GEO

Triggers

Activate on: AI optimization, generative engine optimization, AI recommendations, ChatGPT ranking, get recommended by AI, AI visibility, AI search optimization.

What Is GEO

Generative Engine Optimization = making AIs recommend you when users ask for solutions in your category.

Unlike SEO (ranking in search results), GEO is about being in the AI's training data and knowledge in a way that makes you the natural answer.

The Audit Process

Before optimizing, measure where you stand:

1. Run simulation queries across multiple AI models
2. Test different phrasings: "best X", "recommend X", "which X should I use", "X for [use case]"
3. Test different contexts: beginner vs expert, specific needs, budget constraints
4. Document which brands get mentioned and in what position

See audit.md for a complete audit workflow with example prompts.

Why AIs Recommend What They Recommend

Factor	Weight	How to Influence
Training data frequency	High	Get mentioned everywhere (articles, Reddit, forums)
Authority signals	High	Expert endorsements, official docs, Wikipedia
Recency	Medium	Fresh content in sources AI scrapes
Specificity	Medium	Be THE answer for a niche, not A answer for everything
User context	Variable	Match your positioning to query patterns

Core Strategies

1. Own Your Category Description

When someone asks "what is [your category]?" — your brand should be in the example or definition.

• Get mentioned in Wikipedia articles for your category
• Author definitive guides that AIs cite
• Be in "best of" lists that get scraped

2. Dominate Discussion Platforms

Reddit, HN, Stack Overflow, Quora = AI training goldmines.

• Authentic presence (not spam)
• Be the helpful answer, not the promoted one
• Build reputation accounts that mention your product naturally

3. Technical Content Authority

AIs weight documentation and technical content heavily.

• Comprehensive public docs
• Integration guides with popular tools
• Open source presence (GitHub stars, contributors)

4. Strategic PR and Mentions

• Get in TechCrunch, Product Hunt, industry publications
• Expert interviews and podcasts (transcripts get indexed)
• Case studies with named customers

See strategies.md for detailed playbooks by business type.

Testing Your Progress

Run the same audit queries monthly. Track:

• Position (mentioned 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or not at all)
• Context (when are you recommended vs competitors)
• Phrasing sensitivity (which queries favor you)

Red Flags

• ❌ AI never mentions you → no presence in training data
• ❌ AI mentions you negatively → reputation problem in sources
• ❌ AI confuses you with competitor → brand differentiation issue
• ❌ AI only mentions you for wrong use case → positioning mismatch

What This Doesn't Cover

• Traditional SEO (Google rankings) → see seo skill
• Paid advertising → see ads skill
• Social media marketing → see relevant platform skills