GEO in one sentence
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the discipline of preparing a website so AI-based answer engines understand it, trust it and cite it. It doesn't replace SEO: it builds on it. If the concept is new to you, start with what GEO is and why it matters. Here we go straight to the practical part.
The 10-point GEO checklist
1. A direct answer at the top
Models extract fragments. If a page's first paragraph doesn't answer the question in its title, the model looks for the answer elsewhere. Every important page should open with a concrete answer of 30 to 120 words, with no preamble or filler, and expand afterwards.
2. Visible FAQs that match the schema
FAQPage markup helps search engines understand which questions a page answers, but Google requires marked-up content to be visible. A common error is having questions in the code the user can't see, or a visible version that differs from the marked-up one. Both must match word for word.
3. Valid, complete structured data
Every article needs its Article markup with title, author, image, and publication and update dates in ISO format with a time zone (for the Dominican Republic, -04:00). The business needs its LocalBusiness or Person node, and every page its BreadcrumbList. A single syntax error invalidates the entire block, so it's validated every time you publish.
4. Visible, verifiable authorship
Google and AI models value experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). In practice: a visible byline on every article, an "About the author" block linking to a background page, and professional profiles linked with the sameAs property.
5. Visible publication and update dates
A model answering in 2026 prefers recent information. Showing the publication date and the last-updated date, and keeping them identical to the markup, signals that the content is alive.
6. A consistent identity across the web
The business name, address, phone, services and prices must be identical on the website, Google Business Profile, social networks and directories. If one page says one price and another says a different one, the model doesn't know which to believe and prefers not to cite you.
7. Indexed in Google and in Bing
Not every assistant uses Google's index. Copilot uses Bing, and ChatGPT's search relies, among other sources, on Bing's index. Adding the site to Bing Webmaster Tools, submitting the sitemap and announcing changes with IndexNow is a cheap step many websites never took.
8. An llms.txt file
llms.txt is a proposed standard: a file at the site root that summarizes in plain text who you are, what you offer and which are your key pages. It doesn't guarantee citations, but it costs little and makes things easier for the AI agents that read it.
9. A structure that's easy to chunk
A single H1, H2 headings that work as questions, lists and tables for comparable data, and paragraphs that make sense on their own. On bilingual sites, reciprocal hreflang tags so each language is cited in its own market.
10. First-hand experience and off-site mentions
Models prioritize content that adds something other sources don't: real cases, local market data, processes explained by the person who runs them. And they trust a brand more when it's mentioned outside its own website: Google reviews, professional directories, media and LinkedIn posts.
How to measure whether AI cites you
GEO is measured, just like SEO. A simple monthly routine:
- Run the same key queries in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google (with AI Overviews) — for example "web design in [your city]" or "how much does an online store cost in [your country]" — and log in a spreadsheet whether they cite you and with which link.
- Check Google Analytics 4 for referral visits from
chatgpt.com,perplexity.aiorgemini.google.com. - Follow the impressions of optimized pages in Search Console, since appearances in Google's AI features are counted within the web search Performance report.
Errors that make a website invisible to AI
- Accidentally blocking AI crawlers in
robots.txtor in the firewall. - Content that only appears after running heavy JavaScript.
- Showing robots something different from what people see (cloaking), which is also grounds for a penalty.
- Contradictory data between pages: different prices, services or addresses.
- Pages with very little text or that don't answer anything concrete.
Why GEO requires experience
GEO changes every few months: new crawlers, new search features and new rules appear. Many "quick tactics" circulating on social media, such as padding pages with repeated questions or marking up data that isn't visible, can backfire and lead to a manual action from Google. It takes technical judgment to tell what works from what only seems to, and discipline to review it every month.
SEOP IA™: Erick Hernández Arias's method
This checklist is part of SEOP IA™, the methodology in which I combine technical SEO, content and optimization for AI engines. I apply it with my own audit tools, which check every page before it's published and verify the live site. If you want to know whether AI already mentions your business and what's missing, write to me.
Frequently asked questions
What is the llms.txt file and is it useful?
It's a proposed standard: a text file at the site root that summarizes who you are, what you offer and which are your key pages, designed for AI agents. It doesn't guarantee citations, but it's cheap to maintain and makes things easier for the systems that read it.
Should I block AI crawlers in robots.txt?
It depends on your goal. If you want AI assistants to know you and cite you, blocking them works against that. What matters is deciding consciously and checking that neither robots.txt nor the firewall is blocking them by mistake.
How do I know whether ChatGPT cites my website?
Run the same key queries every month in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google, and note whether you appear. Also check Google Analytics 4 for referral visits from chatgpt.com or perplexity.ai.
Does GEO work for local businesses?
Yes, often with less competition than in other markets. Many local searches have few well-structured sources, so a website with clear answers, consistent data and a good reputation is more likely to be cited.