Choosing a GEO Service Without Getting Burned: Questions to Ask Before You Sign
MC
MC (Marcus)｜Native4a founder, 9 years Hong Kong SEO ｜ October 2026
Short answer: Before signing a GEO contract, lock down which buyer questions, which platforms, monthly deliverables, and how you’ll measure with screenshots + cited URLs. Watch for “guaranteed ChatGPT recommendations” and “llms.txt alone = GEO done”. GEO sits on SEO — if the site isn’t indexed or UX is broken, don’t rush to buy.
For: Hong Kong SMEs comparing GEO / AI SEO vendors
Why “avoid traps” beats “chase the trend”
GEO sounds new, but procurement is like hiring SEO/content: you buy auditable work and measurement, not a mystery “AI ad slot”.
HK proposals name ChatGPT, AI Overviews, Perplexity — scopes differ wildly. Ask the wrong questions and you get vague monthly reports or “the algorithm changed” excuses.
(Definitions: What is GEO; pricing: GEO pricing.)
10 questions to ask in writing before you sign
- How many fixed questions? Who drafts/approves? (Don’t swap easier questions later.)
- Which platforms every time — or only flattering ones? Include Google AI Overviews/Mode for local buyers.
- What happens in month one? Baseline screenshots, NAP alignment, priority pages, schema — sequenced, not slogans.
- Rewrite existing pages or new posts? Page-level scope, not vague “content optimisation”.
- Is SEO foundation included? Google: pages must be indexed before AI features. GEO ≠ replace SEO.
- Off-site mentions/backlinks included? Approvals/topics? See Backlinks.
- What does the monthly report look like? Question × platform × mentioned? × cited URL × screenshots. Keep classic rankings separate.
- If there’s a “guarantee / fee waiver”, what’s the formula and who verifies? Verbal “guaranteed recommend” = red flag.
- Min term, cancel, extras (rebuild, languages, shoots)?
- Can you see a redacted report sample or question-sheet example?
Myths
| Myth | Safer view |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed ChatGPT recommend | Answers change; buy deliverables + retests |
| llms.txt = GEO done | Helper file only; answers + trust matter |
| GEO means stop SEO | AI features need the search index |
| Cheapest retainer wins | Scope-less cheap is often dearest |
| One lucky screenshot = success | Fixed questions, recurring tests |
What normal deliverables look like
Baseline question sheet + first results; priority list; completed on-page/schema work; off-site if any; monthly retest with screenshots; next-month plan from data — not empty fluff.
Case reference: Hypnosis Academy SEO+GEO (not a promise for your niche). Industry checklists: aesthetics, dental.
How to measure (agree at signing)
| Metric | How |
|---|---|
| Mention rate | Share of fixed questions naming you |
| Cited URLs | Links to which pages |
| Accuracy | Services/NAP not hallucinated |
| SEO helpers | Rankings/traffic reported separately |
Fixed questions, platforms, cadence + raw screenshots. “People talk about you more” is not measurement.
When not to buy GEO yet
Not indexed / often down / bad mobile; NAP chaos; buyers don’t ask AI; expecting ChatGPT featured slots in two weeks; vendor refuses written scope.
DIY first: 10–20 real questions as baseline, fix GBP + one service page, then compare GEO.
Gentle next step
Free AI visibility check via WhatsApp — [[WA_PLAIN]] No hard sell, no guaranteed recommendations. Pricing: GEO fees.
FAQ
GEO ≈ AI SEO by work, not by name. Don’t demand guaranteed recommends. Tech-only isn’t enough. Lock questions in writing. Contract length should match content/mention lag. Align roles if you already have an SEO agency. Local businesses may prioritise Google AI over ChatGPT. Walk away if they won’t show report structure.
Sources
- https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features
- https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.09735
- Native4a：[[NATIVE4A_LINKS]]
Procurement education only — judge written quotes/contracts.