GEO: build a verifiable presence in AI answers
GEO is an industry term for observing and improving visibility in generated answers. Its foundations remain SEO, sourced facts and measurement that accounts for platform variability.
Become a reference source for AI
Observed presence in answers
Test documented queries and record mentions, links and variations without turning a one-off test into a guarantee.
Distributed brand authority
Make brand information consistent and verifiable across official channels and genuinely relevant third-party sources.
Sourced factual content
Publish verifiable facts, date updates and connect each important data point to a relevant primary source.
Named entities & topical authority
Use a consistent brand name and structured data that matches visible content, without artificially creating recognition.
Content informs, authority validates
Separate what you publish from what the platform displays
-
Your content
Sourced facts, technical access and consistent official information.
-
The generated answer
Mentions and links observed within a dated query context.
-
The measured visit
Referral traffic and actions actually identifiable on the website.
When a user asks a generative engine a question, the answer may display references, show no links or vary between attempts. GEO involves making business information accessible and verifiable, then observing what the platform actually presents.
Google recommends the same fundamentals for its AI features as for traditional search: useful content, technical accessibility and understandable information. For other platforms, consistency between the official website and legitimate third-party sources makes verification easier without ensuring inclusion.
This visibility is worth monitoring when it corresponds to prospects' actual habits. It replaces neither SEO, brand content nor conversion measurement. It complements these disciplines with a specific protocol.
What the assignment can actually check
Concrete deliverables
GEO visibility audit: measurement of current citations in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude (method + tools)
Query mapping: documented scenarios in which prospects may search for your services
GEO-ready editorial plan: content with concise answers, source citations and visible update dates
Complete Person + Organization schemas: expert authors, founders, team, sameAs links to verifiable third-party profiles
Third-party presence strategy: official channels, media and genuinely relevant platforms; Wikipedia only where its criteria are met
FAQ and structured content optimisation: Schema.org FAQPage, HowTo, enriched Article, BreadcrumbList
Targeted digital PR: Belgian press mentions, citations in high-authority articles, association partnerships
Observation reporting: protocol, date, model tested, displayed links, referral traffic and comparison limitations
4 steps, measurable deliverables at each
GEO baseline audit
Observation of a set of queries defined with the client. Each test retains the date, platform, context and displayed references.
Editorial architecture
Existing content revision and editorial plan: useful answers, primary sources, identified authors and structured data faithful to visible content.
Off-site distribution
Alignment of official information and pursuit of legitimate third-party mentions. No profile or article is created without respecting the platform's rules.
Measurement & optimisation
Repeating the protocol, analysing variations and comparing them with referral traffic. Changes remain hypotheses until data allows attribution.
GEO FAQ
GEO vs SEO: what is the practical difference?
How can I tell whether ChatGPT cites me?
Do LLMs use my current content?
Should I create a Wikipedia page for my brand?
How long before LLM citations appear?
What do AI answers actually show about your brand?
GEO audit: a documented protocol, checks of displayed sources and a prioritised action plan, without promises of citations.
