I've been trying to build a business for almost a year now, but I still haven't made any revenue. Lately, I've been stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, wondering if I should just give up and go back to a regular salaried job.
I’m currently exploring GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, for small and medium-sized businesses in China.
The goal is simple: when users ask AI tools which company, supplier or local service provider they should choose, we want the client to have a better chance of being mentioned or recommended.
Right now, we mainly work on:
I’ve read a lot about GEO, but much of the discussion still feels theoretical.
For people already doing this for clients:
What parts of your process have actually worked?
How do you measure results when AI answers can change from one test to another?
And do clients see GEO as a separate service, or as part of SEO, content and digital PR?
I’m not promoting anything. I’m genuinely interested in comparing practical approaches and learning how others are delivering GEO.
I’m a university student from China, and I’ve been working on my own business for about a year.
So far, I haven’t made much progress or earned any real income. I often feel like I’m wasting my time, and I keep questioning whether I’m capable of making this work.
I’m stuck between continuing and giving up. Part of me thinks I should keep going, but another part feels mentally exhausted and worried that I’m heading in the wrong direction.
For those of you who have been through something similar, how did you deal with this stage? How do you know whether you should keep going, change direction, or stop?