What Is Generative Engine Optimization? A Practical GEO Guide
Understand generative engine optimization, the role of evidence and accessible content, and a practical workflow for measuring AI visibility.
7 min readRead the guide
Know the terms
The GEO glossary. One clear definition at a time.
Use a shared vocabulary for generative engine optimization, AI visibility, source evidence, and measurement. These working definitions make project conversations more precise.
- Answer block
- A short, self-contained explanation of a specific question. An effective answer block identifies the subject and keeps important conditions close to the claim.
- Answer engine optimization (AEO)
- Editorial work that makes an answer direct, understandable, and appropriately scoped. We use it to describe useful definitions, comparisons, and procedures rather than a guaranteed search feature.
- AI citation
- A source reference displayed with an AI-generated answer. A citation must be inspected to determine which statement it supports and whether the source actually provides that evidence.
- AI search visibility
- How a brand or page appears within a defined set of observed AI search responses. A sample should be described by its questions, experiences, modes, and dates.
- Answer accuracy
- Whether a response’s material statements are consistent with the relevant evidence and preserve important qualifications. Accuracy is reviewed separately from brand mentions and citations.
- Brand mention
- An occurrence of a brand name in a recorded answer. It does not by itself establish a recommendation, a source citation, a visit, or a business outcome.
- Canonical URL
- The preferred address identified for a page or set of equivalent pages. In a content plan, it is the address the team intends to maintain and use consistently in internal links.
- Citation rate
- For a defined sample, the proportion of valid answers containing a qualifying citation under stated counting rules. Always show the denominator and scope.
- Content inventory
- A record of existing pages and their purposes, owners, addresses, and review needs. An inventory supports decisions about revision, consolidation, or new content.
- Crawlability
- The practical ability of a relevant crawler to retrieve a resource under the site’s public access policy and technical configuration. It is distinct from indexing and citation.
- Entity
- A clearly identified person, organization, product, service, or concept. An entity map documents names and relationships so descriptions remain coherent across pages.
- Evidence block
- A passage or module that connects a material claim to supporting information, including the conditions needed to interpret it accurately.
- GEO audit
- A scoped review of audience questions, pages, evidence, technical access, content clarity, and relevant answer observations. Its output should be a prioritized, traceable plan.
- Generative engine optimization (GEO)
- A working discipline for improving the usefulness and discoverability of public information in the context of AI-generated answers, supported by clear content and careful observation.
- Grounding
- Connecting a generated response to information supplied or retrieved for the task. A visible source reference still needs an accuracy check; its presence is not proof of support.
- Indexing
- A search system’s process of including and organizing information in its index. A public or crawlable page should not automatically be described as indexed.
- Internal link
- A link between pages on the same website. Descriptive links connect related explanations and help visitors navigate the content hierarchy.
- JSON-LD
- A format for expressing linked structured data. On a website it can describe verified page and publisher information using appropriate vocabulary and relationships.
- Large language model optimization (LLMO)
- On this site, website-focused work to reduce ambiguity through stable names, clear relationships, and scoped claims. This is different from model training or fine-tuning.
- Observation
- One recorded response under documented conditions, including the prompt, assistant, mode, language, and date. Failed requests should be distinguished from valid answers.
- Prompt family
- A group of questions organized by a shared topic or decision. Keep the members and intent documented when comparing results over time.
- Query fan-out
- A process in which a system explores related searches or subquestions while developing an answer. The term should not be used to infer hidden searches from an answer alone.
- Retrieval
- Obtaining relevant information for a task from an available source or collection. Retrieval, citation display, and faithful use of the information are distinct events.
- Source accuracy review
- Inspection of a cited page against the specific claim in a response. The review checks support, scope, currency, and relevant product or version context.
- Structured data
- Machine-readable descriptions of content and entities. Markup should match visible facts and use appropriate types without invented ratings, credentials, or other claims.
- Topic map
- A planning view that connects audience questions to page purposes, evidence, and related concepts. It should organize a useful body of information rather than multiply near-duplicate pages.
Use the definition with its scope
Industry terminology can vary. Before comparing two reports, check their definitions, units, and observation methods. For implementation details, consult the relevant provider’s documentation and our practical guides.
GEO Field Notes
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