Yes, GEO is not SEO but a mix of multiple parameters to be taken care by any Content Marketers.
GEO doesn’t operate on traditional SEO Signals, instead they follow multiple parameters.
But in this article, we’ll not discuss about the SEO signals in details, as the topic is more concerned about GEO.
To make it for others, I’ve listed down the traditional SEO signals as a complete cheatsheet, which will be helpful for any beginners to get started.
Checkout the SEO Signals Cheatsheet here – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18POoFqSVoD18U48IJzOFKFJToxFpRcCi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105784866730547181169&rtpof=true&sd=true
Coming back to the topic again;
Why GEO is important in 2025? What’s the impact if it is ignored by Marketers? And how business is going to use them to gain more tractions in the upcoming phase.
Let’s understand this one-by-one.
a) Do you know that Reddit now shows up in 40.1% of AI-generated answers while Google has slipped to 23.3%. Means forum commenting in a structured manner to answer query is one of the way of getting recognition by ChatGPT or AI-overview to view the answers as a trusted signals.
According to a June 2025 analysis by Semrush, based on over 150,000 citations on generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, these AI platforms go to:
- Reddit (40.1% of citations),
- Wikipedia (26.3% of citations),
- YouTube (23.5% of citations) and
- Google (23.3% of citations)
b) Do a deep Query Analysis in Google Search Console. In SEO, intent matters.
- Some pages are made to get leads.
- Some blogs are made to bring traffic.
- But what if your page isn’t ranking for the queries you want?
- What if your content doesn’t match the search intent?
- If you don’t check your queries regularly, your page can become just another useless result for Google. This task is underrated, but it can be a game-changer for your SEO strategy in the long run.
c) To get your answer to be highlighted in GEO platforms, you need to derieve 5 different content formats for the same query.
For example: If I need my blog to be published for “ultimate guide on SEO”, then I need to write a full page guide on SEO in text format, with a mix and match of images, wherever necessary. Then I’ve to add my podcast/video link to make it consumed by audience who want to listen/watch. Also, I’ve to prepare a nice infographic on the steps to be taken care in using this guide. Plus, if a downloadable resource is added will be a good thing. Overall, this will help AI to pick my blog as a trusted source in GEO.
d) Relevance and engagement do matters a lot for GEO to pick your content. So, don’t do this –> keyword stuffing. It will negatively hamper your content SEO and ultimately it’s ranking on AI searches.
e) As I mentioned earlier, GEO leans on data from Reddit, Quora, product reviews, and other trusted signals beyond SEO-optimized sites. So focussing more on these forum sites will help you to rank on AI-overview.
How to Do GEO: A Plan + Execution Guide
Here’s a step-by-step plan you can adapt. It’s split into phases—with what you should do, tools to use, timing, and how to measure.
Phase 0: Foundation & Audit (Week 0 – 2)
- Audit existing content – Use this GEO_Content_Audit_Template_Spreadsheet to prepare the content audit template for your brand, and track the analytics. This will help you to understand the goal of your content and how to improve the content strategy to gain more benefits through GEO.
- Audit brand mentions / off-site presence – In the column “O” of the GEO-Content-Audit-template-spreadsheet, I’ve mentioned the “External Mentions (Reddit/Quora/Forums)” which will cover this aspect.
- Technical & structural check – Column “R” contains Content Structure (Headings, Bullets, TL;DR), Column “Q” contains Readability (1–5), Column “S” contains Freshness (Outdated/Updated).
- Define KPIs – Column I contains Performance – Impressions (GSC), Column J contains Performance – Clicks (GSC), Column K contains CTR (%), Column L contains Avg. Engagement Time / Bounce Rate, Column M contains Top Queries Ranking For, Column N contains Backlinks (Yes/No + Count), Column O contains External Mentions (Reddit/Quora/Forums), Column P contains Cited in AI Overviews (Yes/No/Unknown), Column U contains Overall GEO Readiness Score (1–5).
Phase 1: Content Strategy & Creation (Weeks 2 – 6)
Make use of this spreadsheet for Content Strategy, Curation and Content Sourcing from multiple blogs for this phase – GEO_Content_Strategy_&_Creation_Phase_1
- Topic & Keyword Mapping
- Format & structure for AI / LLMs
- Off-site contributions
- Digital PR / Brand mentions
Phase 2: Technical & Optimization Work (Weeks 4 – 8)
Make use of this spreadsheet for Technical SEO Audit for this phase – GEO_Phase2_Technical_Optimization_Template_Prefilled
- Schema & structured data
- On-site internal linking / content clusters
- Make content “citation-friendly”
- Monitor AI Overviews / snippets
Phase 3: Amplification & Iteration (Weeks 6 – 12+)
Make use of this spreadsheet for Amplifying the GEO strategy for this phase – GEO_Phase3_Amplification_Iteration_Template_Prefilled
- Ongoing community engagement
- Content refresh and expansion
- Digital PR & Outreach
- Measure, learn, adjust
Sample Execution Timeline (First 3 Months)
WeekTasks
Week 1 – Audit content & mentions, gather Reddit/Quora questions; define KPIs.
Week 2 – Map topics; plan pillar content & cluster content; select 2-3 community channels (subreddits, Quora topics).
Weeks 3-4 – Produce 2 pillar pieces + 4+ new content pieces (answering high-volume questions). Begin Quora/Reddit contributions.
Week 5 – Implement schema, structured data; refine content format; internal linking.
Week 6 – Monitor early results; adjust content structure; amplify via Digital PR.
Weeks 7-8 – More content based on feedback / trending questions; refresh old pieces; more community engagement.
Weeks 9-12 – Full review of KPIs; double down on what works; expand into new content types or new communities if suited. Prepare case examples to share.
Why GEO Over Traditional SEO Only
- Ranking signals are changing: Traditional SEO focused on ranking factors (backlinks, page speed, keywords). GEO adds new signals: cite-worthiness, mentions, authority from community, structured clarity.
- User behaviour shifting: More users are asking AI, summaries, overview tools. They want quick, consolidated answers. If you are not part of those answers, you lose out—even if you rank #1 in SERP.
- Higher intent & trust: When your brand is cited by AI or appears in trusted community answers, users often trust that more than just a ranking. This can lead to higher engagement / conversion.
- Barrier to entry is still relatively low: Many are still optimizing for old SEO alone. Being ahead with GEO gives a competitive edge. Plus, some tactics (answering Quora, contributing to Reddit, writing better structured content) are accessible without huge budgets.
Potential Challenges & What to Watch Out For
- Content theft / AI summarization reducing clicks Because AI summaries might provide enough info, users might not click through. You need to balance between giving enough value and giving reasons to visit your site (deeper examples, downloadable resources, tools etc.).
- Over-promotional content will backfire Forums are sensitive. Quora/Reddit moderators / communities do not like obvious marketing. Quality + authenticity matters.
- Metrics can lag and be noisy AI visibility (citations etc.) is newer and harder to measure in some tools. Attribution from AI traffic to leads might take time.
- Model changes AI models evolve. A tactic that works now may need adjustment later. Thus continuous monitoring and iteration is key.
Key Takeaways & Final Thoughts
- GEO doesn’t replace SEO; it extends it. Traditional SEO gives you visibility; GEO gives you authority / citation visibility in the growing AI discovery world.
- Start with listening—Reddit, Quora, forums. Use what people are already asking to inform your content.
- Focus on structure, clarity, credibility. Make content as “AI-friendly” as possible without losing human value.
- Measure what matters: citations, AI traffic, conversions—not just “page views” or rankings.
- Be consistent. GEO isn’t a one-off. It’s about being present, contributing value, earning trust across channels over time.
