AEO checklist
Ten changes that make a website easier for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews to understand and cite. Every item is checked automatically in a Surfaced report.
By Surfaced team · Updated
1. Are answer-engine crawlers allowed?#
If robots.txt blocks them, AI assistants can't read your pages. Allow the search and browsing agents; you can still opt out of training-only crawlers.
User-agent: OAI-SearchBot Allow: / User-agent: ChatGPT-User Allow: / User-agent: Claude-SearchBot Allow: / User-agent: PerplexityBot Allow: / Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml
2. Is your brand defined as an entity?#
Add Organization (or LocalBusiness) JSON-LD on the homepage with your name, logo and profiles, so models don't confuse you with similarly named businesses.
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Acme Dental",
"url": "https://acmedental.com",
"logo": "https://acmedental.com/logo.png",
"sameAs": ["https://www.instagram.com/acmedental", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/acmedental"]
}
</script>3. Are FAQs marked up?#
Question-and-answer blocks are what answer engines quote most. Answer real customer questions in 40 to 60 words and add FAQPage JSON-LD.
4. Do headings ask the customer's question?#
Phrase key H2 and H3 headings the way people ask assistants, for example “How much do clear aligners cost in Mumbai?”.
5. Does each section answer first?#
Open every section with a one or two sentence direct answer (12 to 70 words), then add detail. That opening is the snippet most likely to be lifted.
6. Is there an llms.txt?#
Publish /llms.txt: a short Markdown summary of the business and links to key pages. The MCP tool generate_llms_txt drafts one from your own pages.
7. Is content easy to extract?#
- Numbered steps for processes, tables for comparisons and pricing.
- One topic per page, with a descriptive title and meta description.
8. Who wrote it, and when?#
Show a named author with credentials and visible published and updated dates, mirrored in Article JSON-LD.
9. Does the homepage explain the business in words?#
Models summarise brands from the homepage. Add a plain-language section on what you do, for whom, where and what makes you different (300+ words).
10. Are you mentioned where AI looks?#
Surfaced's AI visibility check shows which sites assistants cite for your questions. Earning mentions on those pages (directories, reviews, comparisons) is often the fastest win.
Frequently asked questions#
What is answer engine optimisation?
Answer engine optimisation (AEO) is making your content easy for AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews to understand, quote and cite as a source.
Is AEO different from SEO?
AEO builds on SEO. Crawlability, speed and good content still matter, but AEO adds structured data, question-led content, concise answers and explicit permission for AI crawlers.
How do I know if AI assistants mention my site?
Ask the questions your customers ask and record which sites are named or cited. Surfaced automates this with live web search and tracks your share of voice against competitors.
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