AI & AEO AUDIT
Get cited by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini.
SEO helps Google find you. AEO helps AI engines cite you. We audit your Shopify store against the same criteria these engines use to decide which sources to quote in their answers.
ORGANIC TRAFFIC IS SHIFTING TO AI ENGINES
A growing share of commercial searches now happens inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini instead of Google. For Canadian SMBs, that changes how you need to think about online visibility.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) prepares your site to be read, understood and cited by these engines. It's the equivalent of SEO, but for a new generation of search that no longer returns ten blue links. It generates an answer, and it cites its sources. Our AEO audit is built on four measurable pillars:
- Findable: your site is crawlable and indexable by AI bots
- Quotable: your content is extractable, fresh and structured for citation
- Understandable: your JSON-LD structured data describes your business with precision
- Trustworthy: your trust signals (external citations, llms.txt, consistency) are in place
Each pillar is scored. Every missing point becomes a concrete action in your report.
Before offering this service to clients, we applied the methodology to mindweb.ca. The result: 100/100, top 5% of sites scanned (measured on Framer AEO Report, May 2026). We don't teach theory. We apply to your store exactly what we did to our own.
Our AEO audit process
Our AEO audit follows a structured four-step process, from initial measurement to optional implementation:
1. Free pre-diagnostic
Automated scan of your store across the four AEO pillars. You receive your score, your strengths and your main gaps within 48 hours. No commitment.
2. Full audit on quote
In-depth manual analysis by our team. Review of your JSON-LD, freshness signals, alt tags, heading structure, llms.txt file, external citations and data consistency across your site, Google Business Profile and third-party listings.
3. Actionable report
Detailed document ranking each fix by impact and effort. You get ready-to-paste code snippets, content recommendations and a clear prioritization plan.
4. Implementation (optional)
We apply the fixes directly inside your Shopify theme. This includes bilingual JSON-LD schemas, freshness signals, llms.txt, alt tags and contextual citations. You walk away with an optimized site, not just a report.
Key takeaways
Mindweb is a Canadian Shopify agency based in Montreal, specialized in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) for Shopify stores. We audit your site across four measurable pillars (Findable, Quotable, Understandable, Trustworthy) and apply the same methodology that earned mindweb.ca a 100/100 score, placing our site in the top 5% of sites scanned. Our process includes a free pre-diagnostic delivered within 48 hours, a full audit on quote (typically one to two weeks) and optional implementation directly in your Shopify theme. We prepare your store to be cited by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini. Mindweb serves clients across Canada, with deep Quebec market expertise. Contact: bonjour@mindweb.ca.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions about our AI and AEO audit service. If you don't find what you're looking for, get in touch. We're happy to help.
What is AEO and how is it different from SEO?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) prepares your site to be cited in answers generated by AI engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini. SEO targets Google rankings. AEO targets citation inside an AI answer. The two are complementary. A site that's well optimized for SEO already has a good AEO foundation, but AEO adds specific signals (rich structured data, content freshness, llms.txt file) that traditional SEO ignores.
Why does AEO matter now?
More and more buyers start their research inside ChatGPT or Perplexity instead of Google. When a potential client asks ChatGPT "what's the best Shopify agency in Quebec," the AI answers by citing two or three sources. If your site isn't optimized to be cited, you don't appear anywhere in that answer, even if you rank well on Google.
My site already ranks well on Google. Do I need AEO?
Yes. Google rankings are necessary but no longer sufficient. AI engines use different criteria. They prioritize sites with complete structured data, recent freshness signals and contextual external citations. A site that dominates Google can be completely invisible inside ChatGPT.
How much does an AEO audit cost at Mindweb?
The pre-diagnostic is free. The full audit is on quote and depends on the complexity of your store, the number of pages to analyze and the depth of implementation you want. Request your free pre-diagnostic to get a precise estimate.
How long does an AEO audit take?
The pre-diagnostic is delivered within 48 hours. The full audit usually takes one to two weeks depending on site size. Implementation, if you delegate it to our team, takes another two to four weeks.
Which platforms do you work with?
Our AEO audit is built for Shopify stores. That's our specialty, and that's where we deliver the most value. We know JSON-LD schemas, Liquid and Shopify theme architecture in depth. For other platforms, we'll recommend a partner better suited to your stack.
Can you guarantee I'll be cited by ChatGPT?
No, and be careful of any agency that guarantees it. No AI engine publishes its exact citation criteria, and results vary by query. What we do guarantee is that your site will be technically prepared according to current best practices, measured by independent third-party tools like Framer AEO Report.
How do you measure AEO audit results?
We use several indicators. Your overall AEO score measured by third-party tools, the presence of your brand in answers generated by ChatGPT and Perplexity for your key commercial queries, and changes in traffic from AI engines (visible in Google Analytics 4 under sources like "chat.openai.com" and "perplexity.ai").
How often should I redo an AEO audit?
The field evolves quickly. We recommend a full audit yearly with a light quarterly check-in. AI engine criteria change. What scored 100/100 today could score 75/100 in six months without maintenance.
Do you work with businesses outside Quebec?
Most of our clients are based in Quebec, but we work remotely with businesses across Canada and the United States. The AEO methodology is the same regardless of geography. We simply adapt the content strategy and local signals to your market.
BEING FOUND ISN'T ENOUGH ANYMORE. YOU NEED TO BE CITED.
For twenty years, SEO was about climbing inside ten blue links. Today, users no longer see ten links. They see a generated answer with two or three sources cited. If you're not in those sources, you don't exist for that customer.
AEO doesn't replace SEO. It completes it. A site optimized on both fronts becomes a reference for Google and a source for AI engines. At Mindweb, we treat both inside the same audit, because they share the same technical foundations.
Our 100/100 score on mindweb.ca isn't a marketing argument. It's proof that the methodology works. We now apply it to your store.
Ready to exist inside AI answers?
Let's talk about your current store. In 30 minutes, we'll show you your current AEO score and the three highest-impact actions, with no commitment and tailored to your reality.