How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT and AI search.
More customers now ask an AI assistant "who's a good roofer near me?" instead of scrolling through search results. Here's how those tools pick who to name, and what a local business can do about it.
First, see where you stand
Open ChatGPT, Google (look at the AI Overview at the top) and Microsoft Copilot. In each, ask the question a customer would ask, for example "best plumber in Idaho Falls" or "who should I call for a new roof in Rexburg?" Note whether you're named, who is, and which websites the answer links to as its sources. Those sources are where the AI learned about your competitors, and they're the places you need to be.
How AI tools decide who to recommend
AI assistants don't have a secret list of businesses. When they answer a local question, they search the web, read what they find and summarize it. ChatGPT's search draws heavily on Bing, Copilot is built on Bing, and Google's AI Overviews come from Google's own index and Business Profiles. So the tools mostly recommend businesses that already look clear, consistent and well reviewed across the web.
1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
It's still the single most important listing. Fill in every field: your exact category, the towns you serve, hours, services and real photos of your work. Google's AI Overviews and Maps both read it. Not showing on Maps at all? Start there.
2. Don't skip Bing Places
Most owners ignore Bing, but ChatGPT and Copilot both lean on Bing's data. A free Bing Places listing takes a few minutes, and Bing can import your details straight from Google.
3. Make your details match everywhere
Your business name, phone number and website should be written exactly the same on your site, Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Facebook, Yelp and any directory you're on. When the details disagree, AI tools are less sure the listings are all the same business, and less likely to name you.
4. Say plainly what you do and where
An AI can only recommend you for a job if your website clearly says you do it. Give each main service its own page ("Roof replacement", "Furnace repair") and name the towns you serve in plain words. Vague lines like "quality solutions for all your needs" give an AI nothing to repeat.
5. Earn detailed reviews
AI answers often summarize reviews: "customers say they're on time and clean up after." Reviews that mention the job and the town help most. Ask every happy customer and send a direct link. Here's how to get more reviews without breaking Google's rules.
6. Answer the questions customers actually ask
Put real answers on your site: what a typical job costs, how long it takes, whether you work weekends, what areas you cover. AI tools quote clear answers like these, and customers trust them more than a sales pitch.
7. Add structured data to your website
Structured data (schema markup) is a small block of code that tells search engines your business name, phone, hours, service area and reviews in a format they read without guessing. Most site builders can add it; a good web designer includes it by default.
8. Don't block the tools from reading your site
Some website settings and security plugins block search crawlers by accident. If your site's robots.txt file blocks Bingbot, Googlebot or OpenAI's search crawler (OAI-SearchBot), those tools can't read your site, and they're unlikely to cite it. Ask whoever manages your site to check.
9. Be mentioned on other trusted sites
AI tools trust what others say about you more than what you say about yourself. A listing with your local chamber of commerce, a story in the local paper, a sponsor credit from a youth team or a profile on a well-known directory all count. A few real mentions beat hundreds of junk directory links.
What doesn't work
You can't pay ChatGPT or Google to be recommended in their AI answers, and anyone promising a guaranteed spot is guessing. Fake reviews, keyword-stuffed pages and bought links can get your Google profile suspended. The businesses that get recommended are the ones that are easy to understand and well spoken of.
Want us to check yours?
On a free 15-minute call we'll ask ChatGPT, Google and Copilot about your trade in your town, show you what comes up and tell you what's missing. See what we do.
Common questions
How long does it take to start showing up in AI answers?
It varies. Fixing your listings and website can show up within weeks as the tools re-read the web, but being named for competitive searches usually takes a few months of steady reviews and mentions.
Is "AI search optimization" different from regular SEO?
Mostly no. The same basics drive both: a complete Google Business Profile, matching details everywhere, clear service pages, good reviews and mentions on trusted sites. AI tools add more weight to clear, quotable answers and to sources like Bing.
Do I need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?
It helps a lot. AI tools read your website to learn what you do, where and for how much. A profile alone gives them only a few lines to work with.