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What Is AI Prompt Testing? How It Works (With Examples)
Here's how AI prompt testing powers generative engine optimization to get your brand included in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity answers.
The Butter Team
September 1, 2025
Search is no longer just about Google’s first page. More people are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity to get direct, conversational answers. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is how you make sure your brand shows up in those answers—because if you’re not included, you’re invisible. And to compete, you need to test how AI engines interpret, retrieve, and present your content. That’s where AI prompt testing comes into play.
What Is AI Prompt Testing?
AI prompt testing is the process of running controlled prompts across AI engines to see:
- How (and if) your business shows up in generated answers.
- What competitors are being surfaced.
- Which language, keywords, or context drives inclusion.
Think of it as the equivalent of keyword rank tracking in SEO, but for generative search. Instead of checking whether you’re on page one, you’re testing whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini mentions your brand at all when someone asks a question in your niche.
Why AI Prompt Testing Matters for GEO
Generative engines don’t display 10 links and let the user decide. They curate and synthesize. If you’re excluded, you’re invisible. Prompt testing gives you insight into:
- Visibility gaps – If your brand isn’t mentioned in common industry queries, you know where to create or optimize content.
- Competitive insights – You’ll see which competitors consistently show up and how they’re positioned.
- Content signals – By tweaking prompts, you can learn what AI engines rely on (backlinks, structured data, authority sources).
- Performance tracking – Repeating prompt tests monthly lets you measure the impact of your GEO campaigns.
Without testing, you’re flying blind.
How to Run AI Prompt Testing
Here’s a structured approach to getting started:
1. Build an AI Prompt List
Start with a list of high-intent and informational prompts your audience would ask. For example:
- “What’s the best accounting software for small businesses?”
- “How to install a new office chair?”
- “What is generative engine optimization?”
Mix in brand-specific prompts (your company name) and competitor-focused ones.
2. Run AI Prompts Across Multiple Engines
Test your prompts in tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude. Copy the responses into a tracking sheet. Make note of:
- Whether your brand is mentioned.
- Which competitors appear.
- External sources cited (links, PDFs, blogs).
3. Analyze the Results
Patterns emerge quickly. You might notice that Perplexity prefers citing forum discussions, while Gemini leans on structured articles. One client discovered that adding a glossary page helped their site appear more often in ChatGPT answers for technical definitions.
4. Adjust Your Content Strategy
Based on your findings, update your content. If a competitor’s blog is always cited for “office chair guides,” you may need to create a better, more structured version with FAQs, schema, and clear definitions.
5. Retest Regularly
Like SEO rank tracking, GEO isn’t one-and-done. Engines retrain, sources shift, and new competitors emerge. Build prompt testing into your monthly reporting.
Examples of AI Prompt Testing in Action
Example 1: Ergonomic Office Chairs
A retailer asked: “What are the best ergonomic office chairs?”
- ChatGPT listed three competitors, none of which were the retailer.
- After adding a blog with “ergonomic-friendly office chair” FAQs and optimizing product metadata, their brand started showing up in responses two months later.
Example 2: Accounting Software
A software company tested: “Top accouinting software vendors in 2025.”
- Gemini mentioned two large competitors.
- By publishing comparison pages (“[Competitor] vs Our Software”), they began appearing in Perplexity’s answers, and eventually in ChatGPT’s as well.
Example 3: GEO Agencies
When we tested: “What is generative engine optimization?”
- Many engines cited Wikipedia-style articles and blogs from marketing leaders.
- After publishing a comprehensive GEO guide with structured definitions, citations, and internal backlinks, our agency was included in both ChatGPT and Perplexity’s answers.
Tips for Better Prompt Testing
Test Conversational Queries and Track Sources Cites
People rarely search with keywords alone. Use natural phrasing (“What’s the cheapest,” “Which one is easiest to use,” “Best option for beginners”). Engines often cite Reddit, Quora, or niche blogs. Use this to guide backlink and outreach efforts.
Experiment with Angles
Add location-based, feature-based, or cost-based variations to your prompts. AI engines thrive on context. Long-tail prompts (“best ergonomic office chair under $500 for small office spaces”) often reveal hidden opportunities.
The Future of AI Prompt Testing
Prompt testing is still new, but it’s quickly becoming a core GEO practice. Just like SEO evolved from simple keyword stuffing to sophisticated audits, GEO will mature around systematic testing and optimization. Early adopters who track and adjust now will gain a massive advantage as generative engines become the default search method.
If SEO is about getting found on Google, GEO is about getting chosen by AI engines. Prompt testing is your roadmap—it tells you where you stand, where you’re missing, and how to get included in the conversations that matter.
At Butter, we're a generative engine optimization agency that helps businesses implement GEO solutions starting at $150/month. That includes prompt testing, content strategy, and AI visibility optimization—so you don’t just rank, you get found where people are actually asking questions.
