AI Search Visibility Checklist: 50 Points for GEO Success

TL;DR

This 50-point AI Search Visibility checklist covers: (1) Technical Foundation—schema markup, site speed, crawlability; (2) Entity Optimization—brand consistency, Knowledge Graph; (3) Content Excellence—citable content, answer-first structure; (4) Authority Building—E-E-A-T, third-party validation; (5) Platform-Specific optimization for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini; and (6) Measurement setup for Share of Model tracking.

---

How to Use This Checklist

This checklist is organized into six sections:

Technical Foundation (10 items)

Entity Optimization (8 items)

Content Excellence (12 items)

Authority Building (10 items)

Platform-Specific Optimization (6 items)

Measurement & Monitoring (4 items)

Scoring:

• Complete = 2 points
• Partial = 1 point
• Not done = 0 points

Interpretation:

• 80-100 points: Excellent AI visibility foundation
• 60-79 points: Good foundation, key gaps to address
• 40-59 points: Significant optimization needed
• Below 40: Major overhaul required

---

Section 1: Technical Foundation (20 points possible)

Schema Markup

1. Organization Schema Implemented

• JSON-LD Organization schema on homepage
• Includes name, URL, logo, description, sameAs links
• Verified with Google Rich Results Test

2. Article Schema on All Blog Posts

• Includes headline, author, publisher, dates
• Author linked to Person schema
• datePublished and dateModified accurate

3. FAQPage Schema on Q&A Content

• All FAQ sections marked up properly
• Questions and answers structured correctly
• Validated with schema.org validator

4. Person Schema for Key Authors

• All content creators have Person schema
• Includes credentials, jobTitle, knowsAbout
• sameAs links to LinkedIn, Twitter

Site Technical Health

5. Page Speed Optimized

• First Contentful Paint (FCP) under 1.0 seconds
• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5 seconds
• Core Web Vitals all "Good" in PageSpeed Insights

6. Mobile-First Design

• Fully responsive on all devices
• Passes Google Mobile-Friendly Test
• Text readable without zooming

7. robots.txt Configured for AI Crawlers

• GPTBot explicitly allowed
• PerplexityBot explicitly allowed
• ClaudeBot explicitly allowed
• Sitemap location specified

8. XML Sitemap Complete and Submitted

• All indexable pages included
• Last modified dates accurate
• Submitted to Google Search Console

9. HTTPS Implemented Sitewide

• Valid SSL certificate
• No mixed content warnings
• All pages redirect HTTP to HTTPS

10. Crawlability Verified

• No critical pages blocked by robots.txt
• No excessive 404 errors
• Internal links working properly

---

Section 2: Entity Optimization (16 points possible)

Brand Identity

11. Consistent Brand Name Usage

• Same brand name on website, socials, directories
• No variations that could confuse AI
• Official name used in all schema

12. Comprehensive About Page

• Company history and mission
• Founder/leadership information
• Contact information clearly displayed
• Schema markup implemented

13. Google Business Profile Complete

• All fields filled out
• Correct category selected
• Photos uploaded
• Regular posts/updates

14. LinkedIn Company Page Optimized

• Complete company information
• Consistent with website information
• Regular content posting
• Employee connections

Knowledge Graph & Entities

15. Entity Consistency Audit Completed

• Brand name identical across all platforms
• Description consistent everywhere
• Key facts match (founding date, location, etc.)

16. Wikipedia Presence (if applicable)

• Wikipedia page exists (if notable)
• OR brand mentioned in relevant Wikipedia articles
• Wikidata entry created/verified

17. Industry Directory Listings

• Listed in relevant industry directories
• Information accurate and consistent
• Categories appropriate

18. Social Media Profiles Connected

• All social profiles linked from website
• sameAs schema includes all profiles
• Consistent branding across platforms

---

Section 3: Content Excellence (24 points possible)

Content Structure

19. Answer-First Content Structure

• Key pages lead with direct answers
• TL;DR sections on long content
• Questions answered in first 50-70 words

20. Question-Based Headers

• H2s and H3s framed as questions
• Target "People Also Ask" queries
• Natural, conversational phrasing

21. Scannable Formatting

• Bullet points and numbered lists
• Tables for comparative data
• Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences)
• Bold for key terms

22. Comprehensive Topic Coverage

• Main topics covered thoroughly
• Related subtopics addressed
• FAQs included on key pages

Citable Content

23. Original Statistics Published

• Proprietary data from your business
• Survey results or research findings
• Clearly sourced and dated

24. Definitive Definitions Created

• Clear definitions for key terms
• Structured for easy extraction
• Authoritative, quotable

25. Unique Frameworks/Methodologies

• Original frameworks named and explained
• Step-by-step processes documented
• Visual representations included

26. Expert Quotes Included

• Quotes from internal experts
• Quotes from industry experts
• Properly attributed

Content Freshness

27. Publication Dates Displayed

• "Published" date on all content
• "Last Updated" date when revised
• Dates in schema markup accurate

28. Regular Content Updates

• Statistics updated annually (minimum)
• Old content refreshed quarterly
• Broken links fixed promptly

29. Content Calendar Active

• New content published regularly
• Minimum 2-4 articles per month
• Topics aligned with target queries

Content Types

30. Pillar Pages Created

• Comprehensive guides on core topics
• 2,500+ words with full coverage
• Internal links to related content

---

Section 4: Authority Building (20 points possible)

E-E-A-T Signals

31. Author Bios on All Content

• Author name and photo
• Credentials and expertise
• Links to LinkedIn/personal site

32. Expertise Demonstrated

• Case studies with results
• Original research published
• Speaking engagements/podcasts listed

33. Authoritativeness Signals

• Press mentions displayed
• Industry awards/recognition
• Certifications displayed (SOC 2, etc.)

34. Trust Signals Visible

• Clear contact information
• Privacy policy and terms
• Customer testimonials
• Security certifications

Third-Party Validation

35. Press Coverage Secured

• Featured in industry publications
• News coverage of company/products
• Press page showcasing coverage

36. Backlinks from Authoritative Sites

• Links from .edu, .gov, major publications
• Industry publication backlinks
• Quality over quantity focus

37. Industry Analyst Coverage

• Included in analyst reports
• Quoted by industry analysts
• Featured in market maps

38. Guest Content Published

• Bylines in industry publications
• Guest posts on authoritative blogs
• Contributed articles with links

Brand Mentions

39. Unlinked Brand Mentions

• Brand mentioned across authoritative sites
• Even without links, mentions build entity recognition
• Monitor with Google Alerts or similar

40. Social Proof Documented

• Customer reviews on G2, Capterra, etc.
• Testimonials with named customers
• Case studies with specific results

---

Section 5: Platform-Specific Optimization (12 points possible)

ChatGPT Optimization

41. Training Data Presence

• Content on authoritative, widely-crawled sites
• Wikipedia mentions/article (if applicable)
• High-authority backlinks

42. Browse-Mode Optimization

• Content easily crawlable
• Direct answers for real-time queries
• Current information clearly dated

Perplexity Optimization

43. Freshness Signals

• Regular publishing cadence
• Updated dates on existing content
• Current year statistics and data

44. Direct Answer Structure

• Questions answered immediately
• Specific data points extractable
• Clean, scannable format

Gemini Optimization

45. Google Ecosystem Presence

• YouTube channel with optimized videos
• Google Business Profile complete
• Google News inclusion (if applicable)

46. Multimodal Content

• Images with proper alt text
• Video content with transcripts
• Infographics and visual data

---

Section 6: Measurement & Monitoring (8 points possible)

Tracking Setup

47. Share of Model Baseline Established

• Current SoM measured across platforms
• Competitor SoM documented
• Target queries identified (50-100)

48. Monitoring System Active

• Regular AI query testing (weekly/monthly)
• Citation tracking across platforms
• OR automated tracking via KnewSearch

Reporting & Optimization

49. Monthly AI Visibility Report

• SoM trends documented
• Citation changes noted
• Competitor movements tracked

50. Optimization Loop Active

• Insights drive content priorities
• Gaps identified and addressed
• Strategy adjusted based on data

---

Your Score

Score Interpretation

---

Priority Implementation Order

Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1-2)

Focus on Technical Foundation + Entity Optimization

• Items 1-4 (Schema markup)
• Items 11-13 (Brand identity)
• Item 7 (robots.txt for AI crawlers)

Phase 2: Content (Week 3-6)

Focus on Content Excellence

• Items 19-22 (Content structure)
• Items 23-26 (Citable content)
• Items 30 (Pillar pages)

Phase 3: Authority (Week 7-12)

Focus on Authority Building

• Items 31-34 (E-E-A-T signals)
• Items 35-38 (Third-party validation)

Phase 4: Optimize & Scale (Ongoing)

Focus on Platform-Specific + Measurement

• Items 41-46 (Platform optimization)
• Items 47-50 (Measurement)

---

Key Takeaways

• This 50-point checklist covers all aspects of AI Search Visibility
• Start with Technical Foundation and Entity Optimization
• Content Excellence drives actual citations
• Authority Building compounds over time
• Measurement ensures continuous improvement
• Score yourself honestly—gaps are opportunities

---

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to complete this checklist?

Full implementation typically takes 3-6 months. Technical foundation can be done in 2-4 weeks. Content and authority building are ongoing.

Which items have the highest impact?

Schema markup (items 1-4), answer-first content structure (item 19), and original statistics (item 23) typically show the fastest results.

Do I need to complete everything?

Aim for 80+ points for competitive AI visibility. Focus on high-impact items first. Some items (like Wikipedia) may not apply to all businesses.

How often should I re-audit?

Quarterly comprehensive audits recommended. Monthly spot-checks on content freshness and citation tracking.