AI SEO Checklist 2025: 25 Essential Optimizations
Published September 5, 2025 by WAYF
AI-powered search is no longer the future—it's happening now. ChatGPT has 200M+ users. Perplexity handles 500M+ monthly searches. Google AI Overviews appear on 15-20% of searches.
If your business isn't optimized for AI visibility, you're invisible to millions of potential customers using these platforms to make purchasing decisions.
This comprehensive checklist provides 25 essential AI SEO optimizations, split into technical foundations (items 1-12) and content strategy (items 13-25). Use it as your complete implementation roadmap for improving visibility across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, and Bing Chat.
AI SEO vs. Traditional SEO
Before diving into the checklist, understand the key differences:
Traditional SEO
- • Goal: Rank on page 1
- • Metric: Search rankings, clicks
- • Focus: Keywords, backlinks
- • Result: Website traffic
AI SEO (GEO)
- • Goal: Be cited by AI
- • Metric: Mention rate, citations
- • Focus: Structured data, authority
- • Result: Brand awareness, consideration
Important: You need both. Traditional SEO for search engines, AI SEO for AI platforms. They complement each other and share many foundational practices.
Part 1: Technical Foundations (12 Items)
These are foundational requirements. Without these, AI systems can't access, understand, or trust your content. Prioritize items 1-3 for immediate impact.
1. Allow AI Crawlers in robots.txt
Why it matters: If you block AI crawlers, you have zero visibility. This is the #1 blocker for most businesses.
How to implement:
- 1. Check
yoursite.com/robots.txt - 2. Ensure these are allowed: GPTBot, ClaudeBot, Google-Extended, PerplexityBot, CCBot
- 3. Remove any
Disallow: /entries for these crawlers - 4. Or use our free robots.txt generator to configure it automatically
Timeline: 5 minutes to fix, 2-4 weeks for AI re-crawl
2. Create llms.txt File
Why it matters: Emerging standard file that helps AI understand your business. Early research shows improved citation accuracy.
How to implement:
- 1. Use our free llms.txt generator to create the file automatically
- 2. Include: Business description, key pages, services, contact info
- 3. Upload to
yoursite.com/llms.txt - 4. Format reference: llmstxt.org
Timeline: 30 minutes to create, 3-6 weeks for impact | Full guide →
3. Implement Schema Markup
Why it matters: Highest-impact technical factor. Helps AI understand your content with 95%+ accuracy (vs 60-70% without).
Priority schemas:
- • Organization: Business identity, contact info
- • LocalBusiness: Location, hours, service area
- • Product/Service: Offerings, pricing
- • Article: Blog posts, guides
- • FAQ: Common questions (highly citation-worthy)
Timeline: 2-4 hours, 2-6 weeks for impact | Validate with Rich Results Test
4. Optimize Site Speed
Why it matters: Slow pages = incomplete AI crawls. Target LCP <2.5s, FID <100ms, CLS <0.1.
Quick wins:
- • Compress images (use WebP format)
- • Enable browser caching
- • Minimize JavaScript
- • Use a CDN
- • Lazy load below-fold images
Timeline: 4-8 hours, immediate impact | Test with PageSpeed Insights
5. Ensure Mobile Optimization
Why it matters: Many AI crawlers use mobile user agents. Poor mobile experience = poor AI understanding.
Requirements:
- • Responsive design (adapts to all screen sizes)
- • Readable text without zooming
- • Tap targets properly sized (48x48px minimum)
- • No horizontal scrolling
- • Fast mobile load times
Timeline: Varies by site, 2-4 weeks | Test with Mobile-Friendly Test
6. Create XML Sitemap
Why it matters: Helps AI crawlers discover all important pages. Especially critical for sites with deep navigation.
How to implement:
- 1. Generate sitemap (most CMS do this automatically)
- 2. Place at
yoursite.com/sitemap.xml - 3. Reference in robots.txt:
Sitemap: https://yoursite.com/sitemap.xml - 4. Submit to Google Search Console
Timeline: 30 minutes, 2-4 weeks for crawl improvement
7. Enable HTTPS
Why it matters: Security is a trust signal. Many crawlers deprioritize HTTP sites.
How to implement:
- • Get SSL certificate (free with Let's Encrypt)
- • Install on server
- • Redirect all HTTP to HTTPS
- • Update internal links to use HTTPS
Timeline: 1-2 hours (if not already done), immediate impact
8. Fix Crawlability Issues
Why it matters: Broken pages, orphaned content, and infinite loops prevent comprehensive crawling.
Common issues to fix:
- • Broken links (404 errors)
- • Redirect chains (A→B→C instead of A→C)
- • Orphaned pages (no internal links pointing to them)
- • Duplicate content (canonicalization issues)
- • JavaScript-only navigation
Timeline: 2-4 hours for audit, varies for fixes | Use Google Search Console
9. Implement Canonical URLs
Why it matters: Prevents duplicate content issues. AI systems need clear signals about which version of a page is authoritative.
How to implement:
- • Add canonical tag to every page:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/page" /> - • Self-reference on original pages (canonical points to itself)
- • For duplicate/similar content, point to the preferred version
- • Use absolute URLs (not relative paths)
- • Include in XML sitemap
Timeline: 1-2 hours (usually auto-handled by frameworks) | Validate with Search Console
10. Create Dedicated AI Info Page
Why it matters: High-impact page specifically for AI platforms. Research shows businesses with dedicated AI info pages get 30-40% more accurate citations.
What to include:
- • Business overview (who, what, why)
- • Services/products with clear descriptions
- • Pricing information
- • Key differentiators
- • FAQ section
- • Contact details
- • Organization + FAQ schema markup
Timeline: 2-3 hours to create, 4-8 weeks for impact | Example: Unveily's AI info page
11. Validate JSON-LD Schema
Why it matters: Broken schema = wasted effort. AI can't parse invalid JSON-LD, resulting in zero visibility benefit.
Validation checklist:
- • Test with Google Rich Results Test
- • Validate JSON syntax with Schema.org Validator
- • Check all required properties are present
- • Verify URLs are absolute (not relative)
- • Ensure dates use ISO 8601 format
- • Test on staging before deploying to production
Timeline: 30 minutes per page, ongoing monitoring
12. Optimize Robots Meta Tags
Why it matters: Page-level crawler control. Some pages should be indexed, others shouldn't. Proper meta tags prevent indexing issues.
Best practices:
- • Default (indexable):
<meta name="robots" content="index, follow" /> - • No-index (admin pages, duplicates):
content="noindex, nofollow" - • Don't block pages you want AI to see
- • Use
max-snippet:200for longer previews - • Add
max-image-preview:largefor rich results
Timeline: 1-2 hours for audit and implementation
Part 2: Content Strategy (13 Items)
Technical optimization gets you crawled. Quality content gets you cited. These 13 content strategies maximize your citability and establish you as an authority AI platforms trust. Both parts are essential for complete AI visibility.
13. Use Clear Answer Format
Why it matters: Users ask AI questions. Content structured as clear answers is perfectly formatted for extraction.
Best practices:
- • Lead with the answer, then provide context
- • Use question-style headings ("How to...", "What is...", "Why does...")
- • Break complex topics into clear sections
- • Use bullet points and numbered lists
- • Write conversationally (how people speak)
Timeline: Ongoing content optimization
14. Add FAQ Sections
Why it matters: Extremely citation-worthy. Direct Q&A format matches how users query AI.
Implementation:
- • Add FAQ sections to all key pages (5-10 questions each)
- • Create dedicated FAQ page
- • Use FAQ Schema markup
- • Answer real questions customers ask
- • Keep answers concise (1-3 paragraphs)
Timeline: 2-4 hours per page, 3-6 weeks for impact
15. Establish Author Authority
Why it matters: AI favors content from recognized experts. E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) matters.
How to implement:
- • Add author bylines with credentials
- • Create author pages with bio and expertise
- • Link to author LinkedIn profiles
- • Show credentials, certifications, experience
- • Include author schema markup
Timeline: 2-3 hours, 4-8 weeks for impact
16. Add Freshness Signals
Why it matters: AI prioritizes recent, up-to-date information. Content >2 years old rarely gets cited.
Implementation:
- • Add datePublished and dateModified in schema
- • Display "Last updated: [date]" on pages
- • Update content quarterly (key pages) or annually (all pages)
- • Publish new content regularly
- • Include current year in titles when relevant
Timeline: 1 hour for schema, ongoing for content
17. Use Structured Headings
Why it matters: Clear hierarchy helps AI understand content structure and extract relevant sections.
Best practices:
- • One H1 per page (main title)
- • H2 for major sections
- • H3 for subsections
- • Don't skip heading levels (H1→H3)
- • Make headings descriptive, not clever
Timeline: Quick fixes during content audits
18. Optimize Images with Alt Text
Why it matters: AI can't "see" images. Alt text helps AI understand visual content.
Implementation:
- • Add descriptive alt text to all images
- • Describe what's in the image (not just keywords)
- • For informational graphics, summarize key data
- • Use surrounding text to provide context
- • Don't put critical information only in images
Timeline: 2-4 hours for audit and fixes
19. Build Internal Linking
Why it matters: Helps AI discover related content and understand your site's topical authority.
Strategy:
- • Link to related pages contextually
- • Use descriptive anchor text (not "click here")
- • 3-5 internal links minimum per page
- • Create pillar content with topic clusters
- • Ensure all pages are reachable within 3 clicks
Timeline: Ongoing optimization
20. Include Citation-Worthy Statistics
Why it matters: AI platforms love data. Original statistics get cited 3-4x more than opinion-based content.
Types of data to include:
- • Industry benchmarks ("70% of B2B buyers...")
- • Performance metrics ("Increased visibility by 45%")
- • Survey results ("In our study of 500 businesses...")
- • Year-over-year comparisons
- • Market size and growth rates
- • Always cite sources for third-party data
Timeline: Ongoing - add to new content as it's created
21. Add Expert Quotes
Why it matters: AI favors content backed by expert opinion. Quotes signal credibility and depth.
How to implement:
- • Interview industry experts for original quotes
- • Include credentials ("John Smith, SEO Director at...")
- • Use pull quotes for visual emphasis
- • Add Person schema for expert bylines
- • Link to expert's LinkedIn or company site
- • Aim for 2-3 expert perspectives per long-form piece
Timeline: 2-4 hours per article (including outreach)
22. Create Comparison Content
Why it matters: "X vs Y" queries are extremely common. Comparison content captures high-intent search traffic and AI citations.
Content ideas:
- • Tool comparisons ("[Your tool] vs [Competitor]")
- • Approach comparisons ("Manual vs Automated testing")
- • Platform comparisons ("ChatGPT vs Claude vs Perplexity")
- • Use comparison tables for visual clarity
- • Add pros/cons lists
- • Include ComparisonTable schema markup
Timeline: 4-6 hours per comparison page | Example: Our tool comparison page
23. Add Video Transcripts
Why it matters: AI can't watch videos but can read transcripts. Makes video content searchable and citation-worthy.
Implementation:
- • Add full transcripts below embedded videos
- • Include timestamps for key sections
- • Edit for readability (remove filler words)
- • Add VideoObject schema with transcript URL
- • Use accordion/collapse for long transcripts
- • Make transcripts searchable with ctrl+F
Timeline: 1-2 hours per video (use AI transcription tools)
24. Build Topical Authority
Why it matters: AI platforms favor sites that comprehensively cover a topic. Depth > breadth.
Strategy:
- • Create content clusters around core topics
- • Example: "GEO" hub → llms.txt guide, robots.txt guide, schema guide
- • Cover topics from beginner to advanced
- • Internal link between related articles
- • Publish consistently in your niche (2-3x/week minimum)
- • Update existing content quarterly
Timeline: 3-6 months to establish authority, ongoing maintenance | See: Our blog
25. Display Social Proof
Why it matters: Reviews, testimonials, and usage stats signal trust. AI platforms use these as authority signals.
What to include:
- • Customer testimonials with names and companies
- • Review aggregates (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot)
- • Usage statistics ("10,000+ businesses tested")
- • Case study results ("Increased AI visibility 45%")
- • Client logos (with permission)
- • Add Review/AggregateRating schema
Timeline: 2-3 hours to collect and implement, ongoing updates
How to Audit Your AI SEO
Use this step-by-step process to identify which checklist items you're missing:
Step 1: Check crawler access
Visit yoursite.com/robots.txt and verify AI crawlers aren't blocked
Step 2: Test structured data
Use Rich Results Test on key pages
Step 3: Check technical health
Step 4: Audit content quality
Review top pages for depth, structure, FAQs, freshness signals
Step 5: Test actual AI visibility
Run an Unveily diagnostic to test across all major AI platforms
Recommended Implementation Order
Don't try to implement all 15 items at once. Use this prioritized approach:
Critical (Week 1)
Items #1 (robots.txt), #3 (basic schema), #7 (HTTPS)
High Priority (Week 2)
Items #2 (llms.txt), #4 (speed), #5 (mobile), #6 (sitemap)
Medium Priority (Weeks 3-4)
Items #9 (answer format), #10 (FAQs), #12 (freshness), #13 (headings)
Ongoing
Items #8 (crawlability), #11 (author authority), #14 (alt text), #15 (internal linking)
Next Steps
This checklist covers the essential optimizations needed for AI visibility across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews, and Bing Chat.
Action plan:
- Print this checklist or save to your project management tool
- Run a baseline AI visibility diagnostic to measure current state
- Implement Critical items in week 1: use our robots.txt and llms.txt generators, add basic schema
- Complete High Priority items in week 2 (#2, #4, #5, #6)
- Work through Medium Priority and Ongoing items in weeks 3-8—see our 9 proven strategies guide for detailed implementation
- Retest monthly to track progress and identify new opportunities
Want a personalized checklist for your business?
Run a diagnostic to see which optimizations you're missing and get specific recommendations for your website.
Run Diagnostic →Industry-Specific Checklists
This checklist applies universally, but priorities and tactics vary by industry. See how to apply these 25 optimizations to your specific business:
SaaS Companies →
Priority: Schema, comparisons, use case content
E-commerce →
Priority: Product schema, reviews, image alt text
Agencies →
Offer AI audits as a new service to clients
Consultants →
Priority: Person schema, case studies, authority signals
Local Business →
Priority: LocalBusiness schema, location pages, reviews
Test Your AI Visibility Now
See how your business appears across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI & Bing Chat
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