How to hire a GEO agency without getting burned
GEO is new enough that everyone suddenly claims to do it. Here are the questions that quickly separate a genuine partner from someone who just learned the acronym last week.
The 10 questions to ask any GEO agency
- Can you show me where I currently appear (or don't) in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity?
- How do you measure success — by rankings, or by AI mentions and citations?
- What schema will you implement, and will I own it?
- How do you keep content fresh, given citations decay in about two weeks?
- How do you approach accessibility — is it built into the site's code?
- Who actually does the work, and what are their credentials?
- What's the engagement model and what does it cost?
- Can you share a real, dated result from a comparable business?
- What happens to my gains if I stop working with you?
- How will you report progress, and how often?
An honest partner welcomes these. If the answers are vague or every reply is “trust us,” keep looking.
Why these questions work
They force specifics — measurement, ownership, credentials, proof — which is exactly where buzzword-merchants fall apart. The same rigor we describe in how AI decides who to cite applies to choosing who helps you get cited.
Common questions
How do I choose a GEO or AI-SEO agency?
Ask how they measure success (AI mentions, not just rankings), what schema they'll implement and whether you own it, who does the work and their credentials, the cost and engagement model, and for a real dated result.
What's a red flag when hiring an SEO agency?
Vague answers, no measurement beyond rankings, no named team or credentials, and an unwillingness to share comparable results.
Ask us all ten questions
Bring your ten questions to a call — we'll answer every one, no pressure.
Book a discovery call →Editorial. DigiVino, June 2026.