SEO and GEO Scoring Checklist

Here's exactly what we check when analyzing your content. These are the factors that go into your SEO and GEO scores, broken down by priority. Focus on the mandatory items first, then work your way down.

How Our Scoring Works

When you analyze a page, we check it against these checklists. Each category has a priority level and a weight that affects your final score. Mandatory items carry the most weight (1.0), followed by high priority (0.9), moderate (0.7), and optional (0.5).

Your SEO score covers traditional search engine factors like keywords, readability, and technical setup. Your GEO score focuses on how well AI tools can understand and cite your content. Both scores range from 0 to 100.

SEO Checklist

These are the factors we check for Google search rankings. We look at technical setup, content quality, structure, and more.

Page Technical Foundations
Mandatory
  • ✓Verify HTTPS is active on the analyzed page
  • ✓Confirm canonical tag points to the correct URL
  • ✓Confirm that the page uses a clean, SEO-friendly URL structure
Metadata and Snippet Optimization
Mandatory
  • ✓Ensure the title tag is unique, under 60 characters, and includes the primary keyword
  • ✓Ensure the meta description is under 160 characters, compelling, and keyword-relevant
  • ✓Include the target keyword near the start of the title and meta description
  • ✓Verify there is only one H1 tag, matching the page’s primary topic
  • ✓Check that Open Graph and Twitter Card tags are implemented correctly
  • ✓Ensure a readable and keyword-aligned URL slug
Content Quality and Relevance
Mandatory
  • ✓Confirm the content is original, complete, and offers unique value
  • ✓Ensure the main topic matches the user’s search intent
  • ✓Use the primary keyword naturally within the first 100 words
  • ✓Include related semantic terms (LSI keywords) throughout the content
  • ✓Provide depth and expertise appropriate for the query complexity
  • ✓Add supporting data, examples, or references where relevant
  • ✓Avoid thin, repetitive, or duplicate content sections
Content Structure and Readability
High Priority
  • ✓Use descriptive subheadings (H2–H6) for logical content segmentation
  • ✓Ensure paragraphs are short (2–4 sentences) and scannable
  • ✓Use bullet points, numbered lists, or tables for structured clarity
  • ✓Include a concise summary or TL;DR for complex pages
  • ✓Maintain a Flesch Reading Ease score >60 (or grade level ≤8)
  • ✓Use clear CTAs (calls to action) aligned with the content’s purpose
Media and Accessibility
High Priority
  • ✓Ensure all images include descriptive alt text with relevant keywords
  • ✓Use next-gen formats (WebP, AVIF) when possible
  • ✓Provide descriptive filenames for images (e.g., 'seo-audit-checklist.webp')
  • ✓Check that the page is accessible to screen readers
Internal Linking and Context
High Priority
  • ✓Include at least one internal link to a related or parent page
  • ✓Use descriptive, keyword-relevant anchor text
  • ✓Avoid excessive internal links that distract from main content
  • ✓Ensure all internal links are functional (no broken anchors)
  • ✓Include at least one authoritative external link if contextually appropriate
Schema and Structured Data
Moderate Priority
  • ✓Implement JSON-LD structured data appropriate for the page type (Article, FAQ, Product, etc.)
  • ✓Ensure schema data matches visible on-page content
  • ✓Include breadcrumb schema if page belongs to a hierarchy
  • ✓Add author, datePublished, and dateModified metadata if relevant
User Experience and Engagement Signals
Moderate Priority
  • ✓Ensure main content loads above the fold quickly
  • ✓Provide intuitive layout and clear visual hierarchy
  • ✓Minimize intrusive pop-ups or interstitials
  • ✓Highlight CTAs clearly and ensure buttons are tap-friendly
  • ✓Include internal navigation elements (breadcrumbs or related links)
Content Freshness and Maintenance
Moderate Priority
  • ✓Display a visible 'last updated' date if relevant
  • ✓Ensure year-based terms (e.g., 2024) are still accurate
Topical Authority and Intent Match
Optional
  • ✓Verify the page fits within a topical cluster or pillar theme
  • ✓Ensure consistent tone and depth matching user intent (informational, transactional, etc.)
  • ✓Provide supporting context or related subtopics to strengthen authority
  • ✓Encourage engagement through comments, FAQs, or interactive elements

GEO Checklist

These factors determine how well AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity can understand and cite your content. It's about making your content AI-friendly.

Core Page Eligibility for AI Answers
Mandatory
  • ✓Verify metadata have very long tail keywords. Usually sentences or questions users might ask.
  • ✓Check structured content hierarchy (H1–H3) matches the core query topic
  • ✓Verify that main content appears early in HTML (above-the-fold semantic clarity)
  • ✓Ensure that the page includes sufficient context for AI summarization (not only visuals or embeds)
Query Intent Alignment and Clarity
Mandatory
  • ✓Identify the primary question or intent the page answers (informational, how-to, transactional, etc.)
  • ✓Ensure the title and H1 clearly match the main query intent
  • ✓Include a concise definition or answer paragraph within the first 100–150 words
  • ✓Address related sub-questions that AI models often summarize (People Also Ask or related queries)
  • ✓Ensure the tone and format align with human-like question phrasing (e.g., 'What is', 'How to')
  • ✓Provide sufficient context and supporting evidence for factual accuracy
Answer Structuring and Readability
Mandatory
  • ✓Include a clear, direct answer paragraph (40–60 words) suitable for featured snippet extraction
  • ✓Structure supporting content with short paragraphs and logical headers (H2–H4)
  • ✓Use numbered or bulleted lists where applicable (steps, methods, key points)
  • ✓Add summary or conclusion blocks that recap the core answer
  • ✓Include a TL;DR or key takeaway section near the end of the article
  • ✓Use plain, factual, and authoritative language suitable for AI summarization
Entity Recognition and Semantic Enrichment
High Priority
  • ✓Include clearly defined entities (people, places, organizations, products) using consistent naming
  • ✓Use semantic HTML tags (<article>, <section>, <header>, <footer>, <figure>, etc.) for structure
  • ✓Add contextual synonyms and related concepts to help LLMs infer topic relationships
  • ✓Include concise definitions or glossaries for key domain terms
  • ✓Link entities internally to related pages for better contextual understanding
Structured Data for GEO
High Priority
  • ✓Add relevant schema.org markup (FAQPage, HowTo, Article, Product, etc.) using JSON-LD
  • ✓Include author, publication date, and modification date metadata for transparency
  • ✓Validate schema with Google’s Rich Results Test and Schema.org validator
  • ✓Ensure schema data accurately reflects visible on-page content
  • ✓Avoid over-optimization or conflicting schema types on the same page
Credibility and E-E-A-T for AI Models
High Priority
  • ✓Display an author name with a short bio or credentials related to the topic
  • ✓Cite trustworthy external sources and link to data or research when relevant
  • ✓Include a last updated date for factual freshness
  • ✓Ensure tone is authoritative but human (avoid overly robotic keyword stuffing)
  • ✓Use consistent branding elements or bylines to reinforce source trust
Answer Formatting for Featured and Conversational Snippets
Moderate Priority
  • ✓Use question-based subheadings (e.g., 'How does...', 'What causes...')
  • ✓Format content with tables or comparison blocks for data-driven topics
  • ✓Include 'Pros and Cons', 'Steps', or 'Key Points' lists to support AI answer segmentation
  • ✓Structure FAQs using collapsible or list format to encourage direct answer extraction
  • ✓Ensure content readability on both desktop and mobile without truncation
Contextual Linking and Source Attribution
Moderate Priority
  • ✓Include contextual internal links to related pages within the same topical cluster
  • ✓Reference external authoritative sites to support claims or data
  • ✓Use descriptive anchor text for links (avoid 'click here')
  • ✓Avoid outbound links to low-quality or irrelevant sources
  • ✓Ensure links open in the same tab unless usability requires otherwise
Engagement and Behavioral Signals for AI Ranking
Optional
  • ✓Use interactive or visual elements (charts, infographics) to increase dwell time
  • ✓Encourage user interaction (polls, comments, reactions) if relevant
  • ✓Optimize CTA placement to reduce bounce rate after answer completion
  • ✓Ensure fast rendering of above-the-fold content to maintain user engagement
  • ✓Include related questions or links to encourage deeper exploration
Freshness and Temporal Relevance
Optional
  • ✓Add a 'Last updated' label visible near the title or intro
  • ✓Review and refresh answers for trending or seasonal topics
  • ✓Monitor AI-generated answers referencing your page to adjust content if misrepresented
  • ✓Ensure outdated information is corrected or replaced with current insights

Key Takeaways

Here's what you need to know about our scoring system:

  • Start with mandatory items: These have the biggest impact on your score and are non-negotiable for good rankings
  • SEO and GEO are different: SEO focuses on Google rankings, while GEO focuses on AI citation. You need both.
  • Priority matters: Mandatory items (weight 1.0) affect your score more than optional ones (weight 0.5)
  • It's a checklist, not a test: You don't need to pass everything. Focus on what matters most for your content.
  • We check all of this automatically: Just paste a URL and we'll tell you what's working and what needs fixing.

Ready to see how your content stacks up? Analyze a page now.