The term is used across research and marketing, with differing products and measurements. Google says its AI search features use established search practices and require no special AI schema or text file. (Google AI features and your website ↗ · Aggarwal et al., Generative Engine Optimization (2023) · Survey of GEO terminology and evidence (2026))
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Replacing a vague promise with a test
For example, a publisher records whether one named AI answer product cites a specific article during a dated observation window. A clear page may still receive no citation; one result does not show that a writing change caused it. GEO research proposes methods, but there is no universal cross-product score.
There is no single GEO standard
Name the product and outcome before buying or evaluating the work. Being cited, receiving a reader visit and earning a subscription are different results. A useful report separates those measures and states what was actually observed rather than claiming a universal GEO score.
Separate discovery from business results
A publisher might track whether its page appears in a sampled set of answers and whether those pages gain visits. Use the same queries and pages across periods. If the traffic report cannot isolate the answer placement, keep the two observations separate.