Before you invest in being found by AI, it's worth knowing where you stand. This is a checklist you can run against your own business this week (no tools required).
The AI Search Visibility Checklist
Run each check against your business. Every "no" is a gap costing you visibility in AI answers and local search.
- Google Business Profile is complete: categories, services, hours, photos and a description all filled in.
- Name, address and phone match everywhere: identical on your website, Google Business Profile and every directory.
- You have recent reviews: a steady flow, not a burst two years ago, and you reply to them.
- Your site answers real questions: pages built around what customers actually ask, in plain language.
- Key pages have an FAQ section: short, direct answers an engine can lift cleanly.
- Structured data (schema) is in place: LocalBusiness and FAQ markup on the right pages.
- You are mentioned beyond your own site: local directories, industry bodies, partners, press.
- Service and suburb are explicit: every service page names what you do and where you do it.
- The site is fast and mobile-friendly: loads quickly and is easy to read and enquire on a phone.
- An enquiry can always reach you: the 6pm call or the Saturday web form is captured, not lost.
Score it: 8–10 yes means strong foundations; 4–7 means real gaps to close; 0–3 means you are likely invisible in AI search right now.
Want us to run this for you? Get a free AEO Visibility Scan →
TL;DR: Check five things: your Google Business Profile, your reviews, your content's clarity and relevance, the consistency of your business details across the web, and whether AI tools currently name you. Each gap you can't tick is a visibility leak worth fixing.
1. Google Business Profile
Is it claimed, complete and active, with correct categories, services listed, and recent photos and posts? An incomplete or dormant profile is the most common reason a business is invisible in both local and AI search. (More in our get-found service.)
2. Reviews
Do you have a steady flow of genuine, recent reviews, not a stale pile from two years ago? Recency and consistency signal a real, trusted business that AI is comfortable recommending.
3. Content clarity and relevance
Do your key pages answer the exact questions customers ask, with the answer stated up front? Generic "we do everything" pages get skipped by answer engines. Specific beats broad.
4. Consistency
Is your name, address and phone identical everywhere it appears? Inconsistencies make machines doubt who you are, and doubtful sources don't get cited.
5. Ask the AI
Type the questions your customers would ask into ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google. Are you named? Who is? That tells you exactly where you stand today.
Key takeaways
- Audit five areas: profile, reviews, content, consistency, and current AI mentions
- Each missing tick is a visibility leak with a known fix
- You can run this yourself this week
- For a done-for-you read, request a free scan
Frequently asked questions
Do I need paid tools to audit AI visibility?
No. The checklist above needs none. Paid tools help at scale, but the fundamentals are visible to anyone who looks.
What's the most common gap you see?
An incomplete or dormant Google Business Profile, followed by thin, generic content. Both are very fixable.
Can you run the audit for me?
Yes. Request a free AEO visibility scan and a real person will send back the single biggest gap and what to fix first.
How often should I re-check?
Quarterly is sensible for most businesses, or after any major change to your services, location or website.
Want to see where your business stands? Get a free AEO visibility scan, or book a free strategy session.
Written by Katrina Curll, Founder of Linkai Digital. Twenty years in marketing, including seven as a Vice President at Forrester, helping Australian service businesses build systems that capture, convert and keep more clients.