Technical SEO & GEO checklist
A step-by-step checklist so your site shows up in Google and in AI search (ChatGPT, Gemini): indexing, speed, structure, schema and GEO.
Who is this for
Owners with a website and digital pros who want to improve where the site ranks in search.
What you'll get
- Check whether Google indexes the site correctly
- Prioritise the technical issues that matter most
- Prepare pages for AI search engines (GEO)
1. Indexing — can Google see you?
- Verify the site in Google Search Console and submit sitemap.xml.
- Search “site:yourdomain.com” to see how many pages are indexed.
- Make sure robots.txt does not block key pages; every page has a correct canonical.
- Add 301 redirects for removed pages and fix broken links.
2. Speed and mobile
- Compress images (WebP), scale them to the size actually needed.
- On mobile, text must be readable and buttons easy to tap.
- Test key pages in PageSpeed Insights and fix the red items.
3. GEO — showing up in AI search
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) means preparing a page so ChatGPT, Gemini and other AIs use and cite it when they answer. The key principle: answer the question clearly in one or two sentences at the top of the page.
- Give a direct, short answer (TL;DR) on every page.
- Write headings as real questions (“how do you...?”).
- Add structured data (schema): Article, FAQPage, HowTo.
- Publish an llms.txt file and a clear citation policy.
FAQ
How long until SEO shows results?
Technical fixes show within weeks; content and ranking usually take 3–6 months. SEO is a long game.
Does GEO replace SEO?
No, it builds on it. Good SEO lays the foundation; GEO makes that foundation visible inside AI answers.
More resources
A workbook with a 100-topic keyword map, a 25-week publishing calendar, a quality gate and an internal-link plan.
A practical launch checklist for a small business website. Check search visibility, improve your key pages and build a simple review routine.
Give your new website a useful first check. Find launch problems, improve your key pages and build a simple routine for tracking Google traffic.