The 42-point check — free AI visibility checklist
The exact 42-point checklist we use to check whether AI search engines can find and recommend a business. Covers technical foundations, content structure, listing consistency, and measurement. Free PDF, email-gated.
What the GEO Audit Checklist covers
Most local businesses in 2026 have no idea whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, or Copilot recommend them when someone nearby asks for what they do. This checklist fixes that. It is the exact 42-point rubric we use on every client engagement — the same one we use on our own site.
The PDF groups the 42 points into five sections:
- Technical foundations (15 points) —
llms.txt, JSON-LD, sitemap, robots, Bing + GSC verification, internationalization, hreflang, Core Web Vitals - Content structure (10 points) — Q&A H2s, FAQ blocks, numbered lists, definition callouts, author bylines, freshness signals
- Entity consistency (8 points) — company name, founder name, address, URL format, LinkedIn, Clutch, Wikidata, Google Business Profile
- Citation measurement (5 points) — target query list, monthly audit method, scoring rubric, tracking spreadsheet template, competitor benchmark
- Distribution (4 points) — Reddit/Quora presence, directory listings, guest citations, knowledge graph entries
Each point has: a plain-English check, a pass/fail criterion, and a "how to fix" note for items you fail.
How to use it
- Download the PDF (enter your email below).
- Block 3–4 hours on a calendar to run the full audit.
- Score yourself 0 or 1 per point. Your total /42 is your GEO readiness score.
- Fix the cheapest failures first (most are under 30 minutes each).
- Re-run quarterly.
Don't worry about your first number. It's a baseline, and the point is to watch it go up.
What happens after you download
- The PDF arrives in your inbox within 60 seconds.
- You get added to our weekly GEO tips list: one email per week, one actionable tactic. Unsubscribe in one click.
- That's it. No sales DMs, no discovery call pressure, no drip of six "checking in?" emails.
If after auditing yourself you want the full done-for-you program, see the GEO services page.
FAQ
Is this really free? Yes. One email for one PDF. Weekly tips list (unsubscribe one-click). No sales.
Who should use this checklist? Local business owners, office managers, and whoever handles your marketing, if you want to see where you stand before hiring anyone.
How long does an audit take if I do it myself? 3–4 hours for a careful pass.
Do I need technical skills? No. Items requiring dev help are clearly flagged.
Can I get this in Spanish? Yes. The PDF lists the same 42 points in English and Spanish, side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is this really free?
Yes. One email for one PDF. We keep you on our weekly GEO tips list (unsubscribe one-click) but you do not need to talk to sales. The PDF is yours to keep, share internally, and use.
Who should use this checklist?
Local business owners, office managers, and whoever handles your marketing, if you want to see where you stand in AI search before hiring anyone. It is also a fair thing to hand any marketing vendor and ask 'show me where we stand on these 42 points.'
How long does an audit take if I do it myself?
Budget 3–4 hours for a careful pass. The technical foundation items (checklist items 1–15) are the fastest; content and measurement items take longer because they require manual query runs in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
Do I need technical skills?
No. The checklist is written for a business owner, not a developer. Items that require developer help (like adding JSON-LD schema) are clearly flagged so you know what to hand off.
Can I get this in Spanish?
Yes. The PDF lists the same 42 points in English and Spanish, side by side, so anyone on your team can use it.
Want us to do it for you?
Rather have it done for you? See what our plan for local businesses includes.
See GEO services