dc57011c548ef89c_001full. jpg The European Search Awards hold “Outstanding” accreditation from the Independent Awards Standards Council. Winners for 2026 will be revealed at a ceremony in Porto on May 20, 2026. The Best Use of Search – Finance category honours campaigns from leading European finance brands and agencies. Notably, GEKKO1 is the sole Northern Ireland agency shortlisted in this finance SEO category for 2026. Originally known as Gekkoshot, the agency rebranded as GEKKO1 in 2026 under Giffin’s direction to align with a strategic focus on AI-driven search. The Mortgage Clinic tasked GEKKO1 with achieving first-page visibility for mortgage-related keywords in Belfast. Led by Giffin, the campaign concentrated on enhancing organic rankings, boosting Google local pack prominence, and securing citation presence within AI-generated answers on Google AI Overviews and large language models like ChatGPT and Perplexity. This effort resulted in two Google local pack placements for key mortgage broker terms in Belfast. Giffin specialises in Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), which involves structuring content so AI platforms cite, recommend, or reference a brand when users pose queries.

According to Conductor’s Q1 2026 AEO/GEO Benchmarks Report, Google AI Overviews now feature in 25. 11% of Google searches, rising from 13. 14% in March 2025. Additionally, visitors from AI search platforms convert at twice the rate of traditional organic search traffic. On the shortlisting, Warren Giffin, CEO of GEKKO1, commented: “I have worked in search since 2006. We rebuilt GEKKO1 specifically for how people search today—by asking ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s AI Overviews before clicking any blue links. Being the only Northern Ireland agency shortlisted in finance SEO shows the local market is ready for agencies that embrace AI search seriously, not just as an add-on. ” About Warren Giffin: Warren Giffin is founder and CEO of GEKKO1, bringing almost twenty years of search optimisation experience since 2006. His career spans the evolution of Google’s algorithm, mobile-first indexing, and now the shift to AI-driven search. He focuses on Generative Engine Optimisation across platforms including ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity. About GEKKO1: GEKKO1 is a Belfast-based digital agency specialising in AI search optimisation, SEO, and AI automation. Established as Gekkoshot in 2011 and rebranded in 2026, the agency is a member of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.