Short answer: find out which AI your customers actually ask, then publish where that platform cites. A recent analysis of citation structure found that Doubao draws 31.8% of citations from Douyin, with a 97.7% citation rate for travel-guide questions, but that figure is a partial fact tied to one platform, one period and one question type. The same dataset shows DeepSeek favouring central media and academic reports, Kimi favouring Zhihu, and Ernie Bot favouring Baidu properties (source: Seen by AI, October 31, 2026). Treating one platform's weighting as a general rule is the most common GEO mistake today.
What the 31.8% figure actually shows
The error is treating a partial result as a universal one. The travel-guide citation rate in particular reflects a highly specific question type (source: Seen by AI, October 31, 2026). The analysis also reports a counter-example: an industrial valve manufacturer shifted its budget to short video and was never cited in AI answers. When placement does not match where customers ask, spending does not produce citations.
What platform differences mean for forwarders
Freight forwarder questions cluster into three types: rate structure and current levels, handling qualifications for special cargo such as dangerous goods, and selection criteria for a given lane. Answers to these questions cite different sources depending on the platform. The first GEO action is therefore not to publish more, but to identify where customers ask and what that platform cites.
A four-step self-check
First, open the AI your target customers actually use, not the one you personally prefer. Second, ask three questions customers would really ask, not your company name. Third, record the types of sources cited in the answers, distinguishing company websites, trade media, Q&A communities and short video. Fourth, decide placement. A stronger version is to ask the same question on three platforms and take the intersection of cited sources, which typically points to company websites and authoritative media (source: Seen by AI, October 31, 2026).
Three things forwarders can do
Start by completing the answers your website should already provide: how rates are constructed, how dangerous goods are handled, and how a specific lane should be selected. Then build attributable case studies and data in trade media, so AI has third-party basis to cite. Only then use short video, which is an amplifier rather than a foundation. Reversing the order is the fastest way to waste budget.
A note on shelf life
Platform weighting data ages quickly. Treat a single dataset as a health check, not a long-term strategy, and re-run the check quarterly to read the trend rather than a single point.
FAQ
Is Doubao's 31.8% Douyin citation a general rule?
No. It is a partial fact tied to one platform, one period and one question type, with the 97.7% travel-guide figure reflecting a specific scenario (source: Seen by AI, October 31, 2026).
How do AI platforms differ in cited sources?
The same dataset shows DeepSeek favouring central media and academic reports, Kimi favouring Zhihu and Ernie Bot favouring Baidu properties (source: Seen by AI, October 31, 2026).
What is the first GEO step for a forwarder?
Ask three real customer questions on the AI your customers use, record the source types cited, then decide placement. Asking the same questions across three platforms and taking the intersection is a stronger version.
Does the company website still matter for GEO?
Yes. Cross-platform intersections typically point to company websites and authoritative media, making the site the shared foundation.
Should we still do short video?
Yes, but as an amplifier. The foundation is the website plus attributable trade media content.
Wenaili Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. · Ten years in freight forwarder digital marketing | Full-service marketing department outsourcing | AI implementation, GEO optimization and website rebuilds.