CHECKLIST
Google AI Overviews readiness
Review one page at a time to see whether it has what it takes to become a source in Google's AI summaries.
Overview
For whom
Marketing and SEO leads with existing Google traffic
Items
20
Time needed
2–4 hours per page
Level
Intermediate
1.The page is indexed
Search for site:yourdomain.com/page or use URL inspection in Search Console. A page that isn't indexed can't become a source.
2.The page already ranks on page 1 for the query
AI Overviews usually draw sources from the top organic results. If you rank far down, regular SEO is the first step.
3.Direct answer in the first paragraph (40–60 words)
Answer the question straight away before background and reasoning. A short, self-contained paragraph is easy to cite.
4.Headings phrased as customers' questions
Use H2s and H3s that mirror how people actually ask, such as “How much does … cost?” rather than “Pricing information”.
5.Lists and tables for steps and comparisons
Structured formats are easier to extract and summarise than long paragraphs.
6.A clear definition early on the page
If the page is about a concept, define it in one sentence near the top: “X is …”.
7.Cover follow-up questions (“People also ask”)
Look at the People also ask box and answer the relevant questions under their own headings.
8.FAQ with FAQPage schema
Collect short questions and answers at the bottom and mark them up. Keep the answers identical to the visible text.
9.Article schema with dates
Set published and updated dates in both the schema and the visible text.
10.Visible author with expertise (E-E-A-T)
Show who wrote the page, with title, experience and a link to an author page.
11.Original data, numbers or examples
Unique information that isn't available elsewhere gives a reason to cite you specifically.
12.References to credible sources
Link to authorities, research or industry bodies when you state facts.
13.Update regularly and show the date
Review important pages at least twice a year and change the date only when the content actually changes.
14.No nosnippet/max-snippet restrictions
Meta tags like nosnippet or a low max-snippet stop Google from using the text in summaries.
15.Passing Core Web Vitals
Check LCP, INP and CLS in Search Console or PageSpeed Insights. Slow pages tend to lose ranking.
16.Mobile-friendly layout
Google indexes the mobile version first. Everything on desktop should also be on mobile.
17.Canonical URL without duplicates
Make sure each topic has one page with a correct canonical so signals aren't split across versions.
18.Internal links from related pages
Link to the page from other relevant pages with clear anchor text.
19.Map which queries trigger AI Overviews in your industry
Search your key queries manually or with tools and note where an AI summary appears.
20.Analyse which sources are cited today and why
Open the cited pages and compare format, depth and freshness with your own page.
Updated:
See where you stand before you start
Measure how often AI engines mention your company, or book a free analysis and we'll go through the list together.