AI SEARCH / GEO / AEO
Measure what appears.
Improve what it draws on.
An AI search scope connects a repeatable visibility benchmark to crawler access and useful source content. A mention, a citation and a visitor action are separate observations.
Begin with a dated benchmark
Define the queries and prompts that represent the decisions your customers make. Record the engine, market, language and date before comparing responses. Preserve the observed answer and its cited URLs.
The benchmark is a sample with conditions. Keep a brand mention separate from a citation, and connect a website visit to its own measurement source.
| Field | What it records |
|---|---|
| Prompt | The exact question used |
| Engine and market | The system and observation context |
| Date | When the response was observed |
| Brand / citation | What was actually present |
| Evidence | The retained response or source URL |
Review access and source consistency
Review which pages can be reached and which crawler policies apply. Check that important business details agree across the pages where they are stated. An access decision should consider the actual crawler and use case.
Google's generative search guidance treats foundational SEO as relevant to its AI features. It does not require llms.txt or special AI markup. Other engines need their own documented access review.
Reference: Google's guide to generative AI search.
Give the answer a useful source
Assign each page a clear job. Supply the facts a reader needs to compare an offer or carry out a task. A decision table, a worked example or an accurate specification can earn its place by making that task easier.
Edit repeated sections before expanding the portfolio. A new URL needs a distinct reader decision, rather than a different acronym in its heading.
What the benchmark cannot promise
Responses can differ across sessions and conditions. One citation is not a permanent placement, and a generated answer is not a conventional position report. Report observed visibility alongside the content changes and their dates.
Completion means that the review, source work and repeatable observation set are delivered. It does not guarantee that an engine will include a brand.