Find the problem before choosing the fix
A GEO audit checks whether search systems can reach your pages, understand your business and find information that answers a customer's question. It also checks what selected AI answers actually say. These are separate checks: a technically accessible page may still be unindexed, unmentioned or incorrectly summarized.
FoundUp's audit work is for service businesses deciding what to improve on an existing site. Start with the services you sell, the customers you serve and the questions that lead to an enquiry. A rebuild is one possible outcome, not the default recommendation.
What the audit should contain
| Area | Evidence to keep | Decision it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Access and discovery | URLs, response codes, robots rules, canonical tags, sitemap entries and rendered content. | Which pages need a technical correction or an indexing check? |
| Business information | Service descriptions, locations, prices, contact details and contradictory claims. | Which facts must the business owner confirm? |
| Question coverage | Customer questions mapped to pages, with missing answers identified. | Should an existing page change, or does a distinct task need its own page? |
| AI observations | Exact prompts, platform or API, date, market, answer and source URLs. | Was the business mentioned, cited and represented accurately in this sample? |
| Action plan | Issue, affected URL, proposed change, owner and acceptance check. | Who implements each change and how will it be retested? |
From findings to implementation
- Define the sample. Agree the important pages, services, markets and customer questions. A sample does not represent every possible query.
- Collect evidence. Keep the original page and answer observations so a recommendation can be traced to a finding.
- Prioritize. Fix access and factual problems first. Then address missing buying information and improve navigation between related pages.
- Approve the scope. Separate research from writing, development, publication and recurring monitoring.
- Retest. Confirm the intended page change and repeat the same prompt under recorded conditions. Report a technical fix separately from a change in AI answers.
Our website audit guide contains a dated observation about this website. It is an example of the method, not a customer result.
What affects scope and price?
The number of pages is only one factor. Multiple services, markets, languages, CMS restrictions and conflicting source information can increase the work. Specify whether the engagement includes implementation or an audit report only.
The Growth and Pro plans publish website and ongoing tracking allowances. A standalone audit or work outside those allowances needs an agreed scope and quote. Do not assume that every audit includes a rebuild, an unlimited content library or third-party software access.
GEO audit questions
Can you audit a site built on another platform?
An existing website can be the starting point. Share its URL and platform so we can assess access and implementation constraints before agreeing the work.
Does passing an audit guarantee an AI citation?
No. A technical check verifies an observable property of a page. Search and AI systems decide whether to index, use or cite it.
What can I check myself?
Use the GEO audit scorecard to record URLs, evidence and unresolved issues. Start with a representative service page, the pricing page and the contact journey.