Your AEO checklist, prioritized by impact
Not all AEO tasks are equal. This checklist is ordered by impact — the items at the top make the biggest difference. Work through them in order.
High impact: Website structure
1. Create dedicated service pages. Every major service or specialty needs its own page. Not a section on a generic "services" page — a full, dedicated page with its own URL, heading, and content.
2. Fix your heading hierarchy. Every page needs a clear H1, logical H2s for major sections, and H3s for subsections. Headings should be descriptive: "Dental Implant Cost in Austin" not "What We Offer."
3. Add FAQ sections to service pages. Each service page should have 3-7 FAQ items answering the questions patients actually ask about that service.
High impact: Content quality
4. Lead with direct answers. Every page should open with a clear, factual statement about what the page covers. Don't bury the answer — put it in the first paragraph.
5. Include specific details. Costs (even ranges), timeframes, process steps, provider credentials. AI cites specific facts, not vague marketing claims.
6. Write in plain language. Use the words your customers use when they search. If they say "teeth whitening" don't call it "cosmetic dental illumination."
Medium impact: Technical setup
7. Add LocalBusiness schema markup. JSON-LD structured data with your business name, address, phone, hours, services, and geo coordinates.
8. Add FAQPage schema markup. Mark up every FAQ section with proper FAQPage schema so AI can read your Q&A pairs in structured format.
9. Allow AI crawlers. Check your robots.txt to make sure you're not blocking GPTBot, PerplexityBot, ClaudeBot, or Google-Extended. Many security plugins block these by default.
Foundation: Consistency
10. Match your Google Business Profile. Your website and GBP should have identical information — name, address, phone, hours, services. Any discrepancy reduces AI's confidence in recommending you.
11. Audit your directory listings. Check Yelp, Healthgrades, Zocdoc, and any industry-specific directories. Consistent information across all platforms strengthens AI's confidence.
12. Keep content fresh. Update service pages and FAQ sections at least quarterly. AI platforms favor current content, especially Perplexity which searches the web in real time.
How to track your progress
Start by running your site through our AI Visibility Checker to get a baseline score. Then work through the checklist and recheck monthly to track improvement.
If you want professional help implementing these changes, our AI Search Foundation covers all 12 items with a comprehensive audit and optimization plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do all 12 items?
Items 1-6 are the highest impact and should be prioritized. Items 7-9 add significant value and are relatively quick to implement. Items 10-12 are foundational and important for long-term success. Do as many as you can, starting from the top.
How long does this take to implement?
A business with an existing website can typically complete items 1-9 in 2-4 weeks, depending on the number of service pages needed. Items 10-12 are ongoing maintenance.
Can I do this myself?
Items 1-6 can be done by anyone with website editing access. Items 7-9 require some technical knowledge (or a developer). Items 10-12 are straightforward but time-consuming.
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