AEO/GEO Checklist for Articles and Landing Pages

1. Search Intent and Funnel Stage

• Define a primary SEO keyword.
• Define the primary AI prompt the content should answer.
• Identify the funnel stage: Awareness / Consideration / Decision / Conversion.
• The closer the user is to conversion, the stronger the CTA and product page links should be.
• Include a clear product bridge to doBoard or Spotfix whenever it naturally fits the topic.

Example

• Keyword: Trello alternatives
• AI Prompt: best Trello alternative with unlimited users
• Funnel Stage: Decision
• Target Page: /trello-alternative/

2. Add a TL;DR or Quick Summary at the Top

• Start the page with a TL;DR, Quick Summary, or Best Answer section.
• The summary should answer the article's primary question in 2–6 concise sentences.
• Readers should be able to understand the main takeaway without reading the entire page.
• Include specific information rather than generic statements.
• Mention your brand naturally when appropriate.

Poor Example

Improve collaboration and streamline workflows.

Better Example

doBoard is a simple project management platform for small remote teams that need task management, time tracking, workload planning, and client workspaces without per-user pricing.

3. Content Structure and Chunks

• Use a clear and descriptive H1.
• Write H2 and H3 headings as specific questions or focused topics.
• One H2 = one topic.
• One paragraph = one idea.
• Start important sections with a short, direct answer.
• Make paragraphs self-contained so they can be quoted or extracted independently by AI systems.
• Avoid large walls of text.

4. Use Tables When Appropriate

• Include a comparison table when the topic involves evaluating options or making a choice.
• Use HTML tables, not images.
• If using Ninja Tables, verify on the published page that the content is fully readable as HTML text.
• Use clear column headings.
• Make table cells descriptive and self-contained. Avoid entries such as "Yes", "No", or "Good" without context.
• Add a brief explanation before the table and a short conclusion after it.

Recommended Formats

5. Optimize Images for Humans and AI

• Important information should never exist only inside an image. Always provide supporting text.
• Every meaningful image should have a descriptive alt attribute.
• Alt text should describe the purpose or meaning of the image, not simply say "screenshot."
• Add captions when images explain a process, interface, dataset, workflow, or comparison.
• Include text context near the image.
• Use descriptive filenames instead of names like image-123.png.

Example Alt Text

doBoard workload planning view showing estimated hours, logged hours, and available team capacity for sprint planning.

6. Add an FAQ Section

• Include an FAQ section when the topic naturally generates questions.
• Questions should resemble real search queries and AI prompts.
• Answers should be concise, typically 2–6 sentences.
• Each answer should be understandable on its own.
• For commercial topics, include purchase-oriented questions.

Examples

• What is the best Trello alternative with unlimited users?
• Is doBoard a good Jira alternative for small teams?
• Does doBoard charge per user?
• Does Spotfix work for website feedback from clients?

7. Sources, Citations, and Trust Signals

• Support comparisons, pricing, statistics, and factual claims with authoritative sources.
• For competitors, prefer official pricing and feature pages.
• Include the source and date for all important statistics.
• If the article targets a specific year, such as "2026," verify that all information is current.
• Avoid unsupported claims such as "best," "leading," or "most popular."
• Include an author or brand author.
• Display publication and/or last updated dates.

8. Internal Links and Calls to Action

• Link to relevant product, feature, comparison, and use-case pages.
• Use descriptive anchor text instead of generic phrases such as "Learn More."
• Match the CTA to the funnel stage.

Awareness: Soft CTA

Decision / Conversion: Direct CTA

• Link users to the most relevant page, not automatically to the homepage.

Example Anchor Text

• Trello alternative with unlimited users
• website feedback tool for clients
• project management software for software agencies
• planning poker feature

9. WordPress and Yoast Metadata

• SEO title matches the H1 and primary keyword.
• Meta description clearly communicates the page's value.
• WordPress excerpt contains a concise 1–2 sentence summary.
• Open Graph title and description are intentional and aligned with the content.
• URL slug is short and descriptive.
• Featured image includes meaningful alt text.

10. Schema Markup and Technical Accessibility

• Add Article schema for articles.
• Add FAQ schema when FAQ content exists.
• Add SoftwareApplication or Product schema for product pages when applicable.
• Include Breadcrumb schema.
• Ensure the page is not set to noindex.
• Avoid using nosnippet if you want visibility in AI-generated answers.
• Make sure important content is available in HTML and not hidden inside tabs, PDFs, images, or JavaScript components.
• Include the page in your XML sitemap.

11. Review llms.txt Eligibility

After publishing, decide whether the page should be added to llms.txt.

Consider adding:

• Product pages
• Comparison pages
• Alternative pages
• Best tools pages
• Major guides
• Important use-case pages
• High-value evergreen articles

Do not add every published article, especially if you publish content at scale.

If you add a page, include a descriptive explanation rather than listing only the URL.

12. Final Pre-Publication Review

Before publishing, confirm the following:

• A clear answer or TL;DR appears near the top.
• AI systems can extract at least 3–5 standalone answer snippets from the content.
• A comparison table is included when appropriate.
• An FAQ section is included when relevant.
• Internal links point to relevant commercial pages.
• Claims are supported by authoritative sources.
• The content includes a natural product bridge to the brand or product.
• It is clear who the product is for.
• For commercial and comparison content, it is also clear who the product is not for.
• SEO title, meta description, excerpt, and image alt text are completed.
• A decision has been made regarding inclusion in llms.txt.

Quick Version

• TL;DR included.
• Direct H2 and H3 headings.
• Self-contained paragraphs.
• Table included when appropriate.
• Images include alt text, captions, and supporting context.
• FAQ included when appropriate.
• Sources added for important claims.
• Internal links point to commercial pages.
• SEO title, meta description, and excerpt completed.
• Decision made about inclusion in llms.txt.