24-point GEO checklist: how to get cited by ChatGPT and AI

This GEO checklist brings together the 24 items that most help your content show up and get cited in AI answers, like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and Gemini. They are organized into 4 fronts: letting AI access your site, writing in a citable way, building authority and structuring the page with data and entities. Each item is explained on two fronts: why it matters and how to handle it in practice. For the classic side of optimization, use it alongside the SEO checklist.

AI access

Before citing you, the AI needs to be able to read your page. This first front makes sure the AI crawlers reach your content and understand it. There are 6 items.

AI crawlers allowed in robots.txt

AI engines use their own bots to collect content, like OpenAI's GPTBot, Anthropic's ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot and Google-Extended. If your robots.txt blocks these agents, you stay out of the generated answers. Check and adjust the file with the robots.txt generator and validate the rules with the robots.txt checker.

llms.txt file published

The llms.txt is a file at the root of your site that lists, in markdown, the pages you want AI models to prioritize, with a short description of each one. It works as a lean map of your content for the AIs. Build yours with the llms.txt generator and publish it at yourdomain.com/llms.txt.

Content visible in the HTML

Many AI crawlers read the HTML without running JavaScript, so anything that only appears after the script runs may go unnoticed. Make sure the main text is rendered on the server (SSR or static generation) and does not depend on dynamic loading in the browser. Test it by viewing the page source and confirming the content is there.

Fast page with no barriers

Content hidden behind a paywall, login or mandatory pop-up is rarely collected by the AIs, and slow pages can have their crawling cut short. Keep the main content accessible without sign up and take care of performance so the bot can load and read everything.

Sitemap.xml updated

The sitemap lists your URLs and helps both search engines and AI crawlers discover what exists and what changed. Keep the file updated with every publication and check that it is well formed with the sitemap validator.

Information in text, not only in images

AI reads and cites text; data that lives only inside an image, infographic or video without a transcript tends to be ignored. Write in the body of the page the information you want cited and describe what the images show, generating good alt text with the alt text generator.

Citable content

The AI builds its answer from snippets it can extract cleanly. Writing in a direct, structured way greatly raises the chance of your content becoming the cited source. There are 6 items.

Direct answer at the top (TL;DR)

Models usually pull the answer from the first paragraphs, so burying the conclusion at the end is costly. Answer the central question right in the first lines, in one clear sentence, and only then go deeper.

Question-style headings

Subheadings written as real questions match how people query AI and make it easier to pair the doubt with your answer. Use H2 and H3 in question form and answer right below, objectively.

Short, factual sentences

The AI extracts short, self-contained, unambiguous statements better than long sentences full of clauses. Prefer one idea per sentence, with a clear subject and fact, so the snippet can be cited on its own without losing meaning.

Clear definitions of terms

Generated answers love objective definitions of the 'X is Y' kind. Whenever you introduce a concept, explain in one sentence what it is, so the AI can reuse that definition directly.

Data and statistics with sources

Concrete numbers with the source next to them raise trust and are exactly the kind of snippet AIs like to cite. Bring percentages, values and dates, always noting where they came from, preferably with a link to the original source.

Comparison tables and lists

Tables and lists organize information in a format the AI extracts with ease, especially for comparisons and steps. Use tables to compare options and numbered lists for sequences, keeping each item short and independent.

Authority and trust

AIs prefer to cite sources that show experience and trust, in the spirit of Google's E-E-A-T. These 6 items show the models that you are worth trusting.

Author with bio and credentials

Content signed by a real person, with a bio and credentials, conveys more trust than anonymous text. Show the author, with a photo, a brief background and links, and make clear why they have the authority to speak on the topic.

Trusted sources cited

Citing and linking recognized sources helps the AI verify what you claim and tie your content to strong references. Point to studies, official data and respected publications instead of loose claims.

Publication and update date

AIs tend to favor recent, dated content, especially on topics that change fast. Show the publication date and the last update date, and revise the material regularly to keep it current.

Complete About and Contact pages

Well-made About and Contact pages help the models understand who is behind the site and treat it as a legitimate source. Describe the company, the team and clear ways to get in touch, reinforcing your existence as a real entity.

Original experience and data

Your own research, case studies and exclusive numbers give the AI something it cannot find elsewhere, which raises the chance of a citation. Bring first-hand data and practical experience instead of rewriting what already exists.

Aligned with the topic consensus

Models tend to trust information that repeats across several reliable sources. Cover the points your niche's consensus considers correct and, when you bring your own view, make clear what is settled data and what is opinion.

Structure and entities

Markup and entity signals help the AI understand what each thing on the page is and recognize your brand in the world. These are the 6 items that connect your content to the knowledge graph.

Schema markup on the pages

Schema (structured data in JSON-LD) describes for machines what the article is, who the author is, which organization it belongs to and what the frequent questions are. Add the Article, Author, Organization and FAQPage types with the schema generator so the AI reads the page with less ambiguity.

FAQ section on the page

A questions and answers section gives the AI exactly the format it uses to respond, and it covers variations of the same doubt. List your audience's real questions with short answers, or build that section with the FAQ generator.

Consistent brand name

AIs recognize brands and products as entities, and variations in the name weaken that recognition. Always use the same spelling for your brand and products, on the site and off it, to consolidate the entity.

Brand mentions across the web

The more your brand is cited on trusted sites, lists and forums, the more models treat it as a reference on the topic, even without a link. Aim to be included in comparisons and lists in your niche and track whether you already appear with the AI visibility checker.

Relevant internal and external links

Internal links help the AI navigate and relate your pages, and external links to good sources reinforce the context. Connect the related content on your site and cite external references, checking that nothing is broken with the broken link checker.

Presence in knowledge sources

Wikipedia, Wikidata and reference directories feed the models' knowledge about brands and topics directly. When it makes sense, seek presence in these bases and make sure the data about your brand is correct and consistent.