AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, SGE, and Perplexity are rewriting the rules of search — and most websites aren’t ready. This post outlines 20 urgent SEO actions across technical setup, on-page content, and authority building to help your brand stay visible. Based on our recent LinkedIn Live and podcast, it includes the exact checklist we use with clients to future-proof visibility in the age of generative search.

• Add llms.txt to your site
• Use schema: FAQ, HowTo, Author
• Track AI mentions, not just clicks
• Publish TL;DR sections
• Strengthen citations beyond backlinks
• Post regularly on Google Business
• Get active on Reddit & YouTube
• Build topic clusters and internal links
• Don’t block AI bots (Cloudflare alert!)
• Download the full checklist below ↓

Why SEO Needs a Reset in 2025

Search isn’t dead — it’s just invisible.

AI tools like Google SGE, ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity are now answering questions directly, summarising your content, and often never sending users to your site. Traditional traffic and rankings are no longer reliable signals of performance.

This blog outlines 20 specific actions across three areas:

1. Technical SEO
2. On-site content optimisation
3. Off-site signals and authority

🧠 This is SEO meets GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) — and it’s essential if you want to show up in AI-generated answers.

Watch the Full Session

🗣️ This blog is based on our special podcast + LinkedIn Live with Pascal Fintoni. You can watch the full session above, or read on for the full list of actions.

Section 1: Technical SEO for AI Bots

1. Add llms.txt to your site

A new experimental file that signposts your best content to AI crawlers. Not a magic bullet — but part of a bigger trust signal stack.

2. Enable AI bot crawling

Check your server or CDN (like Cloudflare). Make sure you’re not unintentionally blocking AI bots.

3. Use semantic HTML and avoid hidden JavaScript

AI models struggle with inaccessible or hidden content. Keep your structure clean.

4. Improve site speed and mobile performance

Still a major factor. AI tools prefer fast-loading, easy-to-parse sites.

5. Apply detailed schema (beyond basics)

Use:

• FAQ, HowTo, Article, Organization, Author
• Fields like knownFor, areaServed, sameAs (link to social profiles)

💡 Use schema not just for search engines — but for AI parsing and citation logic.

---

✅ Section 2: On-Site Content Optimisation

6. Add a TL;DR or Key Takeaways section

Especially at the top of long-form pages. AI tools often summarise these directly.

7. Use bolding and subheadings for scanability

Helps both readers and machines extract meaning at a glance.

8. Include location terms in headers (UK-wide, Leeds, Yorkshire, etc.)

AI crawlers use these to understand geographic relevance — without relying on traditional maps.

9. Create how-to content in list format

Use HowTo schema. Step-by-step content is highly extractable.

10. Use internal linking to build topic clusters

Link blog posts, guides, service pages, and tools into tight, focused groups.

11. Rework your About page

Add Q&A-style bios, mention credentials and awards, and add author schema.

12. Be the author

Use consistent author profiles. AI prefers real, named people — not generic team content.

---

✅ Section 3: Off-Site Signals & Authority Building

13. Track mentions in AI tools

Use tools like Perplexity, ChatGPT browsing, and RightSonic. Mentions matter more than clicks.

14. Monitor brand across the web

Use Brand24 or SEMrush to track where your brand is mentioned (not just linked).

15. Post original content on Google Business Profile

Treat it like a social feed. Add FAQs, videos, and articles regularly.

16. Contribute to Reddit, Quora and YouTube

These are the top three sources for AI citations (47% of Perplexity’s citations are from Reddit).

17. Prioritise conversation over backlinks

Engage where your audience is. Google and OpenAI are indexing platforms — not just domains.

18. Repurpose top-performing content

Create short video/audio summaries of key content. AI loves multimedia.

19. Build citation hubs on your website

Consolidate high-value content with stats, quotes, testimonials, awards, and data — all internally linked.

20. Shift your KPIs

Stop reporting on pageviews alone. Start tracking mentions, citations, visibility in AI tools, and authority signals.

---

📥 Download the Checklist

🎁 Want the full printable version of this list?

👉 Download the 20-Point AI SEO Checklist (PDF)

Includes:

• Implementation tips
• Progress tracker
• Perfect for internal teams or external agencies

---

🔄 Related Content

📖 From Clicks to Citations – Why Mentions Matter More in 2025
The strategic view on AI SEO from Jonny Ross (Fractional CMO)

---

🙋‍♂️ FAQs

Q: What’s the difference between GEO and traditional SEO?
GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) focuses on visibility in AI tools, not just rankings. It includes structured data, offsite authority, and content made for citation.

Q: Is llms.txt required?
No — but it’s a useful experimental tool. Treat it like a sitemap for AI.

Q: What’s a citation hub?
A structured internal page that consolidates high-value content, data, and credibility — designed to earn AI mentions.

Q: Are backlinks still important?
Yes, but mentions and authority now carry more weight in AI-generated results.

---

🚀 Ready to Optimise for AI Search?

If your business is still chasing clicks, you’re falling behind. At Fleek Marketing, we help brands build visibility in the AI era — across search, assistants, and generative platforms.

📞 Let’s talk about optimising your content for today’s digital discovery journeys.

Or start by downloading the checklist:
👉 AI SEO Checklist (Free Download)