1. Technical discoverability

Sitemap includes important HTML pages and returns 200 status.
Canonical URLs match the URLs you want indexed.
Robots.txt does not block core pages, scripts, or styles.
Search Console can fetch priority pages and request indexing.

2. Product understanding

Titles identify the actual product, not just brand names.
Descriptions include use cases, materials, size, fit, audience, and constraints.
Categories and tags match buyer search language.
Variants, bundles, subscriptions, and product limitations are clear.

3. AI-readable catalog layer

/llms.txt is available at the domain root.
Product price, stock, URL, categories, and policies are current.
Out-of-stock or hidden products are not promoted as purchasable.
Priority products and seasonal campaigns are clearly marked.

4. Answer-ready content

FAQs answer real buyer questions in natural language.
Buying guides target “best for,” “how to choose,” and comparison queries.
Internal links connect tutorials, product pages, collections, and policies.
Each page has one clear search intent and a helpful direct answer.

5. Trust and policy signals

Shipping, returns, warranties, subscriptions, and support are easy to summarize.
Reviews and testimonials are crawlable and tied to product benefits.
Store contact and company information are visible.
Claims are specific and supported by page content.

What to do after the checklist

Start with technical fixes, then add the AI-readable catalog layer. For platform steps, use Shopify llms.txt setup or WooCommerce llms.txt setup. For strategy, read AI product recommendation optimization.

FAQ

How often should I run an ecommerce AEO audit?

Run it after major catalog changes, new product launches, seasonal campaigns, pricing changes, or site redesigns.

Can one checklist work for Shopify and WooCommerce?

Yes. The platform implementation differs, but AI systems need the same core signals: clear products, current availability, helpful answers, and trusted policies.

What is the fastest AEO improvement?

Publish a clean /llms.txt file and add question-answer content around your highest-intent products and collections.