What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing website content so that AI search engines and assistants - ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude - cite and recommend it in their answers. The goal of GEO isn't a ranking position, but a mention or citation directly in the text an AI model generates for the user.

It differs from classic SEO in what each discipline targets: SEO optimizes a website to rank highly in Google's search results. GEO optimizes content so an AI model recognizes it as a trustworthy, citable answer to a specific user question - regardless of where the site would rank in traditional search.

Why doesn't ChatGPT recommend me even though I rank #1 on Google?

A strong Google ranking doesn't guarantee a mention in an AI model's answer. Google ranking and AI citations work on different principles: Google ranks pages by relevance and authority for a given query, but AI models like ChatGPT or Perplexity don't pull directly from that ranking. They answer based on training data and - for models with web access - content they can interpret in real time as a direct, clearly stated answer to the question.

That's why it's common for a website to rank #1 on Google yet not appear at all in a ChatGPT or Perplexity answer on the same topic. Content that works for classic SEO (keywords, meta descriptions, backlinks) isn't necessarily in a form an AI model can use as a citable source - and conversely, content written as a direct answer to a question can get cited even if it doesn't rank highly on Google.

How do I find out if ChatGPT or Perplexity recommend me?

The only reliable way is to measure it directly - ask AI models the real questions your customers ask, and see whether your brand shows up in the generated answer. That's exactly what CiteTide does: it measures across four models (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude) whether and how often AI mentions you for queries from your industry - and if not, it shows who the model cited instead of you.

Key metrics this measurement tracks include brand mention rate (the share of answers that mention your brand), citation frequency and sources (which domains the AI model cites as trustworthy sources), and differences between models - it's common for one model to mention you and another not to, since each draws on different data.

Based on the measured data, CiteTide then generates concrete next steps to improve your chances of being cited - not generic advice, but actions derived from what was actually measured for your website and your competitors.