The 50-point AEO checklist

Everything that decides whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews name your business, in the order we fix it. Tick items as you go; your ticks stay in this browser. Print it with your browser’s print button.

The 15 items marked Checked for you are tested automatically by the free AI check, and re-checked every week on a plan.

Let AI read your site

• robots.txt does not block GPTBot or OAI-SearchBot (ChatGPT) Checked for you
• robots.txt does not block Google-Extended (Gemini) Checked for you
• robots.txt does not block PerplexityBot Checked for you
• robots.txt does not block ClaudeBot or Bingbot (Copilot) Checked for you
• No firewall or bot shield returns an error page to AI crawlers Checked for you
• Your important pages work without JavaScript (the text is in the HTML) Checked for you
• An llms.txt file at your site root lists who you are and your key pages Checked for you
• A sitemap.xml exists, and robots.txt points to it Checked for you
• Every page has one clear title and a meta description

Say plainly who you are

• Your home page says in one sentence what you do, for whom, and where
• Business name, address and phone are identical on every page and listing
• LocalBusiness or Organization schema with your real address and phone Checked for you
• Your service area (cities, counties) is written out in text, not only on a map
• Each main service has its own page, not one long list
• Opening hours are on the site and match your Google Business Profile
• An About page names the owner or team and their credentials
• Your prices, or how pricing works, are stated in plain words
• Licenses, certifications and memberships are listed with their numbers or links

Answer the questions customers ask

• You know the 25 to 50 questions customers ask before choosing someone like you
• Each important question has a page or section that answers it
• Each answer starts with a direct reply in the first 40 to 60 words
• Service pages end with a short FAQ, marked up as FAQPage schema Checked for you
• Cost questions are answered honestly, with what changes the price
• "How to choose" and "what to look for" questions are answered
• Comparisons customers make (you vs doing it yourself, vs another option) are covered
• Facts and figures link to their source
• Pages show when they were last updated
• Pages are written for an eighth-grade reader: short sentences, no jargon

Be confirmed elsewhere

• Google Business Profile is claimed, complete and has a recent photo
• Bing Places listing is claimed (Copilot and ChatGPT read Bing)
• Apple Business Connect listing is claimed
• Yelp and BBB listings are claimed and match your details
• You are listed on the directories AI cites for your field (see your report) Checked for you
• Industry associations list you as a member, with a link
• Local news, chamber of commerce or community sites mention you
• Your social profiles link back to your site and use the same name

Earn trust signals

• You have recent reviews on Google, from real customers
• You reply to reviews, good and bad
• Reviews are spread across more than one site
• Your site shows real photos of your work, team or premises
• Testimonials on your site name the customer (with permission)
• Nothing on your site is exaggerated or impossible to check

Measure and keep going

• You ask ChatGPT and Gemini your customers’ questions regularly and note who is named Checked for you
• You track which rivals AI names instead of you Checked for you
• You track which websites AI cites as sources Checked for you
• You publish at least one new answer page a month
• You re-check your technical fixes after any site change Checked for you
• You review the results over 90 days, not one week
• You fix the top three problems before adding anything new
• Someone owns this every month (a person, or an autopilot)