| name | seo-geo |
| description | SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) for any web project. Use when writing or reviewing page content, meta tags, structured data, or optimizing for search visibility — both traditional search engines (Google, Bing) and AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot). Applies principles proactively when building landing pages, blog posts, docs sites, product pages, or any public-facing content regardless of framework or language. |
SEO / GEO
Two distinct optimization targets:
- SEO — ranking in traditional search engines (Google, Bing)
- GEO — being cited by AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot)
Key insight: AI search engines do not rank pages — they cite sources. Being cited is the new ranking #1.
Documentation
Core Principles
Apply these whenever writing or reviewing public-facing content or markup, regardless of framework.
GEO: The 9 Princeton Methods
From Princeton research on what makes content get cited by AI engines:
| Method | Visibility boost | How to apply |
|---|
| Cite authoritative sources | +40% | Link to studies, official docs, standards |
| Include specific statistics | +37% | Use real numbers, not vague claims |
| Add expert quotes | +30% | Attribute statements to named sources |
| Authoritative tone | +25% | Write with confidence and precision |
| Readable and clear | +20% | Short paragraphs, plain language |
| Use technical terminology | +18% | Domain-specific terms signal expertise |
| Vocabulary diversity | +15% | Avoid repetition of the same words |
| Fluency optimization | +15-30% | Natural flow, no awkward phrasing |
| Keyword stuffing | -10% | Never — hurts both SEO and GEO |
Best combination: fluency + statistics = maximum boost.
Content Structure for GEO
- Answer-first: put the direct answer at the top, then elaborate
- Clear heading hierarchy (H1 > H2 > H3)
- Use bullet points, numbered lists, and comparison tables
- FAQ sections significantly increase AI citation rate
- Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences)
Traditional SEO Fundamentals
- One H1 per page, containing the primary keyword
- Meta title: 50-60 characters, keyword near the front
- Meta description: 150-160 characters, include keyword and a call to action
- Every image needs descriptive alt text
- Canonical URL on every page
- Sitemap.xml and robots.txt present and correct
Platform-Specific Behaviour
Each AI engine has different citation preferences. See references/geo-principles.md for full detail.
ChatGPT: favours branded domains; content updated within 30 days cited 3.2x more
Perplexity: allow PerplexityBot in robots.txt; prioritises PDF documents and FAQ schema
Google AI Overview: E-E-A-T signals, structured data, topical authority through content clusters
Microsoft Copilot: requires Bing indexing; page speed under 2 seconds; LinkedIn/GitHub mentions help
Anthropic AI: uses Brave Search indexing (not Google); prioritises factual density and structural clarity
llms.txt
llms.txt is to AI engines what robots.txt is to crawlers — a file at your site root that tells AI systems how to understand your content. Always add it to any public-facing site.
Place at https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt. Format is Markdown:
# Site or Product Name
> One-paragraph summary of what the site is and who it is for.
Optional additional context (key facts, caveats, important notes).
## Docs
- [Page title](https://yourdomain.com/page.md): What this page covers
## API
- [API reference](https://yourdomain.com/api.md): Endpoint overview
## Optional
- [Changelog](https://yourdomain.com/changelog.md): Recent changes
Key rules:
- H1 = site/product name (required)
- Blockquote = brief summary of what the site is (required for AI comprehension)
- H2 sections = curated links to your most important pages with descriptions
- Link to
.md versions of pages where possible — AI engines prefer clean Markdown over HTML
- The
## Optional section signals lower-priority content that can be skipped in short-context situations
- Keep it concise — this is a navigation aid, not a full content dump
Structured Data
Always add JSON-LD schema. See references/schema-patterns.md for templates.
Priority schema types:
- FAQPage — +40% AI visibility; add to any page with questions and answers
- Article — for blog posts and editorial content
- Organization — on the homepage and about page
- Product — for product pages
- BreadcrumbList — for navigation context
Checklist
Apply when reviewing any public-facing page:
