The Ultimate GEO (Generative Search Optimization) Checklist


I. Foundational Optimization
✅ Domain Authority & Trust Signals
Establish E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Maintain consistent authorship with verifiable credentials
Secure prominent backlinks from authoritative sources
Implement proper schema markup (Organization, Person, etc.)
✅ Technical Infrastructure
Ensure fast page load speeds (<2.5s)
Implement clean URL structures
Maintain 100% mobile responsiveness
Fix all crawl errors (4xx/5xx)
Use HTTPS security protocol
II. Content Optimization
✅ Comprehensiveness
Cover topics in depth (2000+ words for complex subjects)
Address related subtopics comprehensively
Update content regularly (date stamps help)
Include FAQs that match common queries
✅ Semantic Structure
Use clear hierarchical headings (H1-H6)
Implement bulleted/numbered lists for scannability
Include definition boxes for key terms
Add tables for comparative data
Use diagrams with alt text when helpful
✅ Source Quality
Cite authoritative references
Link to primary sources when possible
Include statistical data with dates/sources
Provide transparent methodology for original research
III. Generative AI-Specific Tactics
✅ Conversational Alignment
Anticipate natural language questions
Include question-style subheadings
Address multiple query intents per topic
Cover "explain like I'm 5" to expert levels
✅ Entity Optimization
Clearly define key entities (people, places, concepts)
Show relationships between entities
Include relevant dates and timelines
Add geographical context where applicable
✅ Multi-Format Content
Supplement text with relevant images/videos
Include downloadable resources (PDFs, tools)
Offer interactive elements (calculators, quizzes)
Provide summarized takeaways
IV. Monitoring & Maintenance
✅ Performance Tracking
Monitor generative AI citations (manual checks)
Track "source mention" traffic
Analyze query-to-content alignment
Identify knowledge gaps through AI responses
✅ Continuous Improvement
Update statistics and facts quarterly
Expand coverage based on emerging queries
Refresh examples to maintain relevance
Add new content formats based on performance
Learn more about GEO
GEO (Generative Search Optimization) Complete Guide: Mastering AI Search SEO Strategies-
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): Enterprise-Level Complete Guide-
a16z’s GEO Report: SEO is Dead, Generative Engine Optimization Redefines Search-
Forget the Old SEO Rules. In the AI SEO Era, Here Are 8 New Keys to Winning-
Traditional Search Optimization (SEO) vs. Generative Search Optimization (GEO)-
Technical SEO: Building High-Quality Websites to Improve Search Engine Rankings-
What is Google’s SGE? Generative Search Experience Explained-
Subscribe to my newsletter
Read articles from Erik Chen directly inside your inbox. Subscribe to the newsletter, and don't miss out.
Written by
