Short answer: your website is ready for AI search when an AI tool can quickly understand who you help, what you offer, what it costs and why you're credible. That means a clear homepage, a page for every service, a proper about page, FAQs, text testimonials, blogs that answer real questions, consistent details, clear headings and titles, fast mobile pages, structured data, nothing blocking AI crawlers and a way to measure results.

By Laurie Burrows, marketing and sales strategist. Last updated Thursday 15th October 2026.

I've looked at a lot of coaching and service websites over the years. Most of them look lovely and say very little. Lots of "I help you step into your power" and not much about what you actually do, who it's for or what it costs. That's a problem for people, and it's a bigger problem for AI.

Work through these twelve checks. Tick off what you've got, and fix the rest one at a time.

Content checks

1. Your homepage says who you help in the first two lines

Not your mission statement. Not a quote. Who you help and what you help them do. If someone (or something) only read the top of your homepage, would they know?

2. Every service has its own page

One page per offer, with what it is, who it's for, what's included, how it works, the price or starting price and proof. AI can't recommend what it can't find.

3. Your about page proves you're credible

Your experience, your results, your story, where you've been featured and who you've worked with. Write it in plain words and include your full name and business name.

4. You have FAQs with direct answers

Add FAQs to your homepage and service pages. Use the real questions people ask, and answer each one in two or three clear sentences.

5. Your testimonials are written out as text

Screenshots are fine for social media, but put the words on your website as text too, with the person's permission, name and the result they got. Only use real results you can back up.

6. You have a blog that answers questions

Each post should answer one question your ideal client is asking, starting with a short answer. This is your biggest chance to show up in AI answers for things people actually search.

7. Your details are consistent everywhere

Same name, same business name, same description, same location and same contact details on your website, social profiles and directories.

Technical checks

Don't panic, these are simpler than they sound. Your website platform does most of the work.

8. Each page has a clear title and one main heading

Your page title (the bit that shows in the browser tab and in Google) and your main heading should say what the page is about. "Business Coaching for Mums | Your Name" beats "Home".

9. Your pages load fast and work on mobile

Open your website on your phone. If it's slow or you have to pinch and zoom, fix that first. You can test it free with Google's PageSpeed Insights.

10. You're using structured data

Structured data (also called schema) is a bit of code that tells search engines and AI what's on a page: your name, your business, your FAQs, your reviews. Many platforms add some automatically. If you're not sure, ask whoever built your site.

11. You're not blocking AI crawlers

Some websites accidentally block the bots that AI tools use to read the web. Ask your web person to check your robots.txt file, or check your platform's settings.

12. You can measure what's working

Make sure you've got analytics set up so you can see visits from AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and ask every new enquiry how they found you. Then re-test what AI says about you every month.

What if your website needs more than a few tweaks?

If you scored under six, it's often quicker to start again than to patch it. That's exactly why I'm offering a small number of free websites right now, built from scratch and fully optimised for AI search.

Want to understand the bigger picture first? Read What Is AI Search?, AI Search vs SEO and The Ultimate Guide to Getting Clients With AI. For the checklist plus prompts and a 7 day plan, grab my free guide Get Found By AI.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if AI can read my website?

Ask ChatGPT or Perplexity to summarise a page from your website by giving it the link. If the summary is accurate and complete, that's a good sign. If it gets things wrong or can't access the page, something needs fixing.

Does my website platform matter for AI search?

Less than you'd think. Most modern platforms handle the basics. What matters most is what's on the page: clear services, FAQs, proof and answers to real questions.

How often should I update my website for AI search?

Add or update content at least monthly, and re-check what AI says about you every month. Fresh, accurate information helps.