LLM SEO Checklist

LLM SEO Checklist(2026)

RESEARCH & KEYWORDS

Discovery Layer (How AI Finds you)

- Target question-based queries (how, why, compare, best, vs).

- Identify prompts where your brand should be cited but isn't.

- Audit where competitors are being cited by AI.

- Cover full topic journey, not single keywords.

ANSWER OPTIMIZATION

Answer Layer (How AI Use Your Content)

- Write direct answer first, explanations second.

- Include FAQ-style Q&A blocks.

- Add examples, scenarios, & comparisons.

- End sections with one quotable takeway line.

- Avoid filter (every sentence should earn its place).

AUTHORITY & TRUST

Trust Layer (Why AI Choose You)

- Show firs-hand experience, not just theory.

- Publish original insights, data, or opinions.

- Support claims with credible external sources.

- Make authorship & sources explicit & scannable.

- Timestamp insights & clearly show when content was last validated.

AI VISIBILITY & TRACKING

Retrieval/Visibility Layer (What AI Shows)

- Track AI citations & mentions across tools.

- Monitor answer inclusion, not just traffic.

- Compare AI share of voice vs competitors.

- Audit gaps between SERP & AI visibility.

- Identify which pages are repeatedly reused or cited by AI.

CONTENT STRUCTURE

Understanding Layer (How AI Interprets you)

- Open with a clear context sentence ("This page explains...").

- Use question-style headings.

- Write sections that can stand alone if quoted.

- Add a TL;DR or summary box at the top.

- Structure answers using lists, tables, definitions.

BRAND SIGNALS

Entity Layer (How AI Knows Who You Are)

- Clearly connect brand <-> people <-> topics.

- Use consistent naming across site, bios, profiles, mentions.

- Add authors bios with experience, not fluff.

- Reinforce 1-2 primary topic associations consistenty.

TECHNICAL FOUNDATION

Technical Layer (How AI Reads Your Site)

- Implement FAQ, HowTo, Article schema.

- Maintain strong Core Web Vitals & mobile ux.

- Use clean internal linking & topic clusters.

- Keep URLs, headings, & structure simple.

- Match schema & format to search intent (answer, guide, comparison).

FUTURE PROOFING

Longevity Layer (Staying Relevant Over Time)

- Focus on principles over hacks.

- Reduce dependency on trending tactics.

- Update context, not just timestamps.

- Publish unique stats & data.

- Build fewer pages with higher citations potential.

- Use hybrid formats (text + visual + structured).