AI Visibility
The GEO Audit Checklist: 25 Signals AI Models Use to Cite Your Content
April 5, 2026 · 10 min read
AI models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini decide which sites to cite based on specific signals. This checklist covers the 25+ signals our GEO scorer checks, organized into 5 categories. Each signal includes why it matters and how to fix it.
You can check your score automatically with our free GEO Checker, or use this checklist for a manual audit.
Answer Readiness
Up to 25 points
Answer-first content structure
AI models prefer pages that lead with direct answers, not marketing preamble. A high answer-first score means your content gets to the point.
Sufficient word count (500+)
Pages with enough text give AI enough context to understand and cite your product. Thin pages get skipped.
Good text-to-HTML ratio (>15%)
JavaScript-heavy pages with low text ratios may not render for AI crawlers. Higher ratios mean better content extraction.
Named feature keywords
Specific product features (not vague marketing) help AI match your page to specific queries.
Data Density
Up to 20 points
Comparison tables
Tables are the most extractable data format for AI. Comparison tables directly answer buyer queries.
Bullet lists and ordered lists
Lists help AI parse features, steps, and benefits into structured answers.
Pricing information
AI frequently cites pricing in product recommendations. Clear pricing data increases citation likelihood.
Integration and platform names
Named integrations (Slack, GitHub, Jira) help AI recommend you for stack-specific queries.
Schema & Structure
Up to 20 points
JSON-LD structured data present
JSON-LD helps AI understand your page type, product details, and entity relationships.
FAQPage schema
FAQ schema directly feeds AI Q&A extraction. High-impact, low-effort signal.
SoftwareApplication / Organization schema
Product and org schemas establish entity identity in AI knowledge bases.
Clear heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
AI uses heading structure to understand page sections and extract relevant answers.
Multiple schema types (3+)
Rich schema coverage gives AI more structured data to work with.
Discoverability
Up to 20 points
Canonical URL set
Prevents AI from indexing duplicate content and diluting your page authority.
Complete OpenGraph tags (title + description + image)
OG tags are a secondary signal for AI content understanding, especially from social citations.
Meta description (80+ characters)
Concise meta descriptions help AI quickly understand what the page is about.
H1 heading present
A clear H1 is the primary topic signal for any AI system parsing the page.
Viewport meta tag
Mobile-ready pages indicate quality and modern maintenance.
Citability
Up to 15 points
JSON-LD sameAs links
sameAs links verify your brand entity across platforms. AI uses these to confirm identity.
Social profile links (3+)
Multiple social profiles strengthen entity recognition across AI training data.
About/team content present
AI values entity transparency. Team pages and founder mentions build E-E-A-T.
Comparison content (vs, alternative)
Comparison content directly answers category queries where AI recommends alternatives.
Review platform links (G2, Capterra)
Links to review platforms create trust signals that AI cross-references.
How to use this checklist
- 1. Run the automated check first — The GEO Checker scores each page in under 60 seconds.
- 2. Focus on lowest-scoring pages — Pages are sorted worst-first. Fix the biggest gaps first.
- 3. Prioritize high-impact signals — JSON-LD, llms.txt, and answer-first content structure have the highest impact per effort.
- 4. Re-check after fixes — Run the checker again to verify improvements and track progress over time.
Run the automated GEO audit
Score every page of your site across all 25 signals in under 60 seconds.
Run GEO Checker