AI-Assisted SEO Checklist for Small Business

20 Actions to Get Found on Google

Free resource from aibusinessaccelerator.au

Work through each section once, then revisit quarterly. Items marked with [PROMPT] include a ChatGPT/Claude prompt to help you complete them faster.

Section 1: Foundation (5 Actions)

These are the non-negotiables. If these aren’t done, other SEO work has limited impact.

1.1 — Google Business Profile is complete

Business name, category, description, and address are accurate
Phone number, website, and booking link are listed
Business hours are current and verified

[PROMPT] Write a 250-word Google Business Profile description for a [business type] in [city]. Include the suburb name, the main service categories, and who the ideal client is. Natural language, no keyword stuffing.

1.2 — Site loads fast on mobile

Open your website on your phone and count seconds until it’s usable (aim: under 3 seconds)
Run a free speed test at PageSpeed Insights (pagespeed.web.dev)
If images are slow: compress them at squoosh.app before uploading

1.3 — Every page has a title and meta description

Log into your website CMS (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, etc.)
Check every page — home, services, about, contact — for a unique title and meta description
Blank? See the prompt below.

[PROMPT] Write an SEO page title (under 60 characters) and meta description (under 155 characters) for the [page name] page of a [business type] website in [city]. Target keyword: [keyword]. Include a benefit in the meta description and a soft CTA if space allows.

1.4 — Google Search Console is connected

Create a free account at search.google.com/search-console
Add and verify your website property
Submit your sitemap (most CMS platforms generate one automatically at [yoursite.com]/sitemap.xml)

1.5 — Sitemap submitted

Find your sitemap URL (usually [yoursite.com]/sitemap.xml)
Submit it in Google Search Console → Sitemaps
Check for any crawl errors in the Coverage report

Section 2: Keywords (5 Actions)

2.1 — 20 target keywords researched with ChatGPT

Run the keyword research prompt below
Save the output in a Google Doc or spreadsheet
Group by: short-tail, long-tail, question-based

[PROMPT] I run a [business type] in [suburb/city], Australia. My ideal customer is [description]. Generate 20 search terms they might type into Google when looking for my services or help with a problem I solve. Include short keywords (1–2 words), longer phrases (3–5 words), and question-based searches. Group by type.

2.2 — High-intent keywords identified

Run the follow-up prompt below on your keyword list
Highlight the HIGH INTENT terms — these are your priority

[PROMPT] Here is a list of keywords I'm targeting: [paste your list]. Which of these are most likely to indicate someone is ready to book or hire, rather than just researching? Mark those with [HIGH INTENT] and briefly explain why for each.

2.3 — Each main page targets one keyword

Home page: targeting [keyword]
Services page (or each service page): targeting [keyword per page]
About page: targeting [keyword]
Contact page: targeting [keyword]
One keyword per page — not five. Focus beats breadth.

2.4 — Blog topics mapped to keywords

Create a simple table: Blog Topic | Target Keyword | Published/Planned
Each planned blog post targets one keyword from your list
Prioritise question-based keywords for blog posts (e.g. “how to…,” “what is…”)

[PROMPT] I have these keywords I want to target: [list]. Suggest a blog post topic for each that would naturally incorporate the keyword while being genuinely useful to [description of audience].

2.5 — Search volumes checked in Google Keyword Planner

Log in to Google Keyword Planner (free via Google Ads account — no need to run ads)
Search your top 10 keywords
Note average monthly searches — prioritise keywords with 10+ monthly searches in your region
Keywords with 0 searches aren’t worth targeting; keywords with 1,000+ are often too competitive for a new site

Section 3: Content (5 Actions)

3.1 — Service pages have 200+ words of specific copy

Check your word count on each service page
Under 200 words? Use the prompt below to expand it

[PROMPT] Write a 250-word service page description for [specific service] offered by a [business type] in [city]. Naturally include these keywords: [list 3–5]. Include: what the client gets, how the process works, and why to choose us. Conversational and professional.

3.2 — FAQ page exists

Check if your site has an FAQ page
No? Use the prompt below to generate 10 Q&As and create the page

[PROMPT] Write 10 FAQ questions and answers for a [business type] in [city]. Focus on questions potential clients ask before deciding to book or hire. Each answer: 50–80 words. Conversational, honest, no jargon.

3.3 — Blog publishes at least once a month

Look at your blog: when was the last post?
Set a calendar block: first Thursday of each month, 90 minutes
Use the AI Blog Workflow Guide to write each post

3.4 — Meta descriptions written for all pages

Audit: which pages are missing meta descriptions?
Write one for each using the meta description prompt from Section 1.3
Check character count (under 155) with a free counter tool

3.5 — Page titles include suburb or city

Check all page titles for the location name
Especially important: home page, services page, about page
Formula: “[Service] in [City] | [Business Name]”

[PROMPT] Write 5 SEO page title options for my [page type] page targeting the keyword "[keyword]" in [city]. Under 60 characters each. Include the suburb/city in at least 3 options. Character count in brackets after each.

Section 4: Local SEO (5 Actions)

4.1 — Google Business Profile has 10+ reviews

Count your current reviews
Under 10? Create a system: after every job, send the review link
Google review link: get it from your Google Business Profile dashboard → Get more reviews

[PROMPT] Write a short, friendly message I can send to clients after completing a job, asking them to leave a Google review. Include a [LINK PLACEHOLDER]. 2 sentences. Warm, not pushy.

4.2 — Business name, address, and phone are consistent across the web

Check your business details on: Google Business Profile, your website, Facebook page, any directory listings
Any inconsistency (different phone number, old address) confuses Google
Fix mismatches before they accumulate

4.3 — Listed in key Australian local directories

True Local (truelocal.com.au)
Yellow Pages (yellowpages.com.au)
Hipages (for trades)
Yelp Australia
Your industry association’s member directory

[PROMPT] Write a business listing description for a [business type] in [city] for an online directory. 100 words. Include: what the business does, who it serves, service area, and a CTA. Natural language, no keyword stuffing.

4.4 — Photos on Google Business Profile

Upload at least 5–10 photos: your workspace, team, before/after, equipment, location
Real photos from your business outperform stock images for GBP
Add a new photo monthly — fresh content signals an active business

4.5 — Google Business Profile posts made monthly

GBP posts appear in search results and Maps — free visibility
Post once a month: a tip, a service promotion, a recent job result, or a seasonal offer

[PROMPT] Write a Google Business Profile post for a [business type] in [city/suburb]. Topic: [describe — e.g. "end of year HVAC service offer," "new client welcome," "winter plumbing tip"]. Under 150 words. Include the suburb name and end with a clear CTA.

Quarterly Review Prompt

Run this every 3 months to assess what’s working:

I run a [business type] in [city] and have been doing SEO for [X] months. 
My current results: [describe — e.g. "Google Business Profile gets 200 
views per month, website gets 150 visitors, I receive 3–4 organic enquiries 
per month"].

Based on this, what are the 3 most impactful things I should focus on 
in the next quarter to improve my Google visibility?

More resources at aibusinessaccelerator.au