The Ultimate Answer Engine Optimization Checklist - Rank #1 on LLMs

I had the pleasure to interview James Berry, CEO of LLMrefs and ask him questions about this new field of Answer Engine Optimization. He's given me so many interesting insights! For everyone who wants to get their hands dirty and optimise their LLM ranking on ChatGPT, Gemini and Co. I thought I'd bring everything in a helpful checklist. This should give you the perfect overview of Answer Engine Optimization.

Before we get started I'd like to thank you for using my affiliate links to sign up to free trials, LLMs are constantly stealing my content and you help me stay afloat and create more of this content to AI enthusiasts and small business owners.

• Start at Level 1 (Basic) and work your way up
• Check off each item as you complete it
• Don't skip levels - each builds on the previous
• Revisit quarterly to maintain your GEO performance
• Master Answer Engine Optimization with this complete guide

🟢 LEVEL 1: BASIC FOUNDATION (DAY 1 PRIORITIES)

□ Check if AI bots are blocked on your site
→ Use LLM Refs free crawler tool OR
→ Check robots.txt file for GPTBot, Google-Extended blocks
→ Action: Remove any AI bot blocks immediately
→ Answer Engine Optimization starts with crawler access

□ Verify Cloudflare settings aren't blocking AI
→ Log into Cloudflare dashboard
→ Check "Bot Fight Mode" and AI crawler settings
→ Action: Disable AI bot blocking if enabled

□ Test if your content is JavaScript-hidden
→ Open your site in Chrome
→ Disable JavaScript (DevTools > Settings > Debugger > Disable)
→ Refresh your important pages
→ Action: Move hidden content to HTML if it disappears

□ Check server logs for AI crawler activity
→ Look for "ChatGPT-user" in server logs
→ Check if AI bots are actually visiting your site
→ Action: If no visits in 30 days, investigate blocking issues

□ Ensure pages load without errors
→ Check for loading spinners that never finish
→ Verify content shows without clicking tabs/buttons
→ Action: Fix any pages that require user interaction to show content

COMPLETION TIME: 2-4 hours
IMPACT: Critical - without this, you're invisible to AI

🔵 LEVEL 2: CONTENT BASICS (WEEK 1 PRIORITIES)

□ Update your top 10 most important pages
→ Add today's date to articles
→ Add 2-3 new sentences with current information
→ Update any outdated statistics or examples
→ Action: Set "last updated" date to today
→ Answer Engine Optimization requires fresh, updated content

□ Identify your core keywords and prompts
→ List 10-20 questions your audience asks
→ Write them as natural prompts (not just keywords)
→ Focus on buying intent: "best X for Y", "X vs Y"
→ Action: Document these in a spreadsheet

□ Check if your content answers complete questions
→ Read your pages as if you're asking a question
→ Ensure answers are clear and complete
→ Add FAQ sections if missing
→ Action: Rewrite vague content to be more direct

□ Add structured data to key pages
→ Implement Article schema for blog posts
→ Add Product schema for product pages
→ Use FAQ schema where relevant
→ Action: Test with Google's Rich Results Test

□ Ensure your brand and product names are clear
→ Don't assume AI knows who you are
→ Explicitly state your brand name in content
→ Include product/service names clearly
→ Action: Add brand name to page titles and headings

COMPLETION TIME: 1-2 days
IMPACT: High - makes existing content discoverable

Also check out our GEO Tool Comparison!

🟡 LEVEL 3: STRATEGIC OPTIMIZATION (MONTH 1 PRIORITIES)

□ Set up tracking with a GEO tool
→ Sign up for LLM Refs or similar tool
→ Add your core prompts (from Level 2)
→ Track your current baseline visibility
→ Action: Get your starting share of voice percentage
→ Successful Answer Engine Optimization demands consistent tracking

□ Research fan-out queries for your prompts
→ Use Chrome extensions to see AI sub-queries
→ Document the 1-5 sub-queries AI generates
→ Check if you have content for each sub-query
→ Action: Create content gaps list

□ Create listicle content with comparisons
→ Build "Best X for Y" articles
→ Include 5-10 options with genuine comparisons
→ Add clear pros/cons for each option
→ Action: Publish 3-5 listicles in your niche
→ Listicles are proven Answer Engine Optimization content formats

□ Find and get into already-cited content
→ Search Reddit for threads in your niche
→ Find blog posts that rank for your keywords
→ Leave helpful comments or email authors
→ Action: Get mentioned in 5 existing cited sources

□ Build a quarterly content refresh calendar
→ Set reminders for every 90 days
→ List your top 20 pages to refresh
→ Create a simple update checklist
→ Action: Schedule first refresh date in calendar

□ Optimize for bottom-of-funnel prompts only
→ Identify high-intent, comparison, and buying prompts
→ Deprioritize educational/awareness content
→ Focus 80% effort on conversion-focused content
→ Action: Audit content and reprioritize resources

COMPLETION TIME: 2-4 weeks
IMPACT: Very High - builds sustainable visibility

Also check out our GEO Tool Comparison!

🟠 LEVEL 4: ADVANCED TACTICS (MONTHS 2-3)

□ Analyze which pages get cited most
→ Use GEO tool to identify top-cited pages
→ Audit these pages for accuracy
→ Ensure they show best/current information
→ Action: Prioritize these pages for maintenance

□ Build fan-out query content clusters
→ Create 5-7 pieces of content per main prompt
→ Each piece targets one sub-query
→ Interlink all pieces strategically
→ Action: Complete 2-3 content clusters
→ Content clusters are essential for Answer Engine Optimization success

□ Launch targeted backlink campaign
→ Focus on high-authority sites in your niche
→ Guest post on relevant blogs
→ Get featured in industry roundups
→ Action: Secure 10+ quality backlinks per month

□ Optimize for regional differences
→ Track performance in US, UK, EU separately
→ Identify where you rank best
→ Create region-specific content for weak areas
→ Action: Double down on winning regions

□ Set up multi-platform tracking
→ Track ChatGPT separately (70% of effort)
→ Track Gemini (15% of effort)
→ Track Perplexity (15% of effort)
→ Action: Identify platform-specific opportunities
→ Multi-platform Answer Engine Optimization ensures maximum reach

□ Create comparison content featuring competitors
→ Write honest "Your Brand vs Competitor" articles
→ Include pros/cons for both options
→ Add "best for" recommendations
→ Action: Publish 5+ comparison articles

COMPLETION TIME: 2-3 months
IMPACT: Scaling - compounds over time

⚠️ WHAT NOT TO DO CHECKLIST

□ Do NOT mass-generate AI content
→ No automated page creation
→ No thin, unhelpful content
→ No content farms approach
→ Risk: Google penalties kill search grounding
→ Poor content undermines your Answer Engine Optimization strategy

□ Do NOT paywall your best content
→ AI can't read paywalled content
→ No citations = no visibility
→ Keep core content accessible
→ Risk: Complete invisibility in AI search

□ Do NOT ignore content freshness
→ 3+ month old content gets ignored
→ Citations drop off a cliff
→ Set quarterly refresh schedule
→ Risk: Losing all visibility over time

□ Do NOT block AI crawlers "by accident"
→ Check Cloudflare settings regularly
→ Monitor robots.txt changes
→ Test crawler access monthly
→ Risk: Zero citations overnight

□ Do NOT optimize only for ChatGPT
→ Track Gemini and Perplexity too
→ Different LLMs = different strategies
→ Diversify your visibility
→ Risk: Missing 30% of market

📊 MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

□ Week 1: Content Refresh
→ Update 5 top-performing pages
→ Add new statistics and examples
→ Update "last modified" dates

□ Week 2: Citation Analysis
→ Review share of voice metrics
→ Identify declining pages
→ Research new prompt opportunities

□ Week 3: Technical Audit
→ Check crawler access
→ Review server logs
→ Test JavaScript-hidden content

□ Week 4: Competitive Analysis
→ Track competitor mentions
→ Identify their new content
→ Find ranking opportunities
→ Continuous monitoring powers effective Answer Engine Optimization

□ Monthly: Backlink Campaign
→ Secure 10+ new backlinks
→ Update existing citations
→ Pitch partnership opportunities

🎯 SUCCESS METRICS TO TRACK

□ Share of Voice (SOV)
→ Goal: Increase 5-10% month-over-month
→ Track: % of prompts where you're mentioned

□ Citation Rank
→ Goal: Rank in top 3 for core prompts
→ Track: Average position vs competitors

□ Multi-Platform Visibility
→ Goal: Visible on ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity
→ Track: Mentions across all 3 platforms

□ Content Freshness Score
→ Goal: 80%+ of content updated in last 90 days
→ Track: Days since last update per page

□ Crawler Activity
→ Goal: ChatGPT-user visits weekly
→ Track: Crawl frequency in server logs

□ Revenue from GEO
→ Goal: $X per month from affiliates/partnerships
→ Track: Revenue attributed to AI visibility

🎓 KEY TAKEAWAY

✓ Crawlability (can AI see you?)
✓ Freshness (updated in last 90 days?)
✓ Helpful content (genuine value?)
✓ Consistency (tracking & optimizing monthly?)
Answer Engine Optimization is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.
Start at Level 1. Don't skip steps. Track metrics. Iterate monthly.