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