Glossary
LLM SEO
Think distribution plus factual clarity inside model outputs, not keyword density on a page alone.
Measure with LLM-Score, Share of Voice, and snapshots.
Definition
LLM SEO is the set of content, technical, and authority tactics aimed at influencing how large language models mention, rank, or cite your brand inside their generated answers. It spans site structure (schema, llms.txt), third-party corroboration, and product copy that models can reuse faithfully. It is not a replacement for classic SEO, but overlap is large: pages that are clear for humans tend to be clear for models.
Quarterly execution example
| Month | Mention share | Correctness | Owned citation share |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 26% | 63% | 14% |
| M2 | 31% | 70% | 19% |
| M3 | 36% | 76% | 25% |
This pattern indicates real LLM SEO progress, not one-off PR spikes.
How it's computed
Progress is measured indirectly: run a brand visibility check with a fixed prompt pack, then compare dated snapshots. Rising correct mentions and citations mean LLM SEO is working; rising mentions with errors mean you need grounding fixes, not more volume.
KPI trio for LLM SEO
- Mention share trend
- Correctness trend
- Citation quality trend
All three should move together for durable gains.
How it works in practice
Typical workstream split
| Stream | Deliverables |
|---|---|
| Technical | crawl access, canonicals, schema hygiene |
| Content | answer-first rewrites, factual tables, FAQs |
| Authority | third-party expert references and citations |
| Measurement | weekly snapshots and prompt diagnostics |
Treat LLM SEO as cross-functional ops, not only content production.
How to read it
LLM SEO is healthy when multiple models agree on facts about you and your sentiment scoring stays neutral or positive under fanout queries. One-model wins are fragile.
First month playbook
- Run a baseline with fixed prompt pack.
- Patch top 10 factual gaps in money pages.
- Publish one authority asset with original data.
- Track weekly and separate noise from trend.
Readiness bands
| State | Typical pattern |
|---|---|
| Early | mentions improve but correctness unstable |
| Developing | both mentions and correctness rise |
| Mature | citation quality rises with stable sentiment |
If correctness lags while mentions rise, fix grounding before scaling traffic.
LLM SEO vs GEO
GEO is the trendy label for generative engines. LLM SEO is the plainer practitioner term. Use whichever your stakeholders understand.
When to use
- Agency retainers that bundle classic SEO with AI visibility.
- PR FAQs designed to reduce model confusion.
- Pitch decks when “GEO” sounds too buzzword-heavy.