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 The platforms do not publish a universal weighting formula; do not assign invented percentages or infer citation probability from this checklist.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
Technical Elements
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.
