Foundation
Google Search Essentials
Understand eligibility before chasing a score.
Meeting technical requirements does not guarantee indexing or ranking.
Open official resource for Google Search Essentials (new tab)The practical discoverability library
Know what matters. Use what already works.
Primary guidance, established tools, and a reusable checklist. These are learning resources and integration candidates—not a claim that every tool is installed, free, or endorsed by a search engine.
16 of 16 curated resources
Foundation
Google AI features guidance
See where ordinary SEO fundamentals still apply to generative Search.
No special AI schema or AI text file is required for these Google features.
Open official resource for Google AI features guidance (new tab)Foundation
OpenAI crawler controls
Separate search discovery from training preferences.
OAI-SearchBot and GPTBot have different purposes; do not automatically unblock training crawlers.
Open official resource for OpenAI crawler controls (new tab)Audit
Squirrelscan
An open-source site-audit engine with agent interfaces.
A candidate integration, not an installed GFIC dependency or a ranking authority.
Open official resource for Squirrelscan (new tab)Agent workflow
Ian Nuttall SEO toolkit
CLI and MCP workflows combining site and search evidence.
Provider access and data permissions must be configured separately.
Open official resource for Ian Nuttall SEO toolkit (new tab)Agent workflow
SE Ranking SEO skills
Reusable specialist workflows and example deliverables.
Review each skill and its permissions before running it.
Open official resource for SE Ranking SEO skills (new tab)Agent workflow
Claude SEO
A specialist skill collection for assisted SEO work.
Skill instructions need current-source checks and independent validation.
Open official resource for Claude SEO (new tab)Measurement
Google Search Console
Use authorized first-party indexing and search-performance evidence.
A public site scan cannot read your private Search Console data.
Open official resource for Google Search Console (new tab)Audit
Lighthouse
Reproducible browser-based lab audits for performance and other checks.
Lab results are not field Core Web Vitals or a guarantee of a ranking change.
Open official resource for Lighthouse (new tab)Measurement
PageSpeed Insights
Inspect available performance evidence for a page.
Some sites lack sufficient field data; missing data is not a failed performance test.
Open official resource for PageSpeed Insights (new tab)Research
Ahrefs MCP
An agent interface to supported Ahrefs research datasets.
Commercial access, quotas, and coverage depend on the provider plan.
Open official resource for Ahrefs MCP (new tab)Research
DataForSEO MCP
Programmatic SEO research with a maintained provider interface.
An open-source wrapper does not make the underlying data free.
Open official resource for DataForSEO MCP (new tab)Audit
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
A specialist crawler for deeper technical investigations.
Use representative templates and inspect findings rather than blindly applying every recommendation.
Open official resource for Screaming Frog SEO Spider (new tab)Audit
Google Rich Results Test
Validate supported structured-data features independently.
Valid markup does not guarantee a rich result or an AI citation.
Open official resource for Google Rich Results Test (new tab)Agent workflow
Playwright MCP
Inspect real browser behavior and verify customer journeys.
Use scoped browser sessions; never expose customer credentials to untrusted page instructions.
Open official resource for Playwright MCP (new tab)Foundation
LearningSEO
A structured learning map for the underlying discipline.
Start with the fundamentals and check publication dates before reusing tactical advice.
Open official resource for LearningSEO (new tab)The same criteria used by the audit
A checklist with evidence—not folklore.
A response check can establish a narrow fact. Browser behavior, indexing, customer usefulness, and revenue need separate evidence. This checklist does not assign proprietary ranking weights.
Eligibility · Public-response check
Public page response
For an intended search page, verify a successful HTML response with your hosting provider and Search Console.
Source guidance for Public page response (new tab)Technical · Public-response check
Encrypted page delivery
Serve the intended public page over HTTPS without redirect loops.
Source guidance for Encrypted page delivery (new tab)Eligibility · Public-response check
Indexing directives
Confirm the page is intended for indexing before changing any noindex directive. Never remove intentional privacy controls.
Source guidance for Indexing directives (new tab)Eligibility · Public-response check
Search snippet controls
Review deliberate snippet restrictions; do not override content-owner preferences.
Source guidance for Search snippet controls (new tab)Eligibility · Public-response check
Googlebot robots access
Inspect the matching path policy and the CDN separately. Only change restrictions with the site owner's approval.
Source guidance for Googlebot robots access (new tab)Eligibility · Public-response check
OAI-SearchBot robots access
Inspect the matching path policy and the CDN separately. Only change restrictions with the site owner's approval.
Source guidance for OAI-SearchBot robots access (new tab)Eligibility · Public-response check
PerplexityBot robots access
Inspect the matching path policy and the CDN separately. Only change restrictions with the site owner's approval.
Source guidance for PerplexityBot robots access (new tab)Technical · Public-response check
Canonical ownership
Check the intended canonical against redirects, sitemap entries, internal links, and Google's selected canonical. A non-self canonical can be intentional.
Source guidance for Canonical ownership (new tab)Content · Public-response check
Descriptive page title
Write a unique title that describes the actual page. Presence alone does not establish quality.
Source guidance for Descriptive page title (new tab)Content · Public-response check
Search description
Summarize the page honestly for potential visitors. Search engines may choose a different snippet.
Source guidance for Search description (new tab)Content · Public-response check
Visible primary heading in HTML
Make the page's purpose clear to readers. This is not a rule that multiple H1s cause a ranking penalty.
Source guidance for Visible primary heading in HTML (new tab)Technical · Public-response check
Discoverable internal links
Use relevant crawlable links between important pages. Check destination status in a full crawl.
Source guidance for Discoverable internal links (new tab)Markup · Public-response check
Structured-data JSON syntax
Only describe visible, truthful content. Validate applicable types with the provider's validator; do not add unnecessary schema just to improve a score.
Source guidance for Structured-data JSON syntax (new tab)Technical · Public-response check
Sitemap discovery
Use accurate canonical URLs and meaningful lastmod dates. A sitemap is useful but is not mandatory for every small site.
Source guidance for Sitemap discovery (new tab)Policy · Public-response check
Optional llms.txt
Treat this as optional documentation, not an indexing requirement or a promise of AI citations.
Source guidance for Optional llms.txt (new tab)Policy · Public-response check
Training crawler preferences
Choose training access separately from search access. Do not automatically unblock GPTBot or Google-Extended.
Source guidance for Training crawler preferences (new tab)Experience · Requires review or connected data
Rendered page and mobile journey
Inspect the real browser, keyboard flow, mobile layout, and conversion action.
Source guidance for Rendered page and mobile journey (new tab)Measurement · Requires review or connected data
Actual search indexing
Connect authorized Search Console and inspect this exact URL.
Source guidance for Actual search indexing (new tab)Experience · Requires review or connected data
Field Core Web Vitals
Use CrUX where sufficient data exists and separate field metrics from lab tests.
Source guidance for Field Core Web Vitals (new tab)Measurement · Requires review or connected data
Actual AI answers and citations
Record engine, surface, locale, prompt set, sample size, failures, answers, and citations.
Source guidance for Actual AI answers and citations (new tab)Content · Requires review or connected data
Evidence and customer usefulness
Review original evidence, expertise, factual accuracy, buyer questions, and the next useful action.
Source guidance for Evidence and customer usefulness (new tab)Policy · Requires review or connected data
Spam and deceptive tactics review
Review scaled content, link practices, deceptive claims, fake reviews, and site reputation abuse.
Source guidance for Spam and deceptive tactics review (new tab)Measurement · Requires review or connected data
Qualified leads and business outcomes
Define a value event and connect consented analytics; do not equate a citation with a customer.
Source guidance for Qualified leads and business outcomes (new tab)