ChatGPT Citation Checklist: 37 Proven Ways to Improve Your AI Discoverability
Getting cited by ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity isn't magic—it's methodical. This comprehensive checklist provides 37 specific, actionable tactics organized from quick wins to advanced techniques. Every tactic is proven to improve AI discoverability based on data from 50+ UK businesses.
How to Use This Checklist
Progressive Implementation Strategy
- Week 1: Complete all Quick Wins (#1-10)
- Week 2-3: Implement Foundation Building (#11-20)
- Week 4-6: Execute Intermediate Optimization (#21-30)
- Week 7-12: Deploy Advanced Techniques (#31-37)
Expected Timeline:
- After Quick Wins: 10-15% citation improvement
- After Foundation Building: 40-50% citation rate achievable
- After Intermediate: 60-70% citation rate
- After Advanced: 75-90% citation rate for relevant queries
Priority Icons Guide
🔥 Critical: Must implement for any citation success
⚡ High Impact: Significant improvement, implement early
📈 Medium Impact: Meaningful contribution, implement systematically
🔧 Advanced: Competitive edge, implement after foundations
Quick Wins: Implement in Week 1 (Items 1-10)
These tactics require minimal technical expertise and deliver immediate improvements. Complete all 10 in your first week.
Foundation Building: Week 2-3 (Items 11-20)
These tactics build the technical and content foundation for AI citations. Implement systematically over 2-3 weeks.
Intermediate Optimization: Week 4-6 (Items 21-30)
These tactics require more effort and potentially some technical expertise but deliver significant citation improvements.
Advanced Techniques: Week 7-12 (Items 31-37)
These advanced tactics provide competitive advantages and are particularly important in competitive industries.
Priority Implementation Matrix by Industry
For Professional Services (Law, Accounting, Consulting)
Critical Priority (Do First): Items 1, 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 20, 27, 28, 29
High Priority (Week 2-3): Items 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 31
Medium Priority (As Resources Allow): All remaining items
Reasoning: Credentials, authority building, and detailed expertise demonstrations are essential for professional service citations.
For Local Services (Plumbers, Electricians, Contractors)
Critical Priority (Do First): Items 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12
High Priority (Week 2-3): Items 7, 8, 13, 19, 30
Medium Priority (As Resources Allow): Items 16, 18, 21, 27
Reasoning: Local signals and review/reputation management are paramount for local service citations.
For B2B Services & Software
Critical Priority (Do First): Items 2, 4, 11, 13, 14, 18, 21
High Priority (Week 2-3): Items 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 32
Medium Priority (As Resources Allow): Items 28, 31, 33, 34
Reasoning: Detailed service explanations, case studies, and thought leadership drive B2B citations.
For Ecommerce & Retail
Critical Priority (Do First): Items 1, 2, 7, 11, 14, 15
High Priority (Week 2-3): Items 21, 25, 30, 33
Medium Priority (As Resources Allow): Items 16, 23, 26
Reasoning: Product clarity, reviews, and comparison content drive retail citations.
How to Measure Your Progress
Create Your Baseline (Before Starting)
- Test 20 relevant queries across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity
- Record current citation rate (e.g., cited in 2 out of 20 = 10%)
- Document how you're described when cited (accuracy check)
- Note competitors who are cited more frequently
Weekly Tracking Metrics
- Citation Frequency: % of test queries where you're mentioned
- Citation Position: Are you first recommendation or third?
- Citation Accuracy: % of citations with accurate information
- Platform Coverage: Number of platforms citing you (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)
- Competitive Position: Your citation rate vs top competitor
Expected Progress Timeline
| Timeframe | Items Completed | Expected Citation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Items 1-10 (Quick Wins) | 10-20% |
| Week 3 | Items 1-20 (Quick Wins + Foundation) | 30-45% |
| Week 6 | Items 1-30 (Through Intermediate) | 50-70% |
| Week 12 | All 37 items | 70-90% |
Note: Results vary by industry competition. Highly competitive industries (London solicitors, major city accountants) may see slower progress but still significant improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many of these 37 tactics do I need to implement?
Start with all Quick Wins (items 1-10) in your first week. These deliver immediate improvement with minimal effort. Then implement Foundation Building items (11-20) over weeks 2-3. After that, prioritize based on your industry and resources. Most businesses see citations after implementing 20-25 of the 37 tactics. However, competitive industries may require implementing all 37 for consistent citations.
Which tactics have the highest impact?
The highest-impact tactics are: Schema markup implementation (#11-15), Wikipedia presence (#29), Google Business Profile optimization (#1), authority citations from media (#27-28), and FAQ schema (#13). These five areas account for approximately 60% of citation success based on our analysis of 50+ UK businesses.
Can I implement these myself or do I need help?
Quick Wins and Foundation Building tactics (1-20) can be implemented in-house with basic technical skills. Intermediate tactics (21-30) may require technical expertise for schema implementation. Advanced tactics (31-37) typically benefit from professional help, especially authority building and media outreach. Many businesses use a hybrid approach: implement basics in-house, hire consultants for advanced tactics.
How long until I see results?
Most businesses see first citations within 4-6 weeks of implementing Quick Wins and Foundation tactics. Meaningful citation rates (50%+) typically require 8-12 weeks of consistent implementation. The timeline depends on industry competition and how many tactics you implement.
Do I need to implement these in order?
The sections are organized by implementation complexity, not strict order. However, Quick Wins should be completed first as they provide the foundation. Within each section, you can prioritize based on your industry (see Priority Implementation Matrix). Some tactics have dependencies (e.g., create FAQ page before implementing FAQ schema).
What if my competitors are already doing all this?
If competitors have strong AEO presence, you need comprehensive implementation (all 37 tactics) plus differentiation. Focus on: unique expertise angles they don't cover, geographic areas they underserve, customer types they don't target, superior content quality and detail, stronger credentials and case studies. In competitive markets, execution quality matters more than tactic quantity.
Need Help Implementing This Checklist?
This checklist provides the complete roadmap, but implementation can be time-consuming, especially if you're running a business simultaneously.
AEO-REX offers comprehensive implementation services:
- AEO Audit: We assess your current position and identify which of these 37 tactics will have highest impact for your specific business (£500)
- AEO Transformation: We implement the complete checklist for you over 90 days, including schema markup, content optimization, and authority building (from £1,497)
- AEO Evolution: Ongoing optimization with monthly implementation of new tactics and continuous citation monitoring (£197/month)
Or start with a free strategy call to discuss your specific situation: