geo-competitive-analysis
GEO Competitive Analysis
GEO competitive analysis answers one question: when a buyer asks an AI engine about your category, who gets mentioned — you or your competitors? Unlike SEO competitive analysis (which compares keyword rankings), GEO competitive analysis compares brand mention rates, citation frequency, and recommendation positioning across AI-generated answers.
Most SaaS companies have never checked who AI engines recommend in their category. By the time they do, competitors may have been cited for months and built entrenched authority. Running a GEO competitive analysis first establishes where you stand and reveals exactly what competitors are doing that you're not.
The GEO Competitive Audit Framework
Step 1: Define the competitor set
Include every company an AI engine might recommend alongside or instead of you.
| Category | Who to include | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Direct competitors | Companies with similar product and same ICP | 3-5 |
| Category adjacents | Companies in adjacent categories AI might confuse with yours | 1-2 |
| Aggregators | Review sites, directories that compete for citations (G2, Capterra) | 2-3 |
Rule: If you're unsure whether a company is a competitor in AI search, test it. Ask ChatGPT "What are alternatives to [your product]?" The answer tells you exactly who AI engines consider your competitive set.