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Free 25-Point AEO Audit Checklist for Shopify (Built From Pew Research & Relixir Benchmarks)

Sean Dorje

Published

October 1, 2025

3 min read

Why Your Shopify Store Needs an AEO Audit in 2025

The numbers paint a stark picture for Shopify merchants. According to recent analysis, "Zero-click results hit 65% in 2023 and continue climbing, while Google AI Overview click-through rates have plummeted 30% in 2025." When Google displays AI-generated summaries, users click traditional results in just 8% of searches versus 15% without AI summaries.

This dramatic shift demands a new approach. Answer Engine Optimization has emerged as the critical strategy for ensuring your content gets recognized and cited by AI systems. The payoff? Brands mentioned by AI see a 38% boost in organic clicks and 39% increase in paid ad clicks.

Relixir's data reveals even more compelling evidence: LLM-sourced sessions jumped 527% across 19 GA4 properties from January to May 2025, with LLM-generated traffic delivering 124% higher conversions than traditional channels. These metrics demonstrate that stores optimizing for AI search visibility aren't just recovering lost traffic—they're capturing higher-quality visits that convert at unprecedented rates.

The shift is permanent. With AI engines expected to influence up to 70% of queries by end of 2025, merchants who fail to adapt face increasingly diminished organic visibility. This 25-point checklist provides the recovery blueprint, covering every critical signal AI engines evaluate when selecting citation sources.

Section 1 - Technical Performance (Core Web Vitals & INP)

Google uses Core Web Vitals as ranking signals, with specific thresholds determining whether pages qualify for AI citations: LCP ≤2.5s, INP ≤100ms, and CLS ≤0.1. Missing these targets doesn't just hurt traditional rankings—it actively prevents AI engines from selecting your content as authoritative.

The stakes are measurable: a 1-second delay in LCP can cut conversions by up to 7%. Google's replacement of First Input Delay with Interaction to Next Paint represents a more comprehensive measure of page responsiveness, directly impacting how AI systems evaluate content quality.

Technical Performance Checklist:

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Ensure hero images and primary content load within 2.5 seconds
Interaction to Next Paint (INP): Optimize JavaScript execution to keep response time under 100ms
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Reserve space for images and ads to maintain visual stability below 0.1
Time to First Byte (TTFB): Configure server response to deliver initial data within 200ms
Mobile Performance: Test all pages on actual mobile devices, not just responsive preview modes
Image Optimization: Implement WebP or AVIF formats for 30-50% size reduction

Recommended Free Tools

CartLegit offers dedicated monitoring for Shopify stores, providing automatic alerts via Slack or email when LCP exceeds 2.5s. This real-time monitoring catches performance degradation before it impacts AI citation likelihood.

Google PageSpeed Insights delivers both field and lab data, plus actionable recommendations specific to your Shopify theme. Run tests weekly to track improvements and identify new optimization opportunities as your catalog grows.

Section 2 - Structured Data & Schema Markup

Structured data forms the foundation of AI understanding. The Product schema type describes your item's name, description, images, brand, and SKU—essential signals that AI engines parse to determine relevance and authority.

Schema markup implementation requires precision. Identify your content type and choose appropriate schemas: LocalBusiness, Article, Product, Event, or Review. Use the schema.org vocabulary to structure your JSON-LD data correctly.

Schema Implementation Checklist:

Product Schema: Include name, description, image URLs, brand, SKU, and GTIN/MPN identifiers
Offer Schema: Nest pricing, currency, availability status, and condition within Product markup
Review & AggregateRating: Display user-generated content signals with proper star rating markup
FAQ Schema: Structure common questions with detailed answers for featured snippet eligibility
Organization Schema: Define business identity, logo, contact information, and social profiles

Shopify themes include limited structured data by default. You can enhance this through manual modification of theme liquid files or specialized Shopify apps to ensure comprehensive schema coverage.

Validate & Monitor

Before deployment, validate all markup using Google's Rich Results Test to ensure correct formatting and avoid errors. This validation step prevents warnings in Search Console that could diminish AI trust signals.

Ongoing monitoring through Google Rich Results Test catches schema errors immediately. Paste URLs or raw markup directly to verify implementation accuracy and troubleshoot any validation issues before they impact visibility.

Section 3 - Content, Conversational Queries & ChatGPT Shopping

ChatGPT Shopping features comprehensive product details including images, titles, prices, descriptions, star ratings, review summaries, and buy buttons—all selected through relevance and data quality rather than paid placement.

Voice assistants now power more than 30% of mobile searches worldwide. Google's Helpful Content Update and BERT reward natural, conversational language that matches how customers actually speak when shopping.

AI platforms prioritize E-E-A-T signals, structured data, and real-world expertise over simple keyword stuffing. This shift requires fundamentally different content strategies focused on entity relationships and topical authority.

Content Optimization Checklist:

E-E-A-T Signals: Showcase expertise through author bios, certifications, and industry credentials
Entity Enrichment: Connect products to broader categories, brands, and use-case contexts
Conversational Copy: Write product descriptions using natural question-and-answer formats
Customer Reviews: Display authentic user feedback with sentiment analysis markers
Comparison Content: Create detailed versus pages highlighting product differentiators
Use-Case Scenarios: Develop content addressing specific customer problems and solutions
Technical Specifications: Structure detailed product data in easily parseable formats

Voice & Zero-Click Optimization

The most reliable method for voice search visibility is JSON-LD markup combined with conversational copy patterns. Structure content to directly answer the who, what, when, where, and why questions customers ask voice assistants.

CartLegit's implementation of voice optimization tactics resulted in voice impressions rising 42% within two weeks, with mobile conversion rates increasing 18%. These gains demonstrate the immediate impact of voice-ready content structures.

Section 4 - Accessibility, ADA Compliance & Trust Signals

AudioEye's 2025 Digital Accessibility Index found retail websites averaged more than 350 issues per page. These accessibility gaps create barriers not just for disabled users but for AI engines attempting to parse and understand content.

Accessibility & Trust Checklist:

Image Alt Text: Provide descriptive alternatives for all product and informational images
Keyboard Navigation: Ensure full site functionality without mouse dependency
ARIA Labels: Implement proper labeling for screen readers and AI parsers
Color Contrast: Meet WCAG AA ratios for text readability
Form Labels: Associate all inputs with clear, descriptive labels
Error Messages: Provide specific, actionable feedback for form validation
Trust Badges: Display security certifications, payment options, and guarantee policies

Adding schema markup enhances accessibility by providing clearer context to assistive technologies and AI systems simultaneously. This dual benefit makes accessibility optimization essential for modern AEO strategies.

Get Your Free Relixir AEO Auto-Audit (No Dev Needed)

The platform's approach is proven. DocuBridge's case study shows how Relixir flipped their rankings, achieving a 67.7% head-to-head win rate in AI search matchups when directly compared against rivals. Their mention rate reached 6.4%, the highest among tracked competitors.

Relixir simulates thousands of buyer questions, flips AI rankings in under 30 days, and requires no developer lift. This no-code approach means Shopify merchants can implement comprehensive AEO optimization without technical resources or extended timelines.

The free audit tier analyzes your current AI visibility gaps across all 25 checkpoints, providing specific recommendations prioritized by impact potential. Each recommendation links directly to implementation guidance tailored for Shopify's platform constraints.

Next Steps: Run the Checklist & Own Position Zero

AEO technical audits focus on AI readability factors like structured data implementation, content hierarchy for AI parsing, and schema markup optimization beyond traditional SEO metrics. This comprehensive approach ensures your Shopify store meets every requirement for AI citation.

The evidence is clear: DocuBridge achieved 67.7% win rate in AI search matchups after implementing Relixir's recommendations. Their daily clicks grew from near-zero to over 100 per day, with CTR stabilizing at 1.2% average.

Start with the technical foundation—Core Web Vitals determine whether AI engines even consider your content. Layer in comprehensive schema markup to provide the structured signals AI systems require. Finally, optimize content for conversational queries and voice search to capture the growing segment of natural language searches.

Every day without AEO optimization means lost visibility as competitors claim limited AI citation slots. Run Relixir's free audit to identify your specific gaps, then systematically work through this 25-point checklist to reclaim your position in AI-generated results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Shopify store need an AEO audit now?

Pew's July 2025 study shows that Google's AI Overviews cut clicks on organic results almost in half. This AEO audit checklist lets Shopify stores reclaim those lost visits by systematically hardening technical, schema and content signals. This 25-point checklist provides the recovery blueprint, covering every critical signal AI engines evaluate when selecting citation sources.

How do Core Web Vitals affect AI citations?

Missing these targets doesn't just hurt traditional rankings—it actively prevents AI engines from selecting your content as authoritative. Start with the technical foundation—Core Web Vitals determine whether AI engines even consider your content.

What content tactics increase AI search visibility?

Google's Helpful Content Update and BERT reward natural, conversational language that matches how customers actually speak when shopping. This shift requires fundamentally different content strategies focused on entity relationships and topical authority. Structure content to directly answer the who, what, when, where, and why questions customers ask voice assistants.

Why is accessibility part of AEO?

Accessibility directly impacts AI citation likelihood. WCAG Level AA serves as the reference point for ADA, Section 508, and EAA compliance—standards that AI engines evaluate when determining content trustworthiness. These accessibility gaps create barriers not just for disabled users but for AI engines attempting to parse and understand content.

What results have merchants seen with Relixir?

Relixir's platform has delivered measurable results for Shopify merchants: a fintech startup achieved 688% revenue increase from AI referrals within 28 days. StyleCraft saw 17% improvement in qualified leads from AI channels. Relixir simulates thousands of buyer questions, flips AI rankings in under 30 days, and requires no developer lift.

What does the free audit tier include?

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