Get your brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. We analyzed 8 videos from Greg Isenberg on the new frontier of search: Generative Engine Optimization.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of optimizing your content, brand, and online presence to be cited by AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google's AI Overviews.
When someone asks ChatGPT "What's the best project management tool for startups?", the answer doesn't come from a search ranking algorithm. It comes from the LLM's training data and real-time web access. GEO is about getting your brand into those answers.
"SEO is about ranking on page one. GEO is about being mentioned in the answer. It's a fundamentally different game."
GEO isn't replacing SEO—it's a parallel channel. But the strategies are fundamentally different.
| Dimension | Traditional SEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank on page 1 | Get mentioned in the answer |
| Time to Results | 3-6 months | 24-48 hours |
| Primary Signal | Backlinks, domain authority | Mentions on cited sources |
| Content Strategy | Keyword-optimized pages | Natural mentions in discussions |
| Key Platforms | Your website | Reddit, forums, publications |
| User Journey | Click to your site | May never visit your site |
| Visitor Value | 1x baseline | 4.4x higher value |
When an LLM mentions your brand, it's already done the comparison work. The user arrives with context and intent. They're not comparing 10 options—they've been told you're the answer to their specific problem. This pre-qualification drives higher conversion rates.
LLMs don't crawl the web like Google. They rely on training data plus real-time retrieval from trusted sources. Understanding where they look is the key to GEO strategy.
The #1 source for LLM answers about products, tools, and recommendations. Real discussions carry weight because they're hard to fake.
LLMs heavily cite r/SaaS, r/Entrepreneur, r/startups, r/webdev, and niche subreddits.
High-authority publications are trusted by LLMs. Getting mentioned in a "Top 10" list on Forbes carries significant GEO weight.
Contributor programs make this accessible. Many accept guest posts or paid placements.
The gold standard for factual information. Having a Wikipedia page (or being cited on one) is extremely valuable for GEO.
Must meet notability requirements. PR coverage helps establish notability.
Industry-specific publications (SaaS blogs, tech publications, vertical media) are heavily cited for domain-specific queries.
Examples: TechCrunch, Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, industry newsletters.
Hacker News, Stack Overflow, Quora, and specialized forums. Real users recommending real solutions.
Authentic recommendations from community members carry more weight than marketing copy.
Greg Isenberg calls this "increasing your surface area"—getting your brand mentioned across as many LLM-cited sources as possible. The more places you appear, the more likely you are to be mentioned.
GEO Visibility = Mentions × Source Authority × Relevance
You need mentions on multiple authoritative sources that are relevant to your target queries. A single mention on Forbes isn't enough—you need a pattern across Reddit, publications, and communities.
Participate authentically in relevant subreddits. When someone asks "What tool do you use for X?", your genuine recommendation gets indexed. Don't spam—contribute value.
"Best tools for X" articles are heavily cited by LLMs. Reach out to publications that write these. Offer a free account, affiliate partnership, or simply ask to be included.
Quora ranks well and is cited by LLMs. Find questions related to your product category and provide detailed, helpful answers that naturally mention your solution.
Create "[Your Product] vs [Competitor]" pages. When users ask LLMs to compare tools, these pages get cited. Be honest about trade-offs—LLMs prefer balanced content.
Podcast transcripts get indexed. When you mention your product on a podcast, that transcript becomes a citable source. Aim for niche podcasts in your industry.
Traditional SEO takes months to show results. GEO can work in 24-48 hours. This is the biggest tactical advantage of GEO for startups.
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude can access live web data. A Reddit post from today can be cited in an answer tomorrow.
You don't need to build domain authority or earn backlinks over time. If you're mentioned on a trusted source, you can be cited immediately.
LLMs often prefer recent sources. A discussion from this week may be cited over a blog post from 2022. This levels the playing field for new entrants.
"With GEO, you can launch a product today, seed some Reddit discussions, get mentioned in a few publications, and be cited by ChatGPT within 48 hours. That's the window from zero to AI visibility."
GEO isn't about gaming an algorithm—it's about being the genuine answer to real questions. Here's what to focus on:
Identify the exact questions your target users ask LLMs. Then get your brand mentioned in content that answers those specific queries.
LLMs prefer specific, differentiated recommendations. Generic tools get mentioned less than tools with clear differentiation.
LLMs cite sources that include evidence. "I switched from X to Y and saved 10 hours/week" is more citable than "Y is great."
LLMs often prefer recent content. Keep seeding new discussions and getting fresh mentions. A Reddit post from this month beats one from 2022.
No. SEO and GEO are complementary channels. SEO still drives significant traffic, especially for transactional queries. GEO is an additional channel, not a replacement. The best strategy is to do both.
Ask LLMs about your product category and see if you get mentioned. Track referral traffic from AI sources (some analytics tools now identify ChatGPT/Perplexity referrals). Monitor brand mentions across Reddit and forums.
Yes, if done authentically. Reddit values genuine participation. Contribute to discussions, help people, and mention your product when relevant—not in every post. Building karma and credibility first helps.
Yes, and this is where GEO shines. New products can get AI visibility faster than SEO visibility. Focus on seeding discussions, getting early user testimonials on forums, and publishing comparison content.
LLMs with web access (ChatGPT with browsing, Perplexity) can access real-time data. Even base models get periodic updates. The recency advantage means fresh content on Reddit can be cited within 24-48 hours.
Taffy lets you search transcripts, analyze comments, and extract insights from any YouTube channel. Find what marketers are discussing and what strategies are working.
Check out our other guides on building and marketing products in the AI era.
Read the Vibe Coding PlaybookWe publish deep-dive research guides weekly. Be the first to know when new analysis drops.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.