geo-platform-optimizer

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

1. Collect the target URL and the site's primary topic/industry
2. Run each platform checklist below against the site
3. Score each platform on the 0-100 rubric
4. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Tables and Structured Comparisons: AIO heavily cites tables. Convert any comparison, pricing, specification, or feature data into HTML tables. Use clear column headers.
4. Ordered and Unordered Lists: Step-by-step processes should use ordered lists. Feature lists should use unordered lists. AIO extracts these directly.
5. 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.
6. Definitions and Glossary Boxes: For any industry-specific term, provide a clear definition. Format: "[Term] is [concise definition]." AIO frequently cites definitions.
7. Statistics with Sources: Include specific numbers with attribution. "According to [Source], [statistic]." AIO prefers citeable, specific claims over vague assertions.
8. Publication Date: Include a visible publication date and last-updated date. AIO deprioritizes undated content for time-sensitive queries.
9. Author Byline: Display author name with credentials. Link to an author page with bio, credentials, and sameAs links.
10. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Bing Webmaster Tools: Verify the site is registered in Bing Webmaster Tools. Submit sitemap. Check for crawl errors.
4. Bing Index Coverage: Use site:domain.com on Bing to verify key pages are indexed. Bing may have different indexed pages than Google.
5. Reddit Authority: Check for brand mentions on Reddit. Identify relevant subreddits. Assess whether the brand participates authentically in discussions.
6. YouTube Presence: Verify YouTube channel exists with relevant content. Video descriptions should contain full URLs and entity information.
7. Authoritative Backlinks: ChatGPT/Bing weight .edu, .gov, and major publication backlinks heavily. Audit backlink profile for these sources.
8. Entity Consistency: Brand name, founding date, leadership, and key facts must be consistent across Wikipedia, Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and the official website.
9. Comprehensive Content: Pages targeting ChatGPT citation should be 2000+ words with thorough topic coverage. ChatGPT prefers single authoritative sources over combining multiple thin pages.
10. 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

1. Active Reddit Presence: The brand or its representatives should participate authentically in relevant subreddit discussions. Not promotional — helpful, specific, and commun