geo-optimization

# GEO: Generative Engine Optimization Optimize content to appear in AI-powered search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Google AI Overviews). GEO is about being **parseable, quotable, and authoritative** — not keyword stuffing. --- ## Quick Reference | Goal | Tactic | |------|--------| | Get cited in AI answers | Add specific statistics, quotable facts | | Appear in comparisons | Create definitive comparison tables | | Answer user questions | Comprehensive FAQ sections | | Establish entity | Clear first-paragraph definitions | | Build authority | Third-party mentions, backlinks, freshness signals | --- ## GEO vs SEO: Key Differences | Aspect | Traditional SEO | GEO | |--------|-----------------|-----| | Goal | Rank on SERPs | Get cited in AI responses | | Keywords | Exact match matters | Semantic understanding | | Content style | Can be promotional | Must be factual, neutral | | Structure | Headers for scanning | Headers + parseable data | | Links | Backlinks for authority | Citations + entity mentions | | Freshness | Helpful | Critical (LLMs prefer recent) | | Format | Long-form wins | Quotable chunks win | --- ## The GEO Audit Checklist Score each page 0-2 points per item (0=missing, 1=partial, 2=excellent): ### 1. Entity Clarity (Max 10 pts) - [ ] First paragraph clearly defines what/who the entity is - [ ] Entity name used consistently throughout - [ ] Clear category placement ("X is a [type of thing]") - [ ] Relationship to other known entities stated - [ ] Wikipedia-style objectivity in tone ### 2. Quotable Facts (Max 10 pts) - [ ] Specific numbers present (not "many" or "fast") - [ ] Statistics are current and sourced - [ ] Claims are concrete and verifiable - [ ] Key facts in standalone sentences (easy to extract) - [ ] "By the numbers" or facts section exists ### 3. FAQ Coverage (Max 10 pts) - [ ] FAQ section exists - [ ] Questions match how users prompt LLMs - [ ] Answers are direct and complete - [ ] FAQ schema markup implemented - [ ] Covers "what is", "how does", "why", "vs" questions ### 4. Comparison Positioning (Max 10 pts) - [ ] Comparison tables exist - [ ] Competitors named explicitly - [ ] Factual differences highlighted (not just marketing) - [ ] "Alternative to X" content exists - [ ] Fair representation (not obviously biased) ### 5. Structural Clarity (Max 10 pts) - [ ] Clear heading hierarchy (H1→H2→H3) - [ ] Bullet points for lists - [ ] Tables for comparisons - [ ] Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences) - [ ] Summary/TL;DR at top or bottom ### 6. Authority Signals (Max 10 pts) - [ ] Author/company credentials stated - [ ] Customer names/logos (social proof) - [ ] Case studies with real numbers - [ ] Third-party mentions/citations - [ ] "Last updated" date present ### 7. Freshness (Max 10 pts) - [ ] Page has recent update date - [ ] Content reflects current year - [ ] No outdated references - [ ] Regular content updates - [ ] News/changelog section exists **Scoring:** - 60-70: Excellent GEO readiness - 45-59: Good, needs some optimization - 30-44: Fair, significant gaps - <30: Poor, major overhaul needed --- ## Content Optimization Templates ### Template 1: Entity Definition Page ```markdown # [Entity Name] **[Entity Name]** is a [category] that [primary function]. Unlike [alternative/competitor], [Entity Name] offers [key differentiator]. ## [Entity Name] by the Numbers - [Specific stat 1] - [Specific stat 2] - [Specific stat 3] - [Specific stat 4] ## How [Entity Name] Works [2-3 paragraphs explaining core functionality] ## Who Uses [Entity Name] [Named customers with context] ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is [Entity Name]? [Direct answer in 2-3 sentences] ### How is [Entity Name] different from [Competitor]? [Factual comparison] ### How much does [Entity Name] cost? [Pricing info or guidance] *Last updated: [Date]* ``` ### Template 2: Comparison Page (Alternative To) ```markdown # Best [Competitor] Alternative: [Your Product] (2026) > **Summary:** [Your Product] is a [category] offering [key differentiators]. > [Customers] report [specific result] compared to [Competitor]. *Last updated: [Date]* ## Why [Users] Look for [Competitor] Alternatives ### Problem 1: [Specific Pain Point] [Explanation with specifics] ### Problem 2: [Specific Pain Point] [Explanation with specifics] ## [Your Product] vs [Competitor]: Comparison | Feature | [Competitor] | [Your Product] | |---------|--------------|----------------| | [Feature 1] | [Their approach] | [Your approach] | | [Feature 2] | [Their approach] | [Your approach] | | [Feature 3] | [Their approach] | [Your approach] | ## Key Differences ### [Differentiator 1] [Factual explanation with numbers] ### [Differentiator 2] [Factual explanation with numbers] ## Customer Results > "[Quote with specific result]" > — [Name], [Title], [Company] ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is [Your Product] a good alternative to [Competitor]? [Direct answer] ### How does [Your Product] compare to [Competitor] on [key factor]? [Specific comparison] ### Can I migrate from [Competitor] to [Your Product]? [Migration info] ## Summary [Your Product] is a [category] offering [key benefits]. [Customers] using [Your Product] instead of [Competitor] report [specific results]. *[Your Product] has [credibility stat]. Learn more at [link].* ``` ### Template 3: FAQ Page (LLM Optimized) ```markdown # [Topic] FAQ Answers to common questions about [topic]. *Last updated: [Date]* ## General Questions ### What is [thing]? [Thing] is a [category] that [function]. It is used by [who] to [accomplish what]. ### How does [thing] work? [Thing] works by [process]. [Additional detail]. ### Who uses [thing]? [Thing] is used by [user types], including [specific examples like Company A, Company B]. ## Comparison Questions ### How is [thing] different from [alternative]? [Thing] differs from [alternative] in [specific ways]: - [Difference 1] - [Difference 2] - [Difference 3] ### Is [thing] better than [alternative]? [Thing] is better suited for [use cases] because [reasons]. [Alternative] may be better for [other use cases]. ## Pricing & Access ### How much does [thing] cost? [Pricing information or range] ### Is there a free trial? [Trial information] ## Technical Questions ### What are the requirements for [thing]? [Requirements list] ### How do I get started with [thing]? 1. [Step 1] 2. [Step 2] 3. [Step 3] ``` --- ## Platform-Specific Optimization ### Perplexity AI **How it works:** 3-layer reranking system 1. Initial retrieval from web index 2. Relevance scoring 3. Citation selection based on authority + recency **Optimization tactics:** - Strong domain authority matters - Freshness signals critical (update dates) - Direct answers to questions - Being cited by other authoritative sources - Structured data helps parsing ### ChatGPT / SearchGPT **How it works:** Bing-powered search + LLM synthesis **Optimization tactics:** - Bing indexing matters (submit sitemap to Bing) - E-E-A-T signals weighted heavily - Conversational content structure - FAQ format highly effective - Named entities help recognition ### Google AI Overviews **How it works:** Google's index + Gemini synthesis **Optimization tactics:** - Traditional SEO still matters (ranking helps) - Featured snippet optimization - Schema markup (FAQ, HowTo, Product) - Clear, authoritative content - Mobile-first indexing ### Claude **How it works:** Training data + retrieval (when web-enabled) **Optimization tactics:** - Quality content in training sources - Wikipedia mentions help entity recognition - Technical accuracy valued - Clear, well-structured prose - Being cited in authoritative sources --- ## Technical Implementation ### Schema Markup for GEO **Organization Schema:** ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Company Name", "description": "Clear description of what company does", "url": "https://example.com", "foundingDate": "2017", "numberOfEmployees": "50-100", "sameAs": [ "https://twitter.com/company", "https://linkedin.com/company/company" ] } ``` **FAQ Schema:** ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What is [thing]?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Direct answer here." } }] } ``` **Product Schema:** ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Product", "name": "Product Name", "description": "Product description", "brand": {"@type": "Brand", "name": "Brand"}, "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "USD", "price": "99" } } ``` ### llms.txt Protocol Create `/llms.txt` at your site root to help LLMs understand your site: ``` # Site Name > Brief description of what this site/company is. ## Main Sections - [Products](/products): Description of products section - [Documentation](/docs): Technical documentation - [Blog](/blog): Industry insights and updates ## Key Facts - Founded: 2017 - Customers: 500+ companies - Key metric: [specific number] ## Contact - Website: https://example.com - Email: hello@example.com ``` --- ## Monitoring GEO Performance ### Manual Testing Regularly search these prompts on each platform: **Perplexity:** - "What is [your company]?" - "Best [competitor] alternative" - "[Your category] comparison" - "How does [your product] work?" **ChatGPT:** - Same queries with web browsing enabled - "Compare [your product] vs [competitor]" **Google (AI Overview):** - "[Your category] solutions" - "[Competitor] alternative" ### Tracking Tools | Tool | What It Tracks | Price | |------|----------------|-------| | Otterly.AI | Multi-platform AI visibility | Free tier | | Ahrefs Brand Radar | AI search mentions | $129+/mo | | Profound | Enterprise benchmarking | Enterprise | | Manual tracking | DIY spreadsheet | Free | ### Key Metrics - **Mention rate:** % of relevant queries where you appear - **Citation rate:** % of mentions that cite/link to you - **Sentiment:** Positive/neutral/negative portrayal - **Share of voice:** Your mentions vs competitors - **Position:** Where in the response you appear --- ## GEO Content Principles ### DO: - ✅ Use specific numbers ("0.5 seconds" not "fast") - ✅ Make claims quotable and standalone - ✅ Structure content with clear hierarchy - ✅ Include FAQ sections - ✅ Update content regularly with dates - ✅ Create comparison content - ✅ Use tables for data - ✅ Be factual and neutral in tone - ✅ Name real customers and results ### DON'T: - ❌ Use vague superlatives ("best", "leading", "top") - ❌ Keyword stuff (LLMs see through it) - ❌ Write walls of text without structure - ❌ Hide information (be comprehensive) - ❌ Use outdated statistics - ❌ Ignore competitors (address them directly) - ❌ Be obviously promotional (neutral wins) --- ## Quick Start Checklist For any page you want to optimize for GEO: 1. [ ] Add clear entity definition in first paragraph 2. [ ] Include 5+ specific, quotable statistics 3. [ ] Add FAQ section with 5+ questions 4. [ ] Create comparison table (if relevant) 5. [ ] Add "last updated" date 6. [ ] Implement FAQ schema markup 7. [ ] Ensure H1→H2→H3 hierarchy 8. [ ] Test on Perplexity: does your content appear? --- ## Automated GEO Monitoring Track your citation rate over time with the included monitoring scripts! ### Quick Start **Test current visibility:** ```bash python3 scripts/geo-monitor.py --test ``` **Single query test:** ```bash python3 scripts/geo-monitor.py --query "best game server orchestration platform" ``` **Generate daily report:** ```bash python3 scripts/geo-daily-report.py ``` ### Setup Automated Monitoring **1. Create your test queries file** (`scripts/geo-test-queries.json`): ```json { "queries": [ { "query": "your target query here", "category": "brand|product|comparison|problem|competitor" } ] } ``` **2. Run daily monitoring:** ```bash # Add to cron for daily 9am checks 0 9 * * * cd /path/to/skill && bash scripts/geo-daily-monitor.sh ``` ### Understanding the Reports **Citation Rate:** Percentage of queries where you appear in AI responses - 0-20%: Early stage, needs work - 20-40%: Building visibility - 40-60%: Strong presence - 60%+: Dominant authority **Categories tracked:** - Brand queries (you should own these!) - Product/feature queries - Comparison queries (vs competitors) - Problem/pain point queries - Competitor comparison queries ### Monitoring Best Practices 1. **Start with 15-20 strategic queries** across all categories 2. **Test daily** during optimization period (first 2 weeks) 3. **Weekly checks** once you hit target citation rate 4. **Track changes** after content updates (expect 3-7 day lag) 5. **Focus on gaps** - queries with 0% citation are your opportunities ### What to Track **Current state:** - Total citation rate - Citations by category - Position when cited (#1, #2, etc.) - Critical gaps (0% coverage) **Over time:** - Citation rate trend (weekly/monthly) - New citations gained - Lost citations (content freshness!) - Category improvements ### Files Included - `scripts/geo-monitor.py` - Main testing script (uses Perplexity API) - `scripts/geo-daily-report.py` - Formatted report generator - `scripts/geo-daily-monitor.sh` - Cron-friendly wrapper - `scripts/geo-test-queries.json` - Example query file **Requirements:** Perplexity API key (configure via web_search in Clawdbot) --- ## Resources - [Awesome GEO GitHub](https://github.com/amplifying-ai/awesome-generative-engine-optimization) - [Princeton GEO Research Paper](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.09735) - [Google AI Search Guidance](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2025/05/succeeding-in-ai-search) - [Perplexity Ranking Factors](https://firstpagesage.com/seo-blog/perplexity-ai-optimization-ranking-factors-and-strategy/)