GEO Platform Optimizer
Core Insight
Only 11% of domains are cited by BOTH ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews for the same query. Each AI search platform uses different indexes, ranking logic, and source preferences. A page optimized for Google AI Overviews may be invisible to ChatGPT, and vice versa. Platform-specific optimization is not optional — it is the foundation of any serious GEO strategy.
How to Use This Skill
- Collect the target URL and the site's primary topic/industry
- Run each platform checklist below against the site
- Score each platform on the 0-100 rubric
- Generate GEO-PLATFORM-OPTIMIZATION.md with per-platform scores, gaps, and action items
Platform 1: Google AI Overviews (AIO)
How AIO Selects Sources
- 92% of AIO citations come from pages already ranking in the top 10 organic results — traditional SEO is the gateway
- However, 47% of citations come from pages ranking below position 5 — AIO has its own selection logic favoring clarity and directness over raw rank
- AIO strongly favors pages with clean structure, direct answers, and scannable formatting
- Featured snippet optimization has ~70% overlap with AIO optimization
- AIO prefers concise, factual, unambiguous answers — hedging and filler reduce citation probability
Optimization Checklist
- Question-Based Headings: Use H2/H3 headings phrased as questions matching real user queries. Check Google's "People Also Ask" for the target topic and mirror those exact phrasings.
- Direct Answer in First Paragraph: After each question heading, provide a clear 1-2 sentence answer immediately. Then expand with supporting detail. The first sentence should be a standalone citation candidate.
- Tables and Structured Comparisons: AIO heavily cites tables. Convert any comparison, pricing, specification, or feature data into HTML tables. Use clear column headers.
- Ordered and Unordered Lists: Step-by-step processes should use ordered lists. Feature lists should use unordered lists. AIO extracts these directly.
- FAQ Sections: Add a dedicated FAQ section with 5-10 real questions. Use proper H3 headings for each question. While FAQPage schema rich results are restricted to govt/health sites since Aug 2023, the content pattern still helps AIO extraction.
- Definitions and Glossary Boxes: For any industry-specific term, provide a clear definition. Format: "[Term] is [concise definition]." AIO frequently cites definitions.
- Statistics with Sources: Include specific numbers with attribution. "According to [Source], [statistic]." AIO prefers citeable, specific claims over vague assertions.
- Publication Date: Include a visible publication date and last-updated date. AIO deprioritizes undated content for time-sensitive queries.
- Author Byline: Display author name with credentials. Link to an author page with bio, credentials, and sameAs links.
- Page Depth: Keep target pages within 3 clicks of homepage. AIO rarely cites deep, orphaned content.
Scoring Rubric (0-100)
| Criterion | Points | How to Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ranks in top 10 for target queries | 20 | 20 if yes, 10 if top 20, 0 if beyond |
| Question-based headings present | 10 | 2 points per question heading, max 10 |
| Direct answers after headings | 15 | 3 points per direct answer, max 15 |
| Tables present for comparison data | 10 | 10 if tables used appropriately, 5 if partial, 0 if absent |
| Lists for processes/features | 10 | 10 if present, 5 if partial |
| FAQ section with 5+ questions | 10 | 10 if 5+, 5 if 1-4, 0 if none |
| Statistics with citations | 10 | 2 points per cited stat, max 10 |
| Publication/updated date visible | 5 | 5 if both dates, 3 if one, 0 if none |
| Author byline with credentials | 5 | 5 if full byline, 3 if name only, 0 if none |
| Clean URL + heading hierarchy | 5 | 5 if H1>H2>H3 clean, 3 if minor issues, 0 if broken |
Platform 2: ChatGPT Web Search
How ChatGPT Selects Sources
- Uses Bing's search index as its foundation (not Google)
- Top citation sources by domain share: Wikipedia (47.9%), Reddit (11.3%), YouTube, major news outlets
- ChatGPT heavily weights entity recognition — if your brand exists as a structured entity (Wikipedia, Wikidata, Crunchbase), it is far more likely to be cited
- Prefers authoritative, well-established sources over new or niche sites
- Longer, more comprehensive articles get cited more often than short pieces
- ChatGPT tends to cite the most canonical source for a claim rather than the original
Optimization Checklist
- Wikipedia Presence: Check if the brand/person/product has a Wikipedia article. If not, assess notability criteria. If notable, create a draft. If an article exists, ensure it is accurate and current.
- Wikidata Entity: Verify the entity exists on Wikidata (wikidata.org). If not, create a Wikidata item with key properties: instance of, official website, social media links, founding date, headquarters location.
- Bing Webmaster Tools: Verify the site is registered in Bing Webmaster Tools. Submit sitemap. Check for crawl errors.
- Bing Index Coverage: Use
site:domain.comon Bing to verify key pages are indexed. Bing may have different indexed pages than Google. - Reddit Authority: Check for brand mentions on Reddit. Identify relevant subreddits. Assess whether the brand participates authentically in discussions.
- YouTube Presence: Verify YouTube channel exists with relevant content. Video descriptions should contain full URLs and entity information.
- Authoritative Backlinks: ChatGPT/Bing weight .edu, .gov, and major publication backlinks heavily. Audit backlink profile for these sources.
- Entity Consistency: Brand name, founding date, leadership, and key facts must be consistent across Wikipedia, Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and the official website.
- Comprehensive Content: Pages targeting ChatGPT citation should be 2000+ words with thorough topic coverage. ChatGPT prefers single authoritative sources over combining multiple thin pages.
- Clear Attribution: Include "About" sections, company descriptions, and founding stories. ChatGPT uses these for entity grounding.
Scoring Rubric (0-100)
| Criterion | Points | How to Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia article exists and is accurate | 20 | 20 if exists, 10 if stub, 0 if none |
| Wikidata entity with 5+ properties | 10 | 10 if complete, 5 if basic, 0 if none |
| Bing index coverage of key pages | 10 | 10 if full, 5 if partial, 0 if poor |
| Reddit brand mentions (positive) | 10 | 10 if active discussions, 5 if mentions, 0 if none |
| YouTube channel with relevant content | 10 | 10 if active, 5 if present but sparse, 0 if none |
| Authoritative backlinks (.edu, .gov, press) | 15 | 3 points per authoritative backlink category, max 15 |
| Entity consistency across platforms | 10 | 10 if consistent, 5 if minor discrepancies, 0 if major |
| Content comprehensiveness (2000+ words) | 10 | 10 if thorough, 5 if adequate, 0 if thin |
| Bing Webmaster Tools configured | 5 | 5 if verified, 0 if not |
Platform 3: Perplexity AI
How Perplexity Selects Sources
- Top citation sources: Reddit (46.7%), Wikipedia, YouTube, major publications
- Perplexity places the heaviest emphasis on community validation of all AI search platforms
- Strongly favors discussion threads where claims are debated, validated, or expanded by multiple participants
- Prefers recent content — publication date is a strong ranking signal
- Cites multiple sources per answer (typically 5-15), so there is more opportunity for mid-authority sites to appear
- Uses its own crawling infrastructure in addition to search APIs
Optimization Checklist
- Active Reddit Presence: The brand or its representatives should participate authentically in relevant subreddit discussions. Not promotional — helpful, specific, and commun