Getting Cited by AI Search: Checklist

What's inside

• Findability: indexing in Google and Bing, the Search generative AI features setting in Search Console, robots.txt rules for AI search crawlers such as OAI-SearchBot and PerplexityBot, and key content in the page HTML.
• Clarity about your business: consistent business details, a thorough About page, structured data (Organization or LocalBusiness), author pages and up-to-date product information.
• Content worth citing: direct answers, specific facts, first-hand material and current content.
• Mentions elsewhere: directories, review sites, trade publications, local news sites, podcasts and partner websites.
• Myths to skip: what Google says about llms.txt, Google-Extended, rewriting content for AI and chasing mentions.

Who it's for

Business owners and marketers who have tested their AI visibility and want to know what to work on next, or who keep hearing conflicting advice about optimising for AI search.

How to use it

Start with the findability checks: if AI tools can't reach or read your pages, nothing else on the list will help. Then make sure your business details match everywhere and your key pages answer real questions with specific facts. Keep expectations realistic, as no tool can guarantee that you'll be included and answers change from session to session.