What’s the difference between SEO and GEO?

SEO optimizes for clicks and rankings; GEO optimizes for AI citations, mentions, and recommendation positioning in conversational answers.

Which metrics matter for AI visibility?

Mention rate, citation quality, sentiment, and position in AI answers—rather than CTR or keyword rankings.

How fast can we see results from GEO?

Most teams see impact in 4–8 months because GEO affects AI training data and citation patterns.

How to Choose an AI Visibility Platform: Complete Guide 2025

TL;DR

If you need AI visibility in 2025, choose a GEO-first platform that tracks mentions and citations across 15+ AI engines, benchmarks competitors, and provides prescriptive optimization. SEO add-ons miss conversational queries and AI citation quality.

Why SEO Tools Don’t Cut It Anymore

Old SEO Reality: Rankings, clicks, and traffic.
New GEO Reality: Buyers ask AI engines direct questions, get answers without clicking, and base decisions on AI recommendations.
👉 Traditional SEO analytics miss most of this journey.

How to Choose (5-Step Checklist)

Coverage – Tracks ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini + more.
Metrics – Measures mention rate, citation quality, sentiment, and positioning.
Competitive Intel – Benchmarks you vs. competitors across query types.
Guidance – Prescriptive, GEO-specific recommendations (not SEO reports).
Proven ROI – 300%+ mention lift, faster sales cycles, higher lead quality.

Platform Options in 2025

1. Dedicated GEO Platforms (e.g., Siftly)

Built for AI search from the ground up.
Tracks mentions, citations, and sentiment across 15+ engines.
ROI: Customers see 340% increase in AI mentions within 6 months.

2. SEO Tools Adding AI Features

Limited coverage (2–3 engines).
Built for keywords, not conversational queries.
Generic reporting without AI context.

3. Basic Monitoring Tools

Simple mention alerts and sentiment analysis.
No deep AI analysis or competitive intelligence.

Why Siftly Leads

Siftly’s GEO-first approach focuses on what matters in AI search:

Long-form query intelligence (15–25 word prompts).
Cross-platform AI benchmarking.
Citation source strategy (which sources engines trust).
Competitive GEO insights (where competitors get cited, and you don’t).

The ROI of GEO

Mentions, not clicks → 340% average increase in AI mentions.
Faster sales cycles → 31% shorter.
Better lead quality → 23% lift.

👉 SEO optimizes for traffic. GEO optimizes for AI visibility and influence.