Common Challenges Brands Face Optimizing for AI Search

The most common GEO challenges brands face: (1) measurement difficulty—AI visibility is harder to track than SEO, (2) resource allocation—unclear ROI makes budgeting hard, (3) organizational buy-in—leadership doesn't understand GEO, (4) strategy confusion—too many AI engines to optimize for, and (5) content scale—optimization requires significant content investment. According to Gartner, 58% of brands cite measurement as their top GEO challenge, followed by resource allocation (47%) and organizational buy-in (39%).

Top Challenges and Solutions #

Challenge 1: Measurement Difficulty #

Problem: AI visibility is harder to measure than traditional SEO.

Solution: Use specialized tools like SeenOS.ai for tracking. Focus on trends, not daily fluctuations. Establish baseline metrics before optimization.

Challenge 2: Resource Allocation #

Problem: Unclear ROI makes budgeting difficult.

Solution: Start with free tools (GEO-Lens, SeenOS.ai beta). Run pilot projects to prove value. Connect GEO metrics to business outcomes.

Challenge 3: Organizational Buy-In #

Problem: Leadership doesn't understand or prioritize GEO.

Solution: Educate with data on AI search growth. Show competitor activity. Start with quick wins to demonstrate value.

Challenge 4: Strategy Confusion #

Problem: Too many AI engines to optimize for.

Solution: Prioritize based on your audience. Start with ChatGPT and Perplexity (largest reach). Add engines as capacity grows.

Challenge 5: Content Scale #

Problem: GEO requires significant content investment.

Solution: Optimize existing content first. Use GEO-Lens to prioritize high-impact pages. Integrate GEO into content workflow.

Overcoming Challenges #

• 1Start small: Pilot with limited scope to prove value
• 2Use free tools: GEO-Lens and SeenOS.ai beta reduce cost barriers
• 3Integrate with SEO: Leverage existing processes and resources
• 4Educate stakeholders: Build understanding before requesting budget
• 5Focus on trends: Don't overreact to daily fluctuations

Conclusion #

GEO challenges are real but solvable. Start with measurement tools, prove ROI with pilots, educate leadership, prioritize strategically, and integrate with existing SEO efforts. The brands that overcome these challenges early will have significant competitive advantages.

About the Author

Yue Zhu@Seenos.ai

Product Manager at Seenos.ai. Pioneer in AEO research since 2024, exploring the convergence of SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Led multiple AI-powered content optimization projects that achieved 300%+ citation increases in ChatGPT and Perplexity.