AI Search Optimization Checklist
Table of Contents
Foundation (Week 1)
Start with these essential steps to establish your AI search optimization foundation.
Install GenieOptimize SDK Critical
Add the GenieOptimize JavaScript SDK to your site to enable automatic optimizations, structured data injection, and AI crawler tracking. Installation takes 5 minutes.
Deploy llms.txt File Critical
Create and deploy an llms.txt file listing your most important pages (8-25 pages). This guides AI systems to your authoritative content. Use our free llms.txt generator.
Configure robots.txt for AI Crawlers Critical
Update your robots.txt to allow AI crawlers (GPTBot, CCBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended) to access your public content. Block only private/admin areas. Use our free robots.txt generator.
Verify AI Crawler Access High
Check your server logs to confirm AI crawlers are accessing your site. Review our AI Crawler Reference Guide for verification steps.
Set Up GenieOptimize Account High
Create a GenieOptimize account and add your first project. This enables monitoring, automated optimizations, and AI search visibility tracking.
Content Optimization (Week 2-3)
Optimize your content structure and clarity for AI understanding.
Add Structured Data (JSON-LD) High
Add JSON-LD schema markup for Organization, Product, Pricing, and FAQ pages. This helps AI systems understand your content structure.
Optimize Homepage for AI Clarity High
Ensure your homepage clearly states: what your product does, who it's for, key features, pricing model, and how to get started. Use clear headings and structured content.
Create or Expand FAQ Page High
AI systems heavily cite FAQ pages. Create comprehensive FAQs covering: what your product is, how it works, pricing, use cases, integrations, and common questions.
Add "When to Use" or "Product Fit" Page Medium
Create a page that clearly explains when someone should use your product vs. alternatives. This helps AI systems route recommendations correctly.
Optimize Pricing Page High
Make pricing explicit and clear. Include: plan names, prices, features per plan, billing frequency, and any limitations. AI systems need explicit pricing information.
Create Use Case or Persona Pages Medium
Build pages for your key customer segments (e.g., "For SaaS Founders", "For Content Teams"). This helps AI systems understand who your product serves.
Add Comparison Pages Medium
Create "vs. Competitor" pages that clearly explain your positioning and differentiators. AI systems use these to understand your market position.
Technical Setup (Week 2-3)
Complete technical optimizations to improve AI crawler access and content understanding.
Enable Automatic FAQ Injection High
Use GenieOptimize SDK to automatically inject FAQ structured data based on your content. This improves AI understanding without manual schema markup.
Add Breadcrumb Navigation Medium
Implement breadcrumb navigation with structured data. This helps AI systems understand your site hierarchy and page relationships.
Optimize Meta Tags Medium
Ensure all pages have clear, descriptive meta titles and descriptions. While AI systems read full content, meta tags provide quick context.
Verify Mobile Responsiveness Medium
Ensure your site is mobile-friendly. AI crawlers access content similarly to mobile browsers, so responsive design matters.
Optimize Page Load Speed Medium
Fast-loading pages are more likely to be fully crawled. Aim for Core Web Vitals scores in the "good" range. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights.
Set Up Sitemap.xml Low
Create and submit a sitemap.xml to help crawlers discover all your pages. While AI crawlers use llms.txt, sitemaps provide additional discovery.
Monitoring & Analytics (Week 4+)
Set up tracking and monitoring to measure your AI search visibility.
Run AI Readiness Score Analysis High
Use GenieOptimize to calculate your AI Readiness Score. This baseline metric shows how well-optimized your site is for AI search visibility.
Set Up AI Crawler Tracking High
Monitor which AI crawlers visit your site and which pages they access. GenieOptimize automatically tracks this for you.
Test AI Assistant Queries High
Regularly test queries in ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity: "What is [your product]?", "Best [category] tools", "How does [your product] work?". Track if you appear in recommendations.
Monitor Content Quality Dashboard Medium
Use GenieOptimize's Content Quality Dashboard to identify pages that need optimization. Focus on pages with low AI-readiness scores.
Set Up Weekly AI Search Reports Medium
Configure automated reports to track your AI search visibility over time. Monitor trends and identify optimization opportunities.
Advanced Optimization (Ongoing)
Advanced strategies to maximize your AI search visibility and stay ahead of the competition.
Create Vertical-Specific Landing Pages Medium
Build landing pages for specific industries or verticals (e.g., "SaaS for Healthcare", "Tools for E-commerce"). This helps AI systems route recommendations to the right audience.
Publish Thought Leadership Content Medium
Create blog posts, guides, and resources that establish your expertise. Include these in your llms.txt to increase citation likelihood.
Run AI ROAST Analysis Low
Use GenieOptimize's AI ROAST feature to get AI-powered feedback on your content. This helps identify gaps and optimization opportunities.
Update llms.txt Regularly Medium
As you add new important pages or update existing ones, update your llms.txt file. Keep it current with your most valuable content.
Monitor Competitor AI Visibility Low
Track how competitors appear in AI assistant recommendations. Identify opportunities to differentiate and improve your positioning.
Optimize Based on AI Recommendations Medium
When AI assistants recommend your product, review what they say. Optimize your content to emphasize the points they highlight.
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