Entity SEO Implementation Checklist
35-Point System for Implementing Entity-First SEO in the Zero-Click Era
By: Andrew Sturgeon, Head of SEO Strategy | Updated: July 2025
35-Point System for Implementing Entity-First SEO in the Zero-Click Era
By: Andrew Sturgeon, Head of SEO Strategy | Updated: July 2025
Begin your entity-first SEO implementation by thoroughly identifying and analyzing the entities that are most critical to your business and audience.
Document all primary entities (your brand, products, services, key personnel) that should be recognized in the Knowledge Graph.
Identify related entities (concepts, methodologies, industry terms) that support your primary entities and match search intent.
Document logical relationships between entities (part of, created by, belongs to) that should be recognized by search engines.
Use the Knowledge Graph API to assess current entity recognition status for your primary entities.
Research how competitors' entities are recognized and associated in the Knowledge Graph and featured snippets.
Determine the canonical URL that should serve as the definitive "home" page for each primary entity.
Analyze search intent patterns for queries related to your entities to understand how users search for them.
Create a visual entity relationship map showing how your primary and secondary entities connect. This visualization helps identify missing relationships and optimization opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked.
Implement structured data markup that clearly identifies your entities and their relationships to maximize Knowledge Graph visibility.
Implement comprehensive JSON-LD schema for your organization with all relevant entity attributes and external references.
Create detailed schema markup for each product or service with complete attributes and relationships to your organization entity.
Implement person schema for key team members with credentials, expertise areas, and organizational relationships.
Optimize article schema to include entity references, author expertise signals, and content relationships.
Deploy FAQ schema for entity-focused questions and answers to increase featured snippet eligibility.
Include sameAs properties linking to authoritative external entity references (Wikipedia, Wikidata, etc.).
Test all schema implementations using Google's Rich Results Test and Schema Validator tools.
When implementing schema markup, focus on nesting entities properly to establish clear hierarchical relationships. For example, an Article should reference its Author as a properly defined Person entity, which in turn references the Organization they work for.
Optimize your content to clearly define entities and their attributes in ways that maximize recognition and featured snippet inclusion.
Include clear "X is Y" definition statements for primary entities near the top of their respective pages.
Present entity characteristics in structured lists (ul/li or dl/dt/dd) that are easily extractable for featured snippets.
Create content that explicitly states relationships between your entities and other recognized entities.
Structure headings (H1, H2, H3) to include primary entities and their key attributes.
Present comparative entity information in HTML tables with clear headers for featured snippet optimization.
Create FAQ sections that address common entity attribute questions with concise, extractable answers.
Optimize image filenames, alt text, and captions to reinforce entity recognition.
For maximum featured snippet eligibility, structure your entity content in "information blocks" that answer a specific question completely within 40-60 words. Each block should start with a clear, direct answer and then provide supporting details.
Strengthen external signals that validate your entities and increase their likelihood of citation in zero-click results.
Create or update Wikidata entries for eligible entities (organizations, notable products, key personnel).
Secure mentions and citations in industry knowledge bases and authoritative directories.
Develop content partnerships that generate co-citations with established entities in your industry.
Verify entity profiles across all relevant social platforms and ensure consistent entity information.
Distribute press releases with explicit entity mentions and relationship statements to authoritative sources.
Implement strategic internal linking that reinforces entity relationships and attribute associations.
Publish definitive, citation-worthy content about your primary entities that establishes subject matter expertise.
When building entity authority, prioritize quality over quantity. A single mention or citation from a highly trusted source in your industry carries more entity authority than dozens of mentions from low-quality sites.
Track entity recognition metrics and refine your strategy based on performance data.
Set up regular Knowledge Graph API checks to track entity recognition changes and attribute updates.
Monitor featured snippet, knowledge panel, and other SERP feature appearances for your target entities.
Segment search traffic by entity-focused queries to measure performance improvements.
Analyze CTR for queries where your entities appear in featured snippets and refine content accordingly.
Track AI-generated answer citations that reference your entities and content using specialized tools.
Identify missing entity attributes or relationships based on search performance data.
Regularly benchmark your entity recognition and citation rates against key competitors.
Create a custom "Entity Visibility Dashboard" that combines data from Google Search Console, Knowledge Graph API, and SERP monitoring tools. This consolidated view helps identify correlations between entity optimization efforts and performance improvements.