geo-fundamentals

# 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] | Highest citation rate | | **ChatGPT** | Inline/footnotes | Custom GPTs | | **Claude** | Contextual | Long-form content | | **Gemini** | Sources section | SEO crossover | --- ## 3. RAG Retrieval Factors How AI engines select content to cite: | Factor | Weight | |--------|--------| | Semantic relevance | ~40% | | Keyword match | ~20% | | Authority signals | ~15% | | Freshness | ~10% | | Source diversity | ~15% | --- ## 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 | ChatGPT/OpenAI | | Claude-Web | Claude | | PerplexityBot | Perplexity | | Googlebot | Gemini (shared) | ### Access Decision | Strategy | When | |----------|------| | Allow all | Want AI citations | | 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>` | --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io) | [Claim this content](https://tomevault.io/claim/davila7/claude-code-templates) <!-- tomevault:2.0:skill_md:2026-04-05 -->