AI search is changing how people discover businesses. Your website may rank well in Google, but can AI platforms like ChatGPT or Perplexity understand and reference your brand?
After running AI visibility audits for clients, we found that many common gaps can be spotted with seven simple checks.
The 7-Point AEO Scorecard
Give yourself 1 point for each “yes.”
1. Is your homepage instantly clear?
Within the first 200 words, can someone understand what you do, who you serve, and what you offer?
2. Do important pages answer questions quickly?
Your service and product pages should provide a direct answer before lengthy introductions or storytelling.
3. Do you use real FAQ questions?
Include question-based headings such as “How does AEO work?” or “How much does SEO cost?” based on what your customers actually ask.
4. Is your brand category clear?
Make the relationship explicit:
[Brand] is a [category] that [what it does].
5. Do you cover comparisons and alternatives?
Useful content comparing your solution with real competitors, alternatives, or approaches can help establish your position within the category.
6. Do you use specific evidence?
Replace vague claims with numbers, dates, credentials, locations, case-study results, research, and other concrete details.
7. Have you tested real AI searches?
Ask ChatGPT or Perplexity at least 3 questions your prospects might ask. Check whether your brand appears, gets cited, or is missing entirely.
Your Score
0–2: Needs Attention
Start with basic website clarity and content improvements.
3–4: Getting There
Strengthen FAQs, direct answers, evidence, and positioning.
5–6: Strong Foundation
Your site has many AEO basics. Focus on real-world AI visibility testing.
7/7: Great Foundation
You're covering the basics, but a perfect score doesn't guarantee AI citations.
In our client-site reviews, scores below 4/7 have correlated with weaker AI citation outcomes, while 5+ has generally correlated with better outcomes. This is an internal observation, not a scientific industry benchmark.
Quick Checklist
| Check | Score |
|---|---|
| Clear homepage positioning | ☐ |
| Direct answers on key pages | ☐ |
| Real question-based FAQs | ☐ |
| Clear brand + category | ☐ |
| Comparison/alternatives content | ☐ |
| Specific evidence and details | ☐ |
| 3+ real AI search tests | ☐ |
| Total | /7 |
The Bottom Line
You don't need an expensive tool to get your first AEO health check.
Spend 10 minutes on these seven questions, fix your weakest areas, and then test the questions your prospects are actually asking AI.
The goal isn't simply to score 7/7. It's to make your expertise clear, specific, trustworthy, and easy for AI systems to understand and reference.
