The GEO checklist: 25 steps to get recommended by AI
A practical checklist covering measurement, Trust, Understandability, Network and Evidence. Work through it in order.
To get recommended by AI: measure what AI says about you today, make your business facts consistent everywhere, rewrite key pages to answer buyer questions directly, add structured data, earn reviews and mentions on the sources AI cites, publish specific evidence, and re-measure monthly. The 25 steps below break this into actions.
Measure first
- 1. List 20–50 real questions your buyers ask AI.
- 2. Test them across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Google AI, several times each.
- 3. Record your baseline Share of Answer, accuracy and cited sources.
- 4. Note which competitors are named when you aren't.
Shortcut: run the free AI Mirror, or see how to measure AI visibility.
Trust
- 5. Make your business name, address, phone and services identical everywhere.
- 6. Complete and verify your Google Business Profile.
- 7. Claim and update the key directories in your industry.
- 8. Collect genuine reviews on the platforms your buyers use, and reply to them.
- 9. State credentials, licenses and awards clearly on your site.
Understandability
- 10. Give each main service its own page.
- 11. Open each page with a direct, one-to-two sentence answer.
- 12. Use question-style headings that match how buyers ask.
- 13. Include specifics: who you serve, where, timelines and price ranges.
- 14. Add an FAQ to each key page.
- 15. Add Organization, Service and FAQ structured data.
See how to write pages AI engines can quote and schema markup for GEO.
Network
- 16. Find the sources AI cites for your questions.
- 17. Earn mentions in those directories, publications and roundups.
- 18. Contribute genuinely useful answers in relevant communities.
- 19. Offer expert commentary to journalists and industry media.
See why reviews, Reddit and directories matter.
Evidence
- 20. Publish original data, examples or case studies.
- 21. Explain your process, pricing factors and results in specific terms.
- 22. Keep facts current: remove outdated services, prices and team members.
- 23. Show genuine reviews and testimonials on your site, with permission.
Keep improving
- 24. Re-measure monthly on the same questions.
- 25. Fix the biggest gaps first, then expand your question set.
- Measure before you change anything.
- Consistent facts and answer-first pages are the quickest wins.
- Third-party mentions often decide who gets recommended.
- Re-measure monthly on the same questions.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the checklist take?
Most businesses can complete the Trust and Understandability steps in 4 to 6 weeks. Network and Evidence are ongoing.
Which steps matter most?
It depends on your gaps. A TUNE Audit tells you which steps will have the biggest impact for you.
Can we do this in-house?
Yes. Many teams use the checklist themselves and bring in help for measurement or earned mentions.
Does this apply to every industry?
Yes. The steps are universal; the specific directories and questions vary. See GEO by industry.
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