GEO Fundamentals
Optimization for AI-powered search engines.
1. What is GEO?
GEO = Generative Engine Optimization
| Goal | Platform | |
|---|
| Be cited in AI responses | ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini | |
SEO vs GEO
| Aspect | SEO | GEO | |
|---|
| Goal | #1 ranking | AI citations | |
| Platform | Google | AI engines | |
| Metrics | Rankings, CTR | Citation rate | |
| Focus | Keywords | Entities, data | |
2. AI Engine Landscape
| Engine | Citation Style | Opportunity | |
|---|
| Perplexity | Numbered [1][2] | Citation behavior varies by query/product | |
| ChatGPT | Inline/footnotes | Custom GPTs | |
| Claude | Contextual | Long-form content | |
| Gemini | Sources section | SEO crossover | |
3. RAG Retrieval Factors
Potential retrieval considerations include relevance, source quality, freshness and diversity. The platforms do not publish a universal weighting formula; do not assign invented percentages or infer citation probability from this checklist.
4. Content That Gets Cited
| Element | Why It Works | |
|---|
| Original statistics | Unique, citable data | |
| Expert quotes | Authority transfer | |
| Clear definitions | Easy to extract | |
| Step-by-step guides | Actionable value | |
| Comparison tables | Structured info | |
| FAQ sections | Direct answers | |
5. GEO Content Checklist
Content Elements
- [ ] Question-based titles
- [ ] Summary/TL;DR at top
- [ ] Original data with sources
- [ ] Expert quotes (name, title)
- [ ] FAQ section (3-5 Q&A)
- [ ] Clear definitions
- [ ] "Last updated" timestamp
- [ ] Author with credentials
Technical Elements
- [ ] Article schema with dates
- [ ] Person schema for author
- [ ] FAQPage schema
- [ ] Fast loading (< 2.5s)
- [ ] Clean HTML structure
6. Entity Building
| Action | Purpose | |
|---|
| Google Knowledge Panel | Entity recognition | |
| Wikipedia (if notable) | Authority source | |
| Consistent info across web | Entity consolidation | |
| Industry mentions | Authority signals | |
7. AI Crawler Access
Key AI User-Agents
| Crawler | Engine | |
|---|
| GPTBot | OpenAI training crawler; search/user agents are separate | |
| ClaudeBot / Claude-SearchBot / Claude-User | Distinct purposes; verify current official crawler docs | |
| PerplexityBot | Perplexity | |
| Googlebot | Google Search; verify separate product controls | |
Access Decision
| Strategy | When | |
|---|
| Selective access | Match owner policy to documented training/search/user crawler purposes | |
| Block GPTBot | Don't want OpenAI training | |
| Selective | Allow some, block others | |
8. Measurement
| Metric | How to Track | |
|---|
| AI citations | Manual monitoring | |
| "According to [Brand]" mentions | Search in AI | |
| Competitor citations | Compare share | |
| AI-referred traffic | UTM parameters | |
9. Anti-Patterns
| ❌ Don't | ✅ Do | |
|---|
| Publish without dates | Add timestamps | |
| Vague attributions | Name sources | |
| Skip author info | Show credentials | |
| Thin content | Comprehensive coverage | |
Remember: AI cites content that's clear, authoritative, and easy to extract. Be the best answer.
Script
| Script | Purpose | Command | |
|---|
scripts/geo_checker.py | GEO audit (AI citation readiness) | python scripts/geo_checker.py <project_path> | |
When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
Example
User request:
Use @geo-fundamentals for this task: Generative Engine Optimization for AI search engines (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity).
Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.
The bundled checker scans at most30 selected source files; it does not crawl/render pages, validate schema, verify original data or measure AI citation probability. Public Markdown/docs can be relevant but are excluded by this heuristic. Missing files mean not assessed, not passed. FAQ markup and crawler access do not guarantee citations; verify current platform eligibility and measure dated, reproducible query samples.