AI Search Optimization (AEO) Checklist
60-Point Checklist for Maximizing AI Citation & Recommendation Potential
What's Included
- Content Structure Optimization — 15 points for formatting content that AI engines can easily parse, understand, and cite
- Entity & Knowledge Graph Signals — 15 points covering entity markup, Wikipedia alignment, and authority signals AI engines trust
- Conversational & Voice Optimization — 15 points for natural language patterns, question-answer formats, and voice search readiness
- Citation & Source Credibility — 15 points to maximize your likelihood of being cited as an authoritative source by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and similar AI engines
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Why AI Search Optimization Matters
By 2026, millions of users are bypassing traditional search engines and going directly to AI chatbots for answers. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews, and similar tools are becoming primary discovery channels.
If your content isn't optimized for AI citation, you're invisible to a rapidly growing segment of searchers. This checklist helps you structure your content, markup, and authority signals to maximize AI recommendation potential.
Who Should Use This Template?
- Content strategists adapting to AI-first search behavior
- SEO professionals expanding beyond traditional Google optimization
- Brand managers ensuring visibility in AI-generated recommendations
- Publishers & bloggers maximizing reach in conversational interfaces
- SaaS companies positioning products as AI-recommended solutions
Key Features
✓ AI-First Focus
Optimized specifically for generative AI engines, not just traditional search
✓ Citation Scoring
Each item weighted by impact on AI citation likelihood
✓ Actionable Steps
Clear implementation guidance for each optimization point
✓ Multi-Platform
Covers ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and emerging engines
What Makes This Different?
Traditional SEO checklists focus on Google's crawler and ranking algorithms. This template is built specifically for AI recommendation engines that:
- Prioritize authoritative, well-structured source content
- Parse entity relationships and knowledge graph signals
- Favor conversational, question-answering content formats
- Cite sources based on credibility markers (not just backlinks)
Need Expert AEO Strategy?
Optimizing for AI search requires a different approach than traditional SEO. Our team specializes in helping brands get cited by AI engines.
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