AI search readiness checklist

Last updated 30 October 2026

Pick one page, go down the list and tick what's already there. Then fix the Core items first.

Not every item suits every page. A comparison guide, an 'X vs Y' page, an alternatives page and a service page each need different things. Mark an item 'Not relevant' and it drops out of your score.

Aim to tick as many as you can. Full marks is rare, so put the Core items first.

Page type

Choosing a page type marks some items Not relevant. You can change any of them.

01 Page building blocks

0 of 13 ticked

The parts AI tools pull out and quote. Make sure every key page has them.

A short summary or key points box near the top.Core
Not relevant
An FAQ section with real numbers, dates and facts, not vague claims.Core
Not relevant
Short paragraphs, three or four lines at most.Core
Not relevant
Bullet lists where you're listing things.Important
Not relevant
A comparison table where people weigh up options, with real figures (price ranges, timescales, what's included), for example "Single-storey vs two-storey extension".Core
Not relevant
Photos of your own work, not stock.Important
Not relevant
Real customer quotes, with permission.Important
Not relevant
An honest first-hand account, such as "what we found on this job".Important
Not relevant
Video or other media.Nice to have
Not relevant
Links to your business profiles (LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, Houzz, Checkatrade).Nice to have
Not relevant
A named author with a short bio and credentials, for example "RIBA chartered" or "Gas Safe registered", linked to their LinkedIn or profile page.Core
Not relevant
The main search phrase appears in the page title, the H1 and the URL slug, and all three match.Important
Not relevant
Reading time shown near the top.Nice to have
Not relevant

02 Something only you have

0 of 10 ticked

Generic pages don't get quoted. Each page needs something nobody else can copy.

Photos or screen recordings of your service or product actually in use.Important
Not relevant
Your own numbers, such as typical job lengths or how many projects you've done. Real figures only.Core
Not relevant
Customer testimonials tied to a specific job.Important
Not relevant
A short video walk-through.Nice to have
Not relevant
Your own survey or research, even a small one.Nice to have
Not relevant
A quote or interview from a named expert.Nice to have
Not relevant
First-hand case write-ups, for example "a rear extension in Leeds from survey to sign-off".Core
Not relevant
A clear opinion you can back up, for example "why we always do a measured survey first".Important
Not relevant
A free tool or resource, like a cost calculator or planning checklist.Nice to have
Not relevant
Your own named method, for example "The Lab13AI Site Check".Nice to have
Not relevant

03 How the copy reads

0 of 7 ticked

Write each page so a machine can lift a clean answer straight off it.

Headings phrased as questions people actually ask.Core
Not relevant
The answer comes first: reply to the main question in the opening lines.Core
Not relevant
Standalone sentences that answer a question without needing the text around them.Core
Not relevant
One idea per paragraph.Important
Not relevant
Facts with a source linked, for example Planning Portal or GOV.UK.Important
Not relevant
Every H2 section makes sense if read on its own.Important
Not relevant
Be specific with names. Not "we help with planning", but "We prepare householder planning applications for Leeds City Council, usually decided in 8 weeks". Name places, products, people and standards.Core
Not relevant

04 Sentence craft

0 of 5 ticked

Small writing habits that make a page easy to read and easy to quote.

Short, plain sentences.Core
Not relevant
Clear who-does-what sentences.Important
Don't: There are lots of benefits to a good builder.
Do: A main contractor manages the trades, the programme and building control sign-off on your extension.
Not relevant
Images or diagrams to explain things.Nice to have
Not relevant
A free tool or interactive element.Nice to have
Not relevant
An embedded video.Nice to have
Not relevant

05 Freshness

0 of 4 ticked

Has the page been updated in the last 30 days? If not, refresh it.

Updated in the last 30 days.Core
Not relevant
Facts and figures checked and refreshed.Important
Not relevant
Examples swapped for recent ones.Nice to have
Not relevant
Current prices, rules and dates in place, such as current planning or Building Regulations guidance.Important
Not relevant

06 Answering the follow-up questions

0 of 42 ticked

One search spins off many related questions. Cover each group so the page answers them all.

The main question

A direct answer within the first 100–150 words.Core
Not relevant
It's obvious who the page is for.Core
Not relevant
The main topic explained in plain English.Important
Not relevant
Words like "best" or "recommended" are explained, saying best for what.Nice to have
Not relevant
A clear summary or recommendation.Important
Not relevant

The unasked questions

Cost, or how cost is worked out.Core
Not relevant
How long it takes, from start to finish.Core
Not relevant
How much effort or input you need from the customer.Important
Not relevant
Risks, limits and common mistakes.Important
Not relevant
What happens after they get in touch.Important
Not relevant
"Before I choose this, what should I know?"Nice to have
Example sections: How much does it cost?, How long does it take?, Is it worth it?, What can go wrong?, Who is it not right for?, What happens next?
Not relevant

Comparisons

Compares your option with the real alternatives.Important
Not relevant
A comparison table or a clearly laid-out comparison.Core
Not relevant
Pros and cons of each option.Important
Not relevant
Names the alternatives, for example architect vs architectural technologist vs design-and-build.Nice to have
Not relevant
Says when each option is the better fit.Important
Not relevant
Doesn't claim one option is best for everyone.Nice to have
Example sections: A vs B, Alternatives, Best for…, Pros and cons, Price comparison, DIY vs hire a pro
Not relevant

Up to date

A visible "last updated" date.Core
Not relevant
Mentions the current year where it matters.Nice to have
Not relevant
Prices, rules and availability kept current.Important
Not relevant
Says what changed since the last update.Nice to have
Not relevant

Fits different situations

Says who the advice is best for.Important
Not relevant
Sections for different types of customer.Nice to have
Not relevant
Explains how the answer changes with budget, size, location or urgency.Important
Not relevant
A "Best for" line on each option, for example "Best for listed buildings".Important
Not relevant
Avoids one answer for everyone.Nice to have
Example sections: Best for small budgets, listed buildings, tight deadlines, first-time clients, landlords
Not relevant

Next steps

Tells the reader what to do next.Core
Not relevant
A simple way to decide.Important
Not relevant
Answers the follow-up questions that come after the main one.Important
Not relevant
FAQs for after they've decided, for example "What do I need before the first visit?" Use an H2 for the FAQ heading, an H3 for each question, and two or three sentences per answer.Important
Not relevant
Three to five clear calls to action (top, middle and bottom), each matching what the reader came for, for example "Book a site survey" on an extensions page.Important
Not relevant
Links to deeper guides.Nice to have
Not relevant
Leaves no reason to search again.Important
Example sections: How do I choose?, What should I ask?, What should I avoid?, How do I get started?
Not relevant

Proof and trust

Facts backed by trusted sources.Important
Not relevant
Your own experience and examples.Core
Not relevant
Case studies, photos, data or quotes, with specific real numbers where you have them.Important
Not relevant
A short "How we chose" section that sets out how you compared the options.Important
Not relevant
Shows the author's or company's expertise, such as qualifications, memberships and years trading.Important
Not relevant
Honest about limits: says what you don't do.Nice to have
Not relevant

Score

Not much for AI to quote yet

Do these next

Core
A short summary or key points box near the top.

Core
An FAQ section with real numbers, dates and facts, not vague claims.

Core
Short paragraphs, three or four lines at most.

The score stays in this browser. Nothing is sent.

FAQ

What is this checklist?

A free list for one page on your site. You tick what is already there, and a score shows how much an AI tool has to quote.

How does the score work?

Each item has a weight: Core, Important, or Nice to have. The score is the weight you have ticked, divided by the weight of the items that still apply, then shown as a percentage. Mark an item Not relevant and it leaves both sides of that sum.

Is it free?

Yes. It stays in this browser. There is nothing to pay and nothing to send.

What should I do next?

Fix the Core items first. If you want Lab13AI to check the site, that is the website audit. Its written report includes a reduced version of this list, called Content AI can quote. This page is the full list.