r/ClaudeAI: Developer Documents $23K/Month Generative Engine Optimization Practice — Using Claude to Analyze AI Citation Patterns, Not Generate Content

A developer in r/ClaudeAI describes a $23K/month Generative Engine Optimization consulting practice serving seven clients, using Claude not to generate content but as a research engine to analyze what AI models cite and why. The workflow asks Claude to answer 20 questions about a topic, then studies the citation patterns to optimize client content for discovery by AI chatbots rather than traditional search crawlers. The post is one of the first practitioner accounts describing GEO as a standalone consulting discipline, with discussion debating whether the model is defensible as AI companies adjust their citation behavior.