Choosing a GEO agency: 10 questions for the first call

The ten questions

How many questions do you measure, and where do they come from?
Good: dozens, partly from real client questions. Weak: ten questions the tool came up with itself.
How often do you ask each question per measurement?
Good: dozens of times per AI tool. Weak: once.
Do you report a position or a percentage?
Good: a percentage. A position in AI says nothing.
Do you measure each AI tool separately, and in the app or via the API?
Good: separately, and a deliberate choice. The app and the API can name different businesses.
Do you keep “mentioned” and “used as a source” apart?
Good: yes, two separate figures.
How do you link this to branded searches, direct traffic and enquiries?
Good: a concrete dashboard. Weak: only a visibility score.
What do you carry out yourselves, and what is left to me?
Good: a clear list in the quote. Weak: only advice and a report.
What work do you do beyond my website?
Good: reviews, trade media, YouTube, Reddit. Weak: only your own website.
May I call three clients I choose myself?
Good: yes, here is the list. Weak: we will send you two references.
What do you guarantee?
Good: no positions. Anyone who promises the number 1 spot in ChatGPT is promising something that does not exist.

The questions follow the implementation and measurement honesty pillars of the LSAI method for specialists. For background, read why most AI tracking tools measure the wrong thing.

Who are these ten questions for?

For every business owner who wants to hire a GEO agency, AI agency or (local) GEO specialist, or is considering a tracking tool.

What is a good answer to the guarantee question?

No guaranteed positions. Nobody can promise a fixed place in Google or in an AI answer. See also: What is GEO? Mostly just SEO with a new label.

Why should I choose which clients to call myself?

Because otherwise an agency picks its three most satisfied clients. Ask for a client list and pick three yourself. See also: Manipulating AI: why it is possible and why you should not want to.

What if an agency will not show a sample report?

Ask for an anonymised report. If the agency will not provide that either, you do not know how it measures.

How many repetitions should a measurement have?

Dozens per question, per AI tool. Rand Fishkin mentions 60 to 100 for a reliable picture of a single question.

Why ask about app or API?

Because the ChatGPT app and ChatGPT via the API can name different businesses. A measurement via the API does not always see what your client sees.

What do you mean by work beyond my website?

Reviews, mentions in trade media, content on YouTube and Reddit, and mentions in other people’s lists. AI tools give that evidence a lot of weight.

May I print these questions?

Yes, the page is designed to be printed or saved as a PDF.

Does every answer have to be perfect?

No. Pay particular attention to questions 2, 3, 7 and 10. An agency that stays vague on those probably does not measure or work properly.

Do you use these questions yourselves?

Yes. They run parallel to the implementation and measurement honesty pillars in the LSAI method.