Guide
GEO: The Complete Guide to Generative Engine Optimization
GEO is how you earn mentions and citations in AI-generated answers — with measurement-first frameworks, not generic tips.
GEO targets inclusion inside generated answers — mentions, rankings, and citations. What you do not measure, you cannot improve.
GEO vs SEO
| SEO | GEO |
|---|---|
| URL rank & click | Brand mention & citation |
| SERP evidence | Stored AI responses |
| Keywords | Buyer prompts |
Measurement first (Week 1)
- 20–30 buyer prompts from sales and support
- Run ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity — store every response
- Score mention rate, SOV, citation share per engine
Entity & on-site
- One canonical brand name; category sentence above fold
- Organization + Product schema where accurate
- Cite-worthy URLs: pricing, security, docs, comparisons
Citation strategy
Build a domain matrix from stored AI responses. Close gaps by source type — G2, Reddit, comparison publishers — not random guest posts.
Highest-ROI content
- Factual {You} vs {Competitor} comparison pages
- Alternative pages for incumbent-switch prompts
- Original data or methodology (primary sources get cited)
90-day sprint
| Weeks | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Baseline 30 prompts × 3 engines |
| 3–4 | Citation gap report + comparison briefs |
| 5–8 | Ship comparisons, review sprint, cite-worthy asset |
| 9–12 | Re-scan, SOV report, next gaps |