The short answer
Once a month, check that AI crawlers can still reach your site. Then rerun your buyer prompts on the main AI platforms. Log who gets mentioned and which sources are cited. Review AI referrals in GA4 and question queries in Search Console. Then pick two or three fixes, such as a source to earn or a page to clarify.
- A fixed monthly routine catches problems before they cost you buyers.
- Use the same prompts each month so results are comparable.
- Log mentions, citations and competitors in one simple sheet.
- End every review with a short list of actions, not just numbers.
Why run GEO checks every month?
GEO stands for generative engine optimization. It means making your brand easier for AI answers to find, understand and recommend.
AI answers shift as models update and new sources appear. Your own site changes too, and a release can quietly block a crawler. A monthly routine catches both.
Monthly suits many small businesses. Weekly tracking spots changes sooner, which helps in busy or competitive markets.
The monthly GEO checklist, step by step
Block out the same slot each month. Work through the steps in order.
- 1
Check crawler access
Open your robots.txt and confirm no new rules block AI search crawlers. Check your CDN or firewall settings for new bot blocking too.
- 2
Check key pages still work
Confirm your top pages load, show their main text in the raw HTML and remain indexed in Search Console.
- 3
Rerun your buyer prompts
Ask the same buyer prompts on the same AI platforms as last month. A buyer prompt is a question a real customer might ask.
- 4
Log mentions and citations
For each answer, note whether you were mentioned, whether your site was cited, and which competitors appeared.
- 5
Review the cited sources
List the sites that answers cite for competitors but not for you. This is your citation gap, and it shows where to earn coverage.
- 6
Review traffic data
Check AI referrals in GA4 and question queries in Search Console. Compare with the previous month.
- 7
Check facts and reviews
Scan your Google Business Profile and main directories for outdated facts. Reply to new reviews.
- 8
Choose two or three actions
Pick the fixes most likely to matter, such as a page to clarify or a directory to join. Write down who does each one.
Where to look for each check
Keep this table next to your log so each check stays quick.
| Check | Where | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Crawler access | yourdomain.com/robots.txt, CDN settings | New Disallow rules or bot blocking |
| Indexing | Search Console, Pages report | Important pages dropping out |
| AI answers | ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and others | Mentions, citations, competitors |
| AI referrals | GA4, Traffic acquisition | Visits from AI assistant domains |
| Question queries | Search Console, Performance | Impressions and click-through rate |
| Facts and reviews | Business profiles, directories | Outdated details, unanswered reviews |
A simple log you can copy
A spreadsheet is enough to start. Use one row per prompt per platform per month. The example row below is fictional.
date,platform,prompt,mentioned,cited,competitors,sources_cited,notes 2026-10-01,ChatGPT,"best family dentist in Manchester",no,no,"Competitor A; Competitor B","directory-a.example; news-b.example","Competitor A cited from a local directory"
How to tell if your monthly work is paying off
Look at trends over three months or more, not single results. AI answers vary between runs, so one month can mislead.
Good signs include more prompts that mention you, more citations of your pages and fewer gaps against competitors. Rising AI referrals in GA4 also help, even though that data is incomplete.
WebValet's free check covers the crawler access basics today, with no signup. Pro asks 25 buyer prompts weekly on ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity and sends a weekly report. Those tracking features are rolling out now.
Common mistakes with a monthly GEO routine
Routines fail quietly. Watch for these.
- Changing the prompt list every month, so nothing is comparable.
- Checking only ChatGPT and ignoring other platforms.
- Recording numbers without choosing any actions.
- Starting new fixes before finishing last month's.
- Skipping the crawler check because it passed last time.
Questions people ask
How many buyer prompts should I check each month?
Start with a manageable set that covers your main services and locations. Doing this by hand gets slow quickly. Keep the list stable once chosen.
Is monthly often enough?
For many small businesses, yes. In fast-moving markets, weekly tracking shows shifts sooner. Pick the rhythm you can actually keep.
Should I use a private browser window for checks?
Yes, where you can. Signed-in history and memory features can shape answers. A clean session gives results closer to what a new buyer sees.
Can WebValet run this checklist for me?
Pro automates the prompt tracking, citation gap and reporting steps, and those features are rolling out now. The free check covers crawler access and site readiness today. The Hire Team service can handle the fixes as well.