audit-machine

--- name: Audits must use DataForSEO API first description: Never run prospect/client audits using web scraping or search snippets — always use DataForSEO API as primary data source type: feedback originSessionId: 977a1d41-6a03-4a0e-8d8d-108e7828c102 --- All SEO audits MUST use DataForSEO API as the primary data source — never web scraping or search snippet inference. **Why:** On 2026-05-06, an audit for Neill & Son Roofing was run using web search + scraping. Agents hit 403 blocks on platforms and reported search snippet fragments as facts. Review count was off by 2x (reported 120, real was 271), referring domains off by 7x (reported <20, real was 135), photo count off by 3.5x. Mike presented this to a prospect on a live call and it was wrong. He was embarrassed. **How to apply:** When dispatching audit workstreams to Carlos/agents: 1. DataForSEO GMB API for GBP data (reviews, rating, photos, categories) 2. DataForSEO Backlinks API for real DR, referring domains, backlink count 3. DataForSEO SERP API for actual ranking positions 4. DataForSEO Keywords API for ranked keywords and volumes 5. DataForSEO On-Page API for technical audit 6. Browser verification (Queen) for social media follower counts 7. SerpAPI / Google Places API as secondary verification 8. Web search ONLY for qualitative context (sentiment, press mentions) — never for quantitative data 9. Any metric that comes from a search snippet must be flagged as "UNVERIFIED — inferred from search snippet" 10. MANDATORY: Direct `curl` of homepage source to verify schema, meta descriptions, plugins (GHL/LeadConnector), and tech stack — API crawlers get WAF-blocked and report false negatives 11. Check for GHL/LeadConnector plugin before claiming "no CRM" — LeadConnector = GoHighLevel = CRM + forms + automation + call tracking 12. Google Places API + RapidAPI Local Business Data for both GMB locations (don't audit just one) 13. Local Brand Manager geogrid for map pack visibility per location 14. Run ALL available audit skills (CRO, E-E-A-T, intent, schema, internal linking, etc.) — not just DataForSEO endpoints