Our Blog
05
Nov
Will ChatGPT Recommend Your Business?
Ask ChatGPT for "a good web designer in Canterbury" or "an electrician near Ramsgate" and it will happily name a few businesses. So will Google's AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. More and more people now start their search this way, especially on their phones. The question every small business owner should be asking is simple: when someone asks an AI tool about the kind of work I do, does my business come up?
This guide explains how AI tools decide which businesses to mention, how to check whether yours is one of them, and what you can do to improve your chances.
How AI Tools Choose Which Businesses To Mention
AI assistants do not keep a private list of approved businesses. They build their answers from information they find on the web. Depending on the tool, that can include:
- websites, including yours and your competitors'
- search results from Google or Bing
- your Google Business Profile and other map listings
- directories such as Yell, Thomson Local and FreeIndex
- reviews on Google, Trustpilot and similar sites
- news stories, blogs and other pages that mention you
Google's AI Overviews draw on Google's own search results, so normal SEO matters a great deal. Google explains how its AI features work with websites in its search documentation. Copilot leans on Bing. ChatGPT uses its own crawlers alongside search, and OpenAI publishes details of the bots it uses to read websites.
In short, AI tools recommend the businesses they can find, understand and trust. If information about you is thin, inconsistent or missing, they will mention someone else.
How To Check What AI Tools Say About You
Try it yourself. Open ChatGPT, Copilot or Google and ask the kind of question a customer would ask:
- "Who are the best plumbers in Margate?"
- "Can you recommend a wedding photographer in Kent?"
- "What is [your business name] in [your town]?"
Try a few versions and note which businesses come up, what the tools say about them and which websites they link to. If you are missing, or the details about you are wrong, that tells you where to start.
Make Your Website Easy For AI To Understand
AI tools favour pages that answer questions clearly. Each main service should have its own page that says what you do, where you do it, who it is for and, where you can, roughly what it costs. Frequently asked questions written in plain English are especially useful, because they match the way people phrase questions to AI tools.
Behind the scenes, structured data (also called schema) labels the key facts on your pages, such as your business name, address, phone number, services and FAQs. It helps search engines and AI tools read those facts without guessing. Most good SEO plugins can add the basics, and a developer can add more detailed markup for services and FAQs.
Also check that your site lets AI crawlers in. Some security settings and plugins block them by default. If they cannot read your pages, they cannot recommend you.
Get Your Business Details Right Everywhere
Consistency matters even more for AI than for normal search. Your business name, address and phone number should be identical on your website, your Google Business Profile, social media and every directory you appear on. This is especially important if other businesses share a similar name. Clear, matching details help AI tools work out which business is yours.
Our local SEO checklist for Kent businesses walks through the main listings to set up.
Reviews And Mentions Build Trust
AI tools pay close attention to what other people say about you. A steady flow of genuine reviews, with thoughtful replies, is one of the strongest signals you can send. Our guide to getting more Google reviews has simple ways to ask.
Mentions on other websites help too: a local news story, a supplier's case study, a club you sponsor or an industry directory. Each one is another source that confirms your business is real, active and well regarded.
Do Not Forget Bing
Many businesses ignore Bing, but it feeds Microsoft Copilot and is used by other AI tools as well. Claim your Bing Places listing and add your site to Bing Webmaster Tools. Both are free and take less than an hour.
Is AI Search Replacing Google?
Not yet, and probably not completely. Most people still use normal Google search every day. The good news is that the work which helps you appear in AI answers also helps your Google rankings. If you are already investing in local SEO, you are most of the way there. AI search simply raises the bar on clear content, consistent details and a good reputation.
What You Can Do This Week
- Ask ChatGPT and Copilot about your type of business in your town, and note what they say.
- Check your business name, address and phone number match everywhere.
- Add a clear FAQ section to your main service pages.
- Ask three happy customers for a Google review.
- Claim your Bing Places listing.
Want Help With AI Search?
We include AI search work in every SEO plan. Our AI SEO services cover structured data, clear content, consistent listings and monthly tracking of how often AI tools mention you. Plans start from £125 a month, and you will always get honest, plain-English updates on what has changed.
