← AI Search Visibility Guide

The AI Search Visibility Checklist for Small Businesses

Updated 2026-09-01

This is a practical, working checklist — not a theory of AEO, but the specific things worth checking, in a sensible order, if you want AI search tools to actually recommend your business.

Foundations

• Your business name, address, and phone number are identical across your website, Google Business Profile, and every directory you're listed in
• Your site clearly states, in plain language near the top of the homepage, exactly what you do and who you serve
• Each distinct service you offer has its own page, not just a bullet point on a general "services" page

Content that answers real questions

• You have a genuine FAQ section built from the actual questions customers ask you — not generic filler questions
• Pricing, timelines, and service-area information are stated explicitly somewhere on your site, not left as "contact us for a quote" everywhere
• Content is current — anything that references a discontinued service, an old price, or an outdated location has been removed or updated

Trust and credibility signals

• You have a meaningful number of recent, specific reviews on Google (and any industry-relevant platform)
• You're mentioned somewhere independent of your own site — a local publication, an industry directory, a "best of" article, a partner or supplier's site
• Credentials, certifications, or years-in-business are stated explicitly, not implied

Technical basics

• Your site is crawlable — no accidental noindex tags, and no content locked behind JavaScript that a crawler can't render
• Organization/LocalBusiness and FAQPage schema markup is present and accurate (see our schema markup guide)
• Your site loads reasonably fast and works on mobile — not an AEO-specific factor, but it affects whether crawlers and users alike get a good read on your content

Verify, don't assume

Once you've worked through this list, the only way to know if it moved the needle is to test the actual questions your customers ask. Run a free AEO Score check to see exactly where you stand today, so you have a baseline to compare against.