Use this checklist to audit your current AI visibility and identify the highest-priority improvements. Work through each section systematically — the businesses with the highest AI recommendation rates have covered most of these bases.
Section 1: Google Business Profile (GBP)
GBP is the single most important source for AI local business recommendations.
Claim and Verification
- [ ] GBP listing is claimed by your business
- [ ] Listing is verified (not pending)
- [ ] Listing is not suspended or flagged
Business Information
- [ ] Business name exactly matches your official business name (no keyword stuffing)
- [ ] Address is accurate and matches your website exactly
- [ ] Phone number is current and correct
- [ ] Website URL points to your live, correct website
- [ ] Business category (primary) is the most specific applicable category
- [ ] At least 2-3 secondary categories are selected
Description
- [ ] Description is filled out (750 characters max)
- [ ] Description mentions your key services
- [ ] Description mentions your primary service area or city
- [ ] Description mentions 1-2 key differentiators (years in business, key credential, specialization)
- [ ] No links or calls-to-action in the description (GBP doesn't allow them and they hurt)
Services
- [ ] At least 5 services are listed
- [ ] Each service has a description (not just a name)
- [ ] Prices or price ranges are included where applicable
Hours
- [ ] Regular business hours are set accurately
- [ ] Holiday hours are updated for upcoming holidays
- [ ] If you offer emergency/24-7 service, this is reflected in hours or description
Photos
- [ ] At least 25 photos uploaded (businesses with fewer see significantly lower AI mention rates)
- [ ] Exterior photo included
- [ ] Interior photo included
- [ ] Team photo included
- [ ] Photos of your work, products, or services included
- [ ] Photos added within the last 3 months
Q&A
- [ ] At least 5 Q&A pairs pre-populated by you
- [ ] Q&A covers common questions (availability, credentials, service area, pricing)
- [ ] Any customer-submitted questions answered
Reviews
- [ ] At least 25 reviews on GBP
- [ ] Average rating above 4.0
- [ ] Reviews responded to within 7 days
- [ ] Negative reviews responded to professionally
Posts
- [ ] At least 1 post in the last 30 days
- [ ] Posts are relevant to your business and services
Section 2: Website Content
Your website is the primary content source for AI descriptions.
Core Pages
- [ ] Homepage clearly states what you do, where, and for whom
- [ ] About page includes specific years in business, credentials, and team info
- [ ] Services page lists all major services
- [ ] Contact page includes phone, address, and service area
- [ ] FAQ page exists with at least 10 questions answered
Service Coverage
- [ ] Dedicated page exists for each of your top 3-5 services
- [ ] Each service page includes service description, process, pricing (or price range), and service area
- [ ] Service pages are internally linked from homepage and services hub
Location Signals
- [ ] Primary city/location appears in page titles, headings, and body copy
- [ ] Service area (cities, neighborhoods, zip codes) is listed explicitly
- [ ] Physical address appears in footer on every page
Credentials
- [ ] All relevant certifications listed on website
- [ ] License numbers included (with link to licensing authority if possible)
- [ ] Awards and recognitions documented
- [ ] Team credentials listed on About or Team page
Content Quality
- [ ] No major typos or grammatical errors
- [ ] Content is accurate and current (check date references)
- [ ] Content reads as genuine and expert, not keyword-stuffed
- [ ] Content was updated within the last 12 months
Section 3: Schema Markup
Schema is the most direct communication channel between your website and AI.
LocalBusiness Schema
- [ ] LocalBusiness (or specific subtype) schema exists on homepage
- [ ] Name matches GBP exactly
- [ ] Address matches GBP exactly
- [ ] Phone number matches GBP exactly
- [ ] Hours match GBP
- [ ] Business type is a specific subtype (not generic LocalBusiness)
Service Schema
- [ ] Service schema exists for at least your top 3 services
- [ ] Each service schema includes description and area served
FAQPage Schema
- [ ] FAQPage schema exists on at least your primary service pages
- [ ] FAQs match what users actually ask about your business
Validation
- [ ] Schema passes Google Rich Results Test with no errors
- [ ] Schema has no warnings about missing recommended fields
Section 4: Directory and Citation Presence
AI cross-references your information across multiple independent sources.
Primary Directories
- [ ] Yelp profile complete and accurate
- [ ] BBB listing (if applicable to your business type)
- [ ] Facebook Business Page with complete information
- [ ] Bing Places profile
Industry-Specific Directories
- [ ] Listed in 3+ industry-specific directories (Healthgrades, Avvo, Angi, Houzz, etc.)
- [ ] Each directory profile has consistent business name, address, phone
- [ ] Each directory profile has complete service descriptions
NAP Consistency
- [ ] Business name is exactly identical across all listings
- [ ] Address format is consistent (St. vs Street, abbreviated vs. spelled out)
- [ ] Phone number format is consistent
Section 5: Content Authority
Authority content signals expertise and gets AI citations.
Educational Content
- [ ] At least 3 educational guides or blog posts on your website
- [ ] Content covers topics your clients actually ask about
- [ ] Content is comprehensive (not just 200-word stub posts)
Social Proof
- [ ] Case studies or specific client outcomes documented (if applicable)
- [ ] Testimonials with specific details (not just generic praise)
- [ ] Before/after documentation (for visual services like landscaping, HVAC, cosmetic work)
Third-Party Coverage
- [ ] Business mentioned in at least 1 local news article or business publication
- [ ] Listed in local chamber of commerce or business association directory
- [ ] Listed on any professional association member directories
Section 6: AI Testing
Test your actual AI visibility to benchmark where you are.
Direct Business Queries
- [ ] Test "[your business name]" in ChatGPT — is the description accurate?
- [ ] Test "[your business name]" in Gemini — is the description accurate?
- [ ] Test "[your business name]" in Perplexity — what sources does it cite?
Category Queries
- [ ] Test "best [your service type] in [your city]" in ChatGPT — do you appear?
- [ ] Test "best [your service type] in [your city]" in Gemini — do you appear?
- [ ] Test "best [your service type] in [your city]" in Perplexity — do you appear?
Specialty Queries (adapt to your business)
- [ ] Test "[your specialty] in [your city]" — do you appear for your specific expertise?
- [ ] Test "emergency [your service type] in [your city]" (if applicable)
- [ ] Test "[your service type] accepting new patients/clients in [your city]" (if applicable)
Prioritization Guide
After completing the audit, prioritize fixes in this order:
Immediate priority (fix this week):
- GBP not claimed or verified
- Inaccurate information (wrong phone, address, hours)
- No schema markup at all
- Significantly low review count (under 10)
High priority (fix this month):
- GBP description empty or vague
- Services section empty or incomplete
- No dedicated service pages
- NAP inconsistencies across major directories
- No FAQ content or schema
Medium priority (fix next quarter):
- Schema missing recommended fields
- Missing from major industry directories
- No third-party press or mentions
- No educational content
Ongoing:
- Review velocity (continuously)
- GBP posts (weekly)
- Photo freshness (monthly)
- Content updates (quarterly)
- AI monitoring (monthly)
Use Scope to continuously monitor your AI visibility score and track which improvements are making the biggest impact on your recommendation rates across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity.