GEO Glossary
The language of Generative Engine Optimization.
GEO
Generative Engine Optimization. The practice of optimizing web content to appear in AI platform recommendations, distinct from traditional search engine optimization.
AI Visibility Score
A metric measuring how often and prominently a business appears when AI platforms are asked for recommendations in that business's industry and location.
Structured Data
Machine-readable information embedded in website code that helps AI platforms understand and categorize business information. Typically implemented as JSON-LD.
JSON-LD
JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data. A format for encoding structured data that AI platforms can parse and understand. The preferred format for Schema.org markup.
Schema Markup
A standardized vocabulary (from Schema.org) used to describe entities on the web. Includes types like Organization, LocalBusiness, ProfessionalService, and Person.
Entity Disambiguation
When two businesses share a similar name or operate in the same city, AI platforms can confuse them. Entity disambiguation is the set of signals that ensure the right business gets the recommendation.
llms.txt
An emerging standard file that provides AI platforms with structured information about a website's purpose, services, and authority. Similar in concept to robots.txt but for AI discoverability.
AI Crawler
Before an AI platform can recommend your business, it has to find and read your website. AI crawlers are the programs that do that indexing. GPTBot handles it for OpenAI, ClaudeBot for Anthropic, PerplexityBot for Perplexity.
GPTBot
OpenAI's web crawler that indexes content for ChatGPT. Can be allowed or blocked via robots.txt directives.
ClaudeBot
Anthropic's web crawler that indexes content for Claude. Works alongside Claude-Web for real-time web access.
PerplexityBot
Perplexity AI's crawler that indexes content for their AI search platform. One of the most active AI crawlers.
Google-Extended
Google's user-agent for Gemini and Vertex AI training. Separate from Googlebot which handles traditional search.
robots.txt
A standard file that tells web crawlers which pages they can access. For GEO, this file must explicitly allow AI crawlers like GPTBot and ClaudeBot.
Knowledge Graph
A database of entities and their relationships that AI platforms use to understand connections between businesses, people, and concepts.
Authority Signals
Indicators that help AI platforms determine a business's credibility and expertise. Includes structured reviews, credentials, and consistent entity information.
Query Alignment
Consumers don't type keywords into AI platforms. They ask full questions in plain language. Query alignment means restructuring your content to match those patterns so AI platforms connect your business to the right queries.
AI Recommendation
When an AI platform suggests a specific business in response to a user query. The equivalent of a first-page search ranking in traditional SEO.
Platform Parity
Appearing consistently across multiple AI platforms (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude) rather than optimizing for a single platform.
Data Layer
The invisible code structure of a website that AI platforms parse. Includes meta tags, schema markup, and structured data. Distinct from the visual presentation layer.
Generative AI Platform
AI systems that generate responses based on user prompts. Major platforms include ChatGPT (OpenAI), Gemini (Google), Claude (Anthropic), and Perplexity AI.