Domain 1: Technical Accessibility
The most sophisticated content strategy is worthless if AI crawlers can't access, render, and parse your pages. This domain checks every technical layer between your content and an AI crawler's index entry.
✓
Robots.txt allows key AI crawlers
Verify GPTBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended, and anthropic-ai are not blocked. Check for wildcard rules that might catch them.
Verify GPTBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended, and anthropic-ai are not blocked. Check for wildcard rules that might catch them.
✓
Server response time under 500ms
AI crawlers operate on strict timeout budgets. Use GTmetrix or WebPageTest to measure time-to-first-byte (TTFB) from multiple locations.
AI crawlers operate on strict timeout budgets. Use GTmetrix or WebPageTest to measure time-to-first-byte (TTFB) from multiple locations.
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Critical content in initial HTML response
Use Google's URL Inspection tool "Inspect URL" → "View Tested Page" → "HTML" to verify your key content is in the raw HTML, not dependent on JavaScript execution.
Use Google's URL Inspection tool "Inspect URL" → "View Tested Page" → "HTML" to verify your key content is in the raw HTML, not dependent on JavaScript execution.
✓
Core Web Vitals passing
LCP under 2.5s, CLS under 0.1, FID/INP under 200ms. Check Google Search Console's Core Web Vitals report for field data.
LCP under 2.5s, CLS under 0.1, FID/INP under 200ms. Check Google Search Console's Core Web Vitals report for field data.
✓
SSL certificate valid and covering all subdomains
AI crawlers refuse HTTP connections. Verify HTTPS is enforced with a 301 redirect from HTTP.
AI crawlers refuse HTTP connections. Verify HTTPS is enforced with a 301 redirect from HTTP.
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XML sitemap submitted to Bing Webmaster Tools
ChatGPT uses Bing's index. Bing Webmaster Tools is as important as Google Search Console for AI search visibility.
ChatGPT uses Bing's index. Bing Webmaster Tools is as important as Google Search Console for AI search visibility.
Domain 2: Schema Implementation Audit
Validate schema on your top 10 pages by traffic, your top 5 pillar articles, and at least one example of each content type you publish.
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Article/BlogPosting schema on all editorial content
Must include: headline (matching H1), author (linked Person entity), publisher (linked Organization entity), datePublished, dateModified, description.
Must include: headline (matching H1), author (linked Person entity), publisher (linked Organization entity), datePublished, dateModified, description.
✓
FAQPage schema on Q&A content
Every page with question-and-answer content should have FAQPage schema. Answers must be self-contained (no references to "as mentioned above").
Every page with question-and-answer content should have FAQPage schema. Answers must be self-contained (no references to "as mentioned above").
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Person schema on all author pages
Include: name, jobTitle, sameAs (LinkedIn, professional profiles), knowsAbout, affiliation (linked Organization entity).
Include: name, jobTitle, sameAs (LinkedIn, professional profiles), knowsAbout, affiliation (linked Organization entity).
✓
Organization schema on homepage/about
Include: name, url, logo, foundingDate, sameAs (social profiles, Crunchbase, LinkedIn Company page).
Include: name, url, logo, foundingDate, sameAs (social profiles, Crunchbase, LinkedIn Company page).
✓
All schema validated through Rich Results Test
Zero errors required. Warnings are acceptable but should be resolved. Run every schema block through search.google.com/test/rich-results.
Zero errors required. Warnings are acceptable but should be resolved. Run every schema block through search.google.com/test/rich-results.
✓
Schema headlines match visible H1 text exactly
Mismatches trigger trust flags in AI parsing systems. Copy-paste from the visible H1 — don't rewrite.
Mismatches trigger trust flags in AI parsing systems. Copy-paste from the visible H1 — don't rewrite.
Domain 3: Content Quality Assessment
Evaluate your top 20 pages by organic traffic against each of these criteria. Pages failing more than 3 criteria are high-priority for revision.
✓
Pillar content exceeds 2,000 words
Confirmed comprehensive topic coverage, not padding. Every section should add genuine value.
Confirmed comprehensive topic coverage, not padding. Every section should add genuine value.
✓
Direct answers in first 80 words of each H2 section
Read each section opening. If the actual answer appears after more than 80 words, it needs restructuring.
Read each section opening. If the actual answer appears after more than 80 words, it needs restructuring.
✓
Specific data points in every major claim
Replace "many websites" with "67% of websites in our study." Replace "improves performance" with "reduces LCP by an average of 0.8 seconds."
Replace "many websites" with "67% of websites in our study." Replace "improves performance" with "reduces LCP by an average of 0.8 seconds."
✓
TL;DR block near top of each article
A 2–4 sentence summary before the introduction that answers the core question the article addresses.
A 2–4 sentence summary before the introduction that answers the core question the article addresses.
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External sources cited for key claims
Content that cites credible sources is treated as more authoritative. Minimum 3 external citations per pillar article.
Content that cites credible sources is treated as more authoritative. Minimum 3 external citations per pillar article.
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FAQ section with 3+ Q&A pairs at article end
Distinct from FAQPage schema — this is the visible content. Both are required: the visible FAQ section and the schema markup.
Distinct from FAQPage schema — this is the visible content. Both are required: the visible FAQ section and the schema markup.
Domain 5: Indexation Audit
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Bing Webmaster Tools verified and sitemap submitted
Use Bing's URL Inspection tool to verify specific pages are indexed. Critical for ChatGPT visibility.
Use Bing's URL Inspection tool to verify specific pages are indexed. Critical for ChatGPT visibility.
✓
IndexNow implemented
Real-time ping to Bing (and supporting engines) when new content is published. Dramatically reduces indexation lag.
Real-time ping to Bing (and supporting engines) when new content is published. Dramatically reduces indexation lag.
✓
Server logs analyzed for AI bot activity
Confirm GPTBot, PerplexityBot, and Google-Extended are crawling your site. Absent bot activity means absent citations.
Confirm GPTBot, PerplexityBot, and Google-Extended are crawling your site. Absent bot activity means absent citations.
✓
Full-text RSS feed enabled
AI crawlers use RSS feeds for rapid content discovery. Truncated feeds force a full crawl cycle, slowing indexation.
AI crawlers use RSS feeds for rapid content discovery. Truncated feeds force a full crawl cycle, slowing indexation.
Priority Scoring: What to Fix First
After running this audit, prioritize fixes in this order:
- Priority 1 (fix immediately): Any robots.txt rule blocking AI citation crawlers. Any JavaScript-dependent content on key pages. Bing Webmaster Tools not set up.
- Priority 2 (fix within 2 weeks): Missing FAQPage schema on Q&A content. Article schema missing dateModified or author entity links. No named authors on pillar content.
- Priority 3 (fix within 30 days): Pillar content under 2,000 words. No TL;DR blocks. Answers buried after 80+ words in section openings.
- Priority 4 (ongoing improvement): Increasing data density. Adding external citations. Building additional cluster content to deepen topical authority.