Path hub · Beginner
Learning Path: Break into GEO
Break into GEO is a beginner learning path that takes you from how search works to running your own AI visibility audit, across three courses and a capstone, in about 20 hours (estimate). It's designed for people starting out in marketing, switching careers or coming from SEO and content and wanting to understand AI search. You finish with practical work you can show an employer.
What you'll be able to do
- Explain GEO and AEO clearly to colleagues and clients
- Run a manual and a MentionX visibility check for a brand
- Write answer-first content that people and AI systems can use
- Set up GA4 tracking for AI assistant traffic
Who is this path for?
| You are… | Why this path fits |
|---|---|
| A career starter or junior marketer | Builds the core vocabulary and skills from zero |
| A career switcher | Practical, portfolio-ready exercises |
| An SEO or content specialist new to AI search | Connects what you know to how AI answers work |
Prerequisites: none. Basic marketing vocabulary helps; the Foundations course covers it.
Which courses are in the path, and in what order?
| # | Course | Level | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AI-Era Marketing Foundations | Beginner | How search worked, how AI changed discovery, SEO basics, answer-first content, GA4, prompt research, positioning, experiments |
| 2 | GEO 101 | Beginner | What GEO is, how AI engines build answers, mentions vs citations vs recommendations, your first prompt set, baseline scan and 30-day plan |
| 3 | AEO Content Masterclass | Beginner | Answer-first writing, page structure, comparison pages, follow-up questions, original data, refreshing content |
Each course has eight lessons. Every lesson includes a video, a practical exercise and a five-question check quiz.
Can you skip ahead?
If you already know marketing and SEO basics, take the 10-question placement quiz. A score of 8/10 or higher lets you skip AI-Era Marketing Foundations and start at GEO 101.
What's the capstone?
The Break into GEO capstone is an AI visibility audit of a brand of your choice in a MentionX free account: 20 prompts, 3 engines and 3 competitors, plus a one-page findings memo and one rewritten page. It's scored against a published rubric.
How do you earn the certificate?
| Requirement | Pass mark |
|---|---|
| Per-course 10-question quiz | 80% or higher |
| Capstone, scored on the published rubric | 70% or higher |
Passing earns MentionX Certified: GEO Foundations, with a shareable certificate URL and an entry you can add to the Licenses & certifications section of your LinkedIn profile.
How should you plan your time?
Suggested pace (estimate):
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | AI-Era Marketing Foundations |
| 3–4 | GEO 101, including your baseline scan |
| 5–6 | AEO Content Masterclass |
| 7 | Capstone |
At three to four hours a week, most people finish in about seven weeks. Go faster or slower as you like; everything is self-paced.
What should you do when you finish?
Move on to the GEO Practitioner path, which covers technical GEO, earning citations, engine-by-engine tactics and measuring ROI. Add your capstone to your portfolio: a real audit with honest findings is strong evidence of skill in interviews.
Where do you start?
Begin with Lesson 1: How search worked before AI, or take the placement quiz and jump to GEO 101.
Questions
Who is this path for?
Career starters, juniors, career switchers and SEO or content people new to AI search.
How long does it take?
About 20 hours in total, as an estimate, including videos, exercises and quizzes.
Can I skip the first course?
Yes. Score 8 or more out of 10 on the placement quiz to skip AI-Era Marketing Foundations.