Prompt Journey Guide: From Discovery to Transaction

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

✅ Short Description:
This guide helps you align real-world prompts with every stage of your customer journey—so you can track the right questions in GEO, show up in AI-generated answers, and turn visibility into results.

📌 Excerpt / Blog Summary:
In the era of AI search, showing up isn’t about keywords—it’s about prompts. This guide explains the four types of prompts that matter most (Industry Topic, Ranking, Comparison, and Brand-Specific) and maps them to your customer journey. Learn how to track them in GEO, prioritize the right stages, and use your insights to influence visibility and conversion.

---

Why Prompts Matter

AI tools don’t use keyword matching—they generate answers to natural-language questions. If you know what your customers are asking, you can optimize for those moments, get cited in AI-generated responses, and influence decisions at every stage of their journey.

---

The Four Prompt Types

Prompt Type	Description	Who Tracks It
Industry Topic	Broad, educational questions about the category	Network Level
Ranking	“Top 5” or “Best of” style list questions	Network Level
Comparison	Head-to-head or “alternatives to” comparisons	Organization Level
Brand-Specific	Direct questions about your company, product, or support	Organization Level

These four prompt types mirror the customer journey from first awareness to final action.

---

Mapping Prompts to the Customer Journey

Journey Stage	Prompt Type	Intent	Example
Discovery	Industry Topic	Learning, problem- or need-driven	How are businesses using AI to detect fraud?
Selection	Ranking	Exploring and comparing options	Best credit unions in Washington
Decision	Comparison	Narrowing down choices	Zendesk vs Intercom for customer support automation
Transaction	Brand-Specific	Ready to buy or take action	How do I apply for a business loan online?

---

Examples by Industry

Industry	Discovery (Industry Topic)	Selection (Ranking)	Decision (Comparison)	Transaction (Brand-Specific)
Finance	How are banks using AI to improve CX?	Best small business banks in Chicago	Credit unions vs traditional banks for loans	How do I apply for a small business loan?
Retail	What are the biggest shopping trends in 2025?	Top eco-friendly fashion brands	Brand A vs Brand B sustainable clothing	Can I return online orders in-store?
Healthcare	How is AI being used in telemedicine?	Best telehealth platforms for families	Telehealth vs in-person consultation benefits	How do I schedule a same-day appointment?
SaaS	How do CRMs help automate sales?	Best project management tools for startups	Tool A vs Tool B for team collaboration	How do I set up my first project?

---

How to Use This Guide

• Start with Ranking + Brand-Specific: These show highest buying intent and deliver direct conversion impact.
• Add Industry Topics: Build early awareness and thought leadership at the top of the funnel.
• Use Comparisons Strategically: Win visibility when prospects are deciding between you and competitors.
• Align With Campaigns: Tie tracked prompts to marketing launches, new features, and seasonal pushes.

---

Tracking Strategy Recommendations

Goal	Use Network-Level Prompts	Use Org-Level Prompts
Benchmark against competitors	✅
Show up in AI-generated top lists	✅
Improve onboarding or support visibility		✅
Test campaign or product messaging		✅
Fix tone, citation, or accuracy issues		✅

---

Final Tip

Use a mix of prompts across the journey to:

• Build early awareness
• Capture mid-funnel research traffic
• Win trust at the moment of decision
• Remove friction at the point of purchase

Review your tracked questions weekly, adjust phrasing to reflect how people naturally ask, and improve your content so AI can confidently surface and cite it.

👉 Start adding prompts for each stage of the journey at geo.senso.ai