How to Check If AI Can Find Your Website

Can AI Actually Find Your Website?

Last updated: January 2026

Most business owners assume that if Google can find their website, AI systems like ChatGPT and Perplexity can too. This assumption is wrong.

AI search works differently than traditional search. Your website might rank #1 on Google and still be completely invisible to AI systems.

Here's how to check—and what to do about it.

Test #1: The Direct Query Test (5 minutes)

The simplest test is to ask AI directly about your business.

How to do it:

1. Open ChatGPT (with web browsing enabled) or Perplexity
2. Ask: "What can you tell me about [Your Company Name]?"
3. Ask: "What companies offer [your main service] in [your location]?"
4. Ask: "[A question your website answers]"

What to look for:

• Does the AI mention your company?
• Does it cite your website as a source?
• Is the information accurate?

If you're not mentioned: Your website has visibility problems that need fixing.

Test #2: The robots.txt Test (2 minutes)

AI crawlers respect robots.txt files. If you're blocking them, they can't see your content.

How to check:

1. Go to: yourwebsite.com/robots.txt
2. Look for these user agents:

- GPTBot (ChatGPT) - Claude-Web (Claude) - PerplexityBot (Perplexity) - Amazonbot (Alexa) Red flags:

User-agent: GPTBot
Disallow: /

This blocks ChatGPT entirely.

What you want to see:

User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /

Or simply no mention of these bots (they're allowed by default).

Test #3: The Schema Markup Test (3 minutes)

Schema markup helps AI understand your content. Without it, you're at a disadvantage.

How to check:

1. Go to: Google Rich Results Test
2. Enter your URL
3. See what schema is detected

What to look for:

• Organization schema
• FAQ schema (if you have FAQs)
• Article schema (for blog posts)
• Product/Service schema

If no schema is detected: You're missing critical optimization.

Test #4: The Content Extraction Test (5 minutes)

AI systems need to extract information from your pages. Some content is harder to extract than others.

How to check:

1. Disable JavaScript in your browser
2. Visit your website
3. Can you still see your main content?

Also check:

• Is important information in images only? (AI can't read images well)
• Are key points buried in long paragraphs?
• Do you have clear headings and structure?

If content disappears without JavaScript: AI crawlers probably can't see it either.

Test #5: The Cite-Worthiness Test (10 minutes)

AI systems cite content that's specific, factual, and authoritative. Generic content gets skipped.

Check your key pages for:

✓ Specific numbers and statistics ✓ Clear, quotable statements ✓ Author names and credentials ✓ Publication/update dates ✓ FAQ sections ✓ Question-based headings

Example of cite-worthy content: "GEO optimization services range from $99 for DIY audit reports to $9,997 for full done-for-you implementation. The average website scores 38/100 before optimization." Example of non-cite-worthy content: "We offer comprehensive solutions at competitive prices."

The Fastest Way: Run a GEO Audit

Instead of running each test manually, you can get a comprehensive AI visibility analysis in 90 seconds.

→ Run Your Free GEO Audit to check:

• AI crawler accessibility
• Schema markup implementation
• Content structure and extractability
• Authority signals
• Overall AI visibility score

The audit identifies specific issues and prioritizes what to fix first.

What Your Score Means

The average website scores just 38/100, meaning most businesses have significant AI visibility gaps.

Next Steps Based on Your Results

If you're blocked (score 0-30):

1. Fix robots.txt immediately
2. Add basic schema markup
3. Re-test in 1-2 weeks

If you're underperforming (score 31-70):

1. Get the Full GEO Report ($99) for detailed fix instructions
2. Implement fixes in priority order
3. Expect improvements in 4-6 weeks

If you're doing well (score 71+):

1. Focus on content optimization
2. Add more FAQ sections
3. Monitor competitor performance

Your AI Visibility Checklist

Use this quick checklist to assess your AI readiness:

• [ ] robots.txt allows AI crawlers
• [ ] Schema markup is present
• [ ] Content renders without JavaScript
• [ ] Pages have specific, factual content
• [ ] Author and company info is visible
• [ ] FAQs exist with proper markup
• [ ] Content is current (updated within 12 months)

→ Get Your Complete Analysis Now