Verdict

AI-Powered Website Auditing

The Verdict on Your Website.
Know Where You Really Stand.
No jury, Just the evidence.

Think of it as a forensic check-up for your site. We dig into your site across nine scored dimensions, forensic-style, and hand you a clear report with a prioritised roadmap. Honest scores. No flattery.

Currently serving: New Zealand  |  Coming soon: Australia, United Kingdom, United States

See How It Works
Sample scorecard
Illustrative — your real report is scored fresh, every time.
SEO7.2
AEO6.1
GEO5.4
LSO8.0
LLM Citation3.8
Brand7.5
UX7.9
Grammar8.4
Links6.7

The Problem No One Mentions

Most websites are leaking leads and they don't know it.

The gaps are real — they're just hard to see without a structured audit.

PROCESS

How It Works

01

You provide the context

URL, industry, target market, target audience, and business goals.

02

Verdict∞ fetches your live site

Reads pages, structure, content, and code.

03

Nine-dimension audit runs

Each dimension is scored with specific findings and evidence.

04

Competitors are benchmarked

Real competitors in your market researched and compared to your site.

05

Your verdict is delivered

A scored report with a prioritised roadmap and actionable recommendations.

FRAMEWORK

Nine Scored Dimensions

Every audit evaluates your site across these nine dimensions. Each receives a score from 1 to 10 with specific findings and evidence.

SEOGoogle Search

Title tags, meta descriptions, schema markup, content freshness, internal link structure, and crawlability.

AEOAnswer Engines

FAQ structure, concise answer formatting, structured content optimised for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and AI Overviews.

GEOGenerative Engine Optimisation

Passage-level eligibility for AI-generated search results, source authority signals, topical depth, semantic structure, and content freshness for Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity.

LSOLocal Search Optimisation

NAP consistency, Google Business Profile integration, regional landing pages, local keyword targeting, and market-specific directory coverage.

LLMAI Citation Potential

E-E-A-T signals, original research, authoritative sourcing, and citation-worthy content structure.

BrandBrand Alignment

Visual consistency, tone of voice, messaging clarity, social proof, and trust signals.

UXDesign and UX

Visual hierarchy, CTA prominence, mobile responsiveness, accessibility, and page load performance.

GrammarSpelling and Writing

Spelling, punctuation, English conventions calibrated to your target market, and professional writing quality.

LinksLinks and Buttons

CTA destinations, broken links, anchor text quality, button clarity, and navigation paths.

Note on GEO vs LSO

The term GEO has shifted meaning in the industry. It now refers to Generative Engine Optimisation — optimising for AI-powered search like Google AI Overviews and Bing Copilot. What was previously labelled GEO (geographic/local search) is now correctly identified as LSO — Local Search Optimisation in this framework.

AEO, GEO, and LLM — what is the difference?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) focuses on structuring content so AI assistants surface it as direct answers — think featured snippets for conversational AI.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) targets generative search specifically — Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity. It focuses on passage-level eligibility, source authority, and topical depth that generative models draw from.

LLM (AI Citation Potential) measures whether your site has enough authority, originality, and E-E-A-T signals to be cited as a source by large language models.

One is about format. One is about discoverability. The other is about credibility.

Deliverable

What the Report Includes

A structured, professional document. Not a dashboard. Not a spreadsheet. A report you can hand to your team or client.

Performance scorecard

Scores across all nine dimensions at a glance.

Key discovery section

The single most important finding from the audit.

Detailed dimension breakdowns

Strengths, gaps, opportunities, and recommendations per dimension.

Technical health check

HTTPS, robots.txt, sitemap, redirects, and crawl issues.

Backlink strategy

Outreach targets with ready-to-use scripts and templates.

Competitive comparison

3–5 real competitors in your market benchmarked against your site.

12-week implementation roadmap

Prioritised actions broken into weekly milestones (Full Report).

Delivered as .docx or PDF

Client-ready format. No logins, no dashboards, no nonsense.

Three Report Formats

Choose the format that matches your need. Every format uses the same nine-dimension framework.

Brief Summary
Traffic Light Report
Free
Delivered instantly, no payment needed

A traffic light status (red/amber/green) per dimension with one key action each, and the top three immediate priorities. No composite score, no competitor comparison, no roadmap, no detailed breakdowns.

SEOAmberAdd meta descriptions to 6 key pages
AEORedAdd FAQ schema to services page
GEORedStructure key passages for AI Overview extraction
LSOAmberClaim and complete Google Business Profile
LLMAmberAdd author bios with credentials
BrandGreenConsistent — no action required
UXAmberMove primary CTA above the fold on mobile

Best for: Quick stakeholder updates, board-level summaries, first impressions.

Full Report
Complete Strategic Audit
15–25 pages · PDF or .docx
$663
NZD, ex-GST

Everything in the Detailed Summary, plus full breakdowns per dimension (Strengths, Gaps, Opportunities, Recommendations), Key Discovery section, full technical audit, grammar and spelling audit, full link and button audit, three to five real competitors benchmarked side by side, backlink strategy with outreach scripts and templates, and a 12-week implementation roadmap.

Best for: Comprehensive audits, agency deliverables, board strategy documents, pre-rebuild assessments.

View sample report (PDF)

Every audit includes a Free Re-audit, valid for 90 days from your audit — because we want to see your website actually improve, not just hand you a report.

ADVANTAGE

Why Verdict Is Different

Consistent, credible deliverables

Same rigorous framework every time. No variation in quality between audits. Every report follows the same structured methodology.

First-mover positioning

AEO, GEO, and LLM optimisation are largely unaddressed in most NZ agencies. This audit covers what most agencies have not started thinking about — giving early movers a genuine advantage.

Faster turnaround, lower overhead

Delivered in a fraction of the time it would take a specialist team. No billable hours for desk research or formatting.

Zero hallucination by design

The agent only reports what it can verify from the live site. No assumptions, no filler, no made-up metrics.

Read the full methodology →

Clients

From the Other Side of the Desk

Our website has always been a shop window and communication channel. SEO and now AEO have been something of a dark art, with responsibility for day-to-day management passed on to other team members.

As a business leader, I rely on the advice I am given. But how do I test the quality of that advice? Not to catch people out, but to make sure that all team members have access to high-quality information that allows them to make informed decisions and to feel confident we are as visible as possible and getting the strongest possible ROI.

That is why we make use of the Verdict service.

Miles StratfordCEO, Safe & Healthy Home Solutions

We really like how the audit ranks recommendations for each channel — we know what to focus on first, and which changes will have the biggest impact immediately. The "key competitive aspects to exploit" section had some interesting recommendations we're already exploring.

We also appreciate that it outlines strengths, gaps and opportunities. There's nothing worse than an audit that only tells you what you're doing wrong.

A lot came up that, perhaps naively, we'd expected our web developers and designers to have picked up. We're now having those conversations and asking why these were missed. This kind of audit tells you what you don't know — which means you can make sure your team is stepping up too.

Honestly, a good web developer should welcome an audit like this. The ones who aren't hitting the mark might find it uncomfortable — and that's rather the point.

Jess PerenaraDigital & SEO Copywriter, Ascend Fit
METHODOLOGY

Universal Scoring Scale

Every dimension is scored on the same 1–10 scale so you can compare across categories and track improvement over time.

9–10ExcellentBest practice, minimal gaps, strong competitive position.
7–8GoodSolid foundation, above average for your market.
5–6ModerateFunctional but notable issues. Opportunities being missed.
3–4WeakSignificant gaps affecting performance or credibility.
1–2CriticalFundamental problems. Immediate action required.

Most websites sit between 4 and 6. A score of 7 is genuinely good. Benchmarks are calibrated to your target market.

QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked About Verdict

How much does a Verdict8 audit cost?

Three tiers. Brief Summary is free — a traffic-light status per dimension with one key action each. Findings Report is $263 NZD (ex-GST) — a human-reviewed detailed report with competitor snapshot. Full Report is $663 NZD (ex-GST) — a human-reviewed complete strategic audit with full competitor benchmarking and a 12-week roadmap. Every tier includes one Free Re-audit.

What's the difference between AEO, GEO, and LLM Optimisation?

AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is about format — structuring content so AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude surface it as a direct answer. GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is about discoverability — passage-level eligibility for Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and Perplexity. LLM Citation Potential is about credibility — whether your site has enough authority and E-E-A-T signal to be cited as a source. One is about format, one is about discoverability, the other is about credibility.

What does a Verdict8 audit actually check?

Nine scored dimensions: SEO, AEO, GEO, LSO (Local Search Optimisation), LLM Citation Potential, Brand, UX, Grammar, and Links. Each is scored 1–10 with specific findings and evidence verified directly against your live site — not inferred or guessed.

How long does an audit take?

The free Brief Summary is generated live and usually lands in your inbox within a few minutes. Findings Report and Full Report go through an additional human review step before they land in your inbox.

What's included in the paid report formats?

A performance scorecard across all nine dimensions, a key discovery section, detailed per-dimension breakdowns (strengths, gaps, opportunities, recommendations), a technical health check (HTTPS, robots.txt, sitemap, redirects, crawl issues), a backlink strategy with outreach scripts, and a competitive comparison against 3–5 real competitors in your market. The Full Report adds a 12-week implementation roadmap. Delivered as PDF or .docx — no logins, no dashboards.

What is the Free Re-audit and how do I redeem it?

Every audit — including the free Brief Summary — includes one Free Re-audit, valid for 90 days from when your report is sent. Redeem it any time within that window at verdict8.com/retest using the code in your report. It's already paid for; there's no charge to redeem.

Which markets does Verdict8 serve?

Currently serving New Zealand, with Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States coming soon. Grammar conventions and local-search (LSO) benchmarks are calibrated to your target market.

Does Verdict8 guarantee a ranking or traffic increase?

No. Verdict8 is a diagnostic and advisory service, not a guarantee of results — we don't promise a specific search ranking, traffic increase, or business outcome. Findings that can be verified directly against your live site are checked, not guessed; if we can't verify something, the report says so rather than inventing a score.

How is this different from a normal SEO audit?

Most agencies only check traditional SEO fundamentals. Verdict8 also scores AEO, GEO, and LLM Citation Potential — whether AI answer engines and generative search can actually find, understand, and cite you — ground most NZ agencies haven't started addressing yet.

Can I use Verdict8 as an agency or consultant?

Yes. The partner programme lets digital agencies, consultants, accountants, and business advisors embed a lead-capture widget on their own site. A visitor enters their URL, Verdict8 runs the audit, and the lead is forwarded directly to you — you keep the client relationship and the credit.

PARTNERS

Add Verdict to Your Business

If you run a digital agency or work as a consultant, accountant, or advisor to NZ businesses, you can embed a Verdict widget directly on your website.

A visitor enters their URL. Verdict does the audit. You start the conversation.

Who This Is For

Digital and web agencies

Use a Verdict∞ widget as a pre-proposal tool, a client retention touchpoint, or a value-add for existing clients.

Consultants, accountants, and business advisors

Offer a free audit as a client gift or annual check-in. Verdict∞ does all the heavy lifting — you get all the credit.

What Partners Get

  • A lead capture widget to embed on any website
  • Leads and submitted URLs forwarded directly to you
  • Your choice of report tier per lead
  • Works on WordPress, Webflow, Squarespace, or custom HTML

Register Your Interest

We will be in touch when partner onboarding opens.

Or email hello@verdict8.com

Get Your Verdict

Start free with a Brief Summary, no obligations — just an honest assessment.

Every audit includes a Free Re-audit, valid for 90 days from your audit — because we want to see your website actually improve, not just hand you a report.