How AI-powered search tools find and cite your content — and how a GEO audit identifies what to fix. What's involved, what it costs, and when you need one.
A GEO audit (Generative Engine Optimization audit) evaluates how well a website's content is structured to be found, understood, and cited by AI-powered search tools — including ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, Perplexity, and Claude.
Traditional SEO audits evaluate whether content ranks in search result listings. A GEO audit evaluates whether content is structured to be cited in AI-generated answers — a fundamentally different question that requires looking at content structure, schema markup, entity consistency, and answer-readiness in ways that traditional SEO audits don't typically cover.
When you need a GEO audit.
Your SEO traffic is declining and you're not sure why. AI search tools are pulling traffic away from traditional search results. Queries that used to drive clicks are now being answered directly by AI, and the content isn't being cited as a source.
Your organization has deep expertise but isn't showing up in AI search. Authoritative content exists in the field, but when someone asks an AI search tool about the topic area, the organization isn't mentioned. Competitors with less expertise are being cited instead.
You're planning a website redesign or content refresh. Making sure new content is structured for both traditional search and the AI-powered search environment is easier to do before a build than after.
You've heard about GEO but don't know where to start. The terminology is new, the landscape is evolving quickly, and a practical assessment of where things stand is useful before making any investment.
What's involved in a GEO audit.
AI search presence check — How does the organization currently appear — or not appear — in responses from major AI search tools? Representative queries get tested across top AI search tools to establish a baseline of current AI visibility.
Content structure analysis — AI systems extract information from pages that are clearly structured — with logical heading hierarchies, answer-first formatting, and content organized around the questions the audience actually asks. The audit evaluates how well key pages are structured for extraction.
Schema markup assessment — Structured data (Schema.org markup) helps AI systems understand what content covers, who the organization is, and how content entities relate to each other. The audit evaluates what schema is in place, what's missing, and what would have the most impact.
Entity and trust review — AI systems build understanding through entities — the organization, its products, its services, its people — and rely on trust indicators like author attribution, testimonials, and reviews. When those entities and trust indicators are inconsistent or unstructured, AI systems have less confidence citing the source. The audit surfaces those inconsistencies.
Editorial readiness audit — Beyond schema structure, the audit evaluates whether content is written with the best principles of web writing in mind — clear headings, answer-first paragraphs, and well-optimized metadata.
What you get.
An audit report that includes a current AI search visibility baseline, a content structure assessment with specific page-level recommendations, schema markup recommendations prioritized by impact, an editorial readiness report, and a prioritized implementation roadmap.
Depending on scope, the audit may also include specific editorial recommendations for key pages — rewriting introductions, adding FAQ sections, restructuring headings — and an optional GEO writing workshop for the editorial team.
What comes after.
Most organizations follow a GEO audit with implementation — updating content structure, adding schema markup, and revising key pages based on the audit's recommendations. This can be handled by an internal team (the audit deliverables are designed to be actionable) or by a development and content partner.
GEO isn't a one-time fix. Checking in quarterly on AI search visibility — and adjusting as the tools evolve — keeps any progress from slipping.
If this sounds like where your organization is, we're happy to talk through it.