You can't improve what you don't measure. Unlike traditional SEO with established tools and metrics, GEO measurement is still evolving. This guide provides practical methods for tracking your AI visibility today.
Key Metrics to Track
AI Mention Rate
Percentage of relevant queries where AI mentions your brand. Track this across different platforms and query types to understand where you're visible and where you have gaps.
Citation Position
When mentioned, where does your brand appear—first, among several options, or as an afterthought? Position within AI responses affects user perception and click likelihood.
Sentiment Accuracy
How accurately and favorably does AI represent your brand? Track both factual accuracy and tone to identify potential reputation issues.
Competitor Comparison
Share of voice relative to competitors. If AI consistently recommends competitors instead of you, understanding why reveals optimization priorities.
Query Coverage
Which queries in your target set generate mentions? Tracking specific queries reveals content gaps and optimization opportunities.
Manual Tracking Methods
Systematic Query Testing
Create a standardized list of queries relevant to your business. Test each query across platforms weekly or monthly, documenting whether you're mentioned, your position, and the sentiment.
Key query categories to include:
- Brand name queries ("What is [your brand]?")
- Category queries ("Best [your category]")
- Comparison queries ("[Your brand] vs [competitor]")
- Problem queries ("How to [problem you solve]")
- Local queries (if applicable)
Screenshot Documentation
Screenshot AI responses for your target queries. This creates a record of how AI representation changes over time and provides evidence for optimization impact.
Spreadsheet Tracking
Build a simple spreadsheet tracking query, platform, date, mentioned (yes/no), position, sentiment, and any notable details. Review monthly to identify trends.
Traffic Attribution
Referral Analysis
Monitor referral traffic from AI platform domains in your analytics. Traffic from chat.openai.com, perplexity.ai, and similar domains indicates AI citation clicks.
Direct Traffic Patterns
AI mentions often drive branded searches rather than direct referrals. Monitor changes in branded search volume and direct traffic that correlate with AI visibility changes.
Survey Attribution
Add "How did you hear about us?" questions with AI assistant options. This captures attribution that analytics might miss.
Platform-Specific Tracking
ChatGPT
Test with and without web browsing enabled. Compare responses to understand whether you're mentioned from training data, search results, or both.
Perplexity
Perplexity's explicit citations make tracking easier. Note which of your pages get cited and for which queries.
Google AI Overviews
Google Search Console now includes some AI Overview data. Monitor for inclusion and click patterns from AI-generated results.
Setting Baselines
Before beginning optimization, establish baselines:
- Test 20-50 relevant queries across all target platforms
- Document current mention rates and positions
- Record competitor visibility for the same queries
- Note current referral traffic from AI domains
This baseline enables measuring the impact of your GEO efforts over time.
Reporting Cadence
Weekly: Quick check of top-priority queries to catch any sudden changes.
Monthly: Full query testing, traffic analysis, and trend review.
Quarterly: Comprehensive competitive analysis and strategy adjustment.
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