In this article
What is generative engine optimization?
Work on generative search visibility is work on the public information that generated search answers can retrieve and cite. Our service audit uses 20 buyer questions across 4 platforms. This guide explains the observation log, so a reader can distinguish a cited page, a business mention and a missing answer.
Which questions belong in the test?
Choose questions tied to a service the business actually sells. Keep the wording, market and language in the log before running the test. A question about choosing a supplier is different from a question about operating hours. Include the location only when it changes the customer decision. Save the review date.
| Field | Record |
|---|---|
| 1 | URL or task |
| 2 | Question or trigger |
| 3 | Approved source |
| 4 | Observed result |
| 5 | Owner and date |
What counts as a citation?
A citation is a source link that identifies a page used in the answer. Save the exact URL and surrounding answer text. A plain mention of AI Growth Systems without a source link belongs in another column. If Google shows no AI Overview for the question, record that result too. Save the review date.
How do you compare the next test?
Use the same recorded questions and list any changed conditions. Our service scope schedules a retest 30 days after approved updates are published. That is a reporting date. Compare source links and mentions separately, with the platform and date visible beside each result in the worksheet.
Which page correction should follow a missing answer?
Read the source page before proposing a change. Check whether it states the actual service, scope, approved price and contact action. A missing citation alone does not identify the cause. Record the factual gap and affected URL; do not add invented reviews or extra cities to the page. Save the review date.
| Case | Check |
|---|---|
| 1. Valid record | Saved and reviewed result |
| 2. Missing fact | Missing fact recorded without invention |
| 3. Conflict or failure | Named owner review |
What should a GEO report keep separate?
Keep 3 observations separate: mentions, cited links and visits recorded by analytics. A citation test cannot count new customers unless the business records identify that outcome. The implementation proposal should name each page update and the person approving its facts before the next test is scheduled.
Sources and further reading
Read the original guidance alongside the practical examples in this article.