Duelly Audit Standards & Methodology

Our comprehensive testing framework evaluates websites against modern search intelligence standards that reflect the evolving landscape of how content is discovered, understood, and recommended in 2026.

The Three Pillars

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Maximize visibility in traditional search engine results (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo). Focus on crawlability, technical performance, on-page optimization, and link architecture.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

Optimize for featured snippets, knowledge panels, and direct answer formats. Focus on question-answer matching, structured data, and content formatting.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

Maximize citation likelihood in AI-generated responses (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity). Focus on trustworthiness, expertise signals, factual accuracy, and neutral tone.

Key Testing Areas

•Technical Foundation: HTTPS, response time, mobile responsiveness, Core Web Vitals
•On-Page Optimization: Title tags, meta descriptions, heading structure, content quality
•Structured Data: Schema.org markup (JSON-LD), completeness, modern 2026 standards
•Question Coverage: Who, what, where, when, why, how - direct answer formats
•Content Trustworthiness: Expertise signals, citations, factual accuracy
•Tone & Objectivity: Neutral voice, minimal promotional language, professional writing
•Image Accessibility: Alt text coverage for AI understanding

Modern Schema Standards (2026)

We follow current best practices and don't penalize modern implementation patterns:

✓ Accepted

• Root-level arrays
• @graph structures
• Multiple schema blocks
• Distributed patterns

✗ Penalized

• Missing required properties
• Placeholder data
• Invalid JSON syntax
• Wrong schema types

Scoring Methodology

Each pillar is scored out of 100 points using a component-based system:

Grade Boundaries

90-100

80-89

70-79

60-69

<60

Last Updated: March 2026 • Next Review: June 2026

Our Standards