SEARCH ONE · free checklist
Is your website ready for Google and AI search?
24 checks across SEO, AEO and GEO. Tick what you already have and watch your score build. At the end you get a fix plan in the order that matters most. Takes about five minutes, no sign-up needed.
- checks
- 24
- checks
- areas
- 4
- areas
- to finish
- 5 min
- to finish
The checklist
Answer honestly. "Not sure" is a useful answer: it goes on your plan as something to confirm. Your ticks stay in this browser, so you can come back later.
Can search and AI reach you?
If crawlers can't fetch your pages, nothing else counts.
0 of 6 answered
Important
Your site is verified in Google Search Console
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Sign in at search.google.com/search-console. If your website is listed as a property, you're done.
- Why it matters
- It's how Google tells you which pages are indexed, which are broken and what people search to find you.
- How to fix it
- Add your site as a Domain property in Search Console and verify it with the DNS record your domain provider lets you add.
Nice to have
Your site is verified in Bing Webmaster Tools
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Sign in at bing.com/webmasters and check your site is listed.
- Why it matters
- Bing's index powers Bing and Microsoft Copilot search, and Bing also accepts instant page updates through IndexNow.
- How to fix it
- Sign in to Bing Webmaster Tools and choose Import from Google Search Console. It takes about two minutes.
Essential
robots.txt doesn't block search or AI search crawlers
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Open yourwebsite.com/robots.txt. Look for 'Disallow: /' under Googlebot, Bingbot, OAI-SearchBot (ChatGPT search) or PerplexityBot.
- Why it matters
- A crawler that is blocked can't read your pages, so it can't show or quote them.
- How to fix it
- Remove the blocking lines for the search crawlers you want, or ask your developer to. Keep blocks only for areas like admin or checkout.
Nice to have
An XML sitemap is submitted
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- In Search Console, open Sitemaps and check one is listed with status Success.
- Why it matters
- A sitemap lists every page you want found, which helps new and updated pages get discovered faster.
- How to fix it
- Most website builders create one at /sitemap.xml. Submit that address in Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Important
Your important pages show up in Google
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Search Google for site:yourwebsite.com and check your home, service and contact pages appear.
- Why it matters
- A page that isn't indexed can't rank on Google or be used in Google's AI answers.
- How to fix it
- Use URL Inspection in Search Console on any missing page and choose Request indexing. If it says 'noindex', remove that tag.
Important
Every page loads on https and works well on a phone
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Open your site on your phone. Check the padlock shows and you can read and tap everything without zooming.
- Why it matters
- Google ranks the mobile version of your site, and most local searches happen on phones.
- How to fix it
- Turn on the free SSL certificate in your hosting panel and ask for a mobile-friendly theme or layout if text is tiny or buttons overlap.
Can they understand each page?
Clear pages are easier to rank, summarise and recommend.
0 of 6 answered
Important
Each page has its own title and description
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Search site:yourwebsite.com and read the blue titles. They should all be different and say what each page offers.
- Why it matters
- The title is the strongest on-page clue to what a page is about, and it is what people click in results.
- How to fix it
- Write a title of about 50 to 60 characters per page: service, place, brand. Add a one or two sentence description.
Nice to have
Each page has one clear main heading
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- The biggest heading at the top of each page should say what the page is about, like 'Dental implants in Pune'.
- Why it matters
- Headings tell search engines and AI how a page is organised and what each part answers.
- How to fix it
- Give every page one main heading (H1), then use smaller headings for each section.
Important
Key information is real text, not inside images or PDFs
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Try selecting your prices, hours and service names with your mouse. If you can't, they're in an image.
- Why it matters
- Search engines and AI read text far more reliably than text inside pictures, sliders or PDF menus.
- How to fix it
- Retype prices, menus and key details as normal text on the page. Keep the image too if you like it.
Nice to have
Your pages load quickly on a phone
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Test your home page at pagespeed.web.dev and look at the mobile result.
- Why it matters
- Slow pages lose visitors before they load, and page experience is one of the signals Google uses.
- How to fix it
- Compress large images, remove unused plugins and pop-ups, and ask your host about caching.
Nice to have
Every service has its own page, linked from the menu
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- From your home page, can you reach a separate page for each main service in one or two clicks?
- Why it matters
- One page per service gives each one a clear chance to rank and be quoted for its own questions.
- How to fix it
- Create a page for each main service and link them from the menu and the home page.
Important
Your business details are in structured data
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Test your home page at search.google.com/test/rich-results and look for LocalBusiness or Organization.
- Why it matters
- Structured data states your name, address, phone and links in a format machines read reliably.
- How to fix it
- Add LocalBusiness or Organization structured data that matches what visitors see. SEARCH ONE can generate it for you.
Can AI quote you?
AI answers lift short, direct, specific answers.
0 of 6 answered
Essential
Key pages open with a direct answer
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Read the first two sentences of each service page. Do they say plainly what you offer, where and for whom?
- Why it matters
- AI answers and featured snippets usually lift a short, direct answer near the top of a page.
- How to fix it
- Start each key page with one or two plain sentences that answer the main question, then give the detail.
Important
You answer real customer questions on the page
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check whether your service pages have a questions section built from what customers actually ask you.
- Why it matters
- People ask AI full questions. Pages that answer those questions directly are easier to match and quote.
- How to fix it
- List the ten questions you hear most on calls or WhatsApp and answer each in two or three sentences on the right page.
Essential
You publish prices, timings and areas served
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Could a customer learn a price range, how long it takes and whether you cover their area without calling you?
- Why it matters
- Specific facts are what AI tools quote. Vague claims like 'best quality' give them nothing to use.
- How to fix it
- Add price ranges, typical timings and the areas you serve. Ranges are fine if exact prices vary.
Nice to have
Subheadings match how people ask
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Look for headings like 'How much does a root canal cost?' rather than only 'Pricing'.
- Why it matters
- Question-style headings line up with the way people speak to search and AI assistants.
- How to fix it
- Rewrite a few section headings as the questions customers actually ask.
Nice to have
Important pages are reviewed and dated
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Do your guides and service pages show when they were last updated, and is that within the last year?
- Why it matters
- Outdated prices or offers mislead customers and AI alike, and a visible date shows the page is looked after.
- How to fix it
- Review your top pages every few months, update what has changed and show the updated date.
Important
Your pages include something only you can offer
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Do your pages have your own photos, examples of real work, or numbers from your own business?
- Why it matters
- AI can rewrite generic advice without visiting you. Original detail is a reason to cite and choose you.
- How to fix it
- Add real project photos, a short worked example or a simple fact from your own records to each key page.
Will AI trust and recommend you?
AI recommends businesses it can identify and verify.
0 of 6 answered
Important
A named expert stands behind your advice
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Do your guides and service pages say who wrote or reviewed them, with a short bio?
- Why it matters
- Google's quality guidance looks for experience and expertise, and a real name makes advice verifiable.
- How to fix it
- Add the owner's or lead expert's name, role, qualifications and a photo to advice pages and the About page.
Important
Your About and Contact pages show you are real
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Check for your registered name, full address, phone or email, and a little of your story.
- Why it matters
- Visible contact details and a real story are basic trust signals for visitors and for search systems.
- How to fix it
- Fill in the About page with who you are and since when, and list your full contact details on the Contact page and footer.
Essential
Your name, address and phone match everywhere
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Compare your website, Google profile and main directory listings. Spelling, address and number should be identical.
- Why it matters
- Mismatched details make it harder for search engines and AI to be sure they've found the right business.
- How to fix it
- Pick one official version of your details and update every listing to match it exactly.
Important
You collect genuine reviews and show them
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Do you get new Google reviews most months, and does your website link to or show them?
- Why it matters
- Reviews are one of the main things people and AI summaries use to compare businesses.
- How to fix it
- Ask every happy customer for a review with a direct link or QR code. Never pay or offer gifts for reviews.
Important
Other trusted sites mention you
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Search your business name in quotes. Are you mentioned by local news, associations, suppliers or directories?
- Why it matters
- AI assistants weigh what others say about you, not only what you say about yourself.
- How to fix it
- Join your trade association, ask suppliers to list you, and share a local story with a city news site.
Nice to have
You check what AI says about you each month
How to check and why it matters
- How to check
- Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for your type of business in your area. Are you named? Are your details right?
- Why it matters
- You can't fix what you haven't seen, and AI answers change often.
- How to fix it
- Set a monthly reminder to ask three AI tools the same questions and note any wrong or missing details.
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0 of 24 answered · Not started
Questions
What is the difference between SEO, AEO and GEO?
SEO helps search engines find, read and rank your pages. AEO, answer engine optimisation, helps AI answers and voice assistants lift a clear answer from your page. GEO, generative engine optimisation, helps AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity trust and recommend your business. Most of the work overlaps: clear, accurate, crawlable pages help all three.
How is the checklist score worked out?
Each check has a weight: essential checks count three times, important checks twice and nice-to-have checks once. Your score is the share of that weight you ticked as done. Checks marked not sure count as not done until you confirm them.
Does a high score guarantee a ranking or AI mention?
No. Nobody can promise a position in Google or a mention in an AI answer. The checklist covers the foundations that search engines and AI assistants publicly say they rely on, so a higher score means fewer things are holding you back.
Do I need to be technical to use it?
No. Every check says how to confirm it in plain words, usually by opening a page or a free Google tool. Where a fix needs a developer, the fix plan says so.
What happens to my answers?
Your ticks are kept in your own browser so you can come back to them. If you ask for your fix plan, we save your answers and the details you give to improve our tools and, if you leave an email, to send you your plan. See our privacy policy for details.
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