Does my business appear in ChatGPT? How to check and improve it
More and more people ask ChatGPT for a recommendation. Are you named? Here’s how to test it, and how to increase the chance AI names your business.
More and more people ask ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google’s AI for a recommendation instead of googling. If you’re not named there, you miss those customers. Checking is simple: ask the AI the questions your customers would ask (‘best [service] in [town]’) and see whether and how you appear. Improving is done with AEO: ensure a clear, well-structured website with strong content, consistent business details, schema and authority. AI models lean on the same trustworthy, well-findable sources — so strong SEO and AEO make you get named.
Why this matters
For more and more people, an AI assistant is the first step, not Google. They ask ‘which agency can help me with...’ and get a short list of names. If you’re not on it, you don’t exist for that searcher — just as bad as being unfindable in Google ten years ago.
How to check it yourself
- Ask the customer question. Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google’s AI for recommendations in your field and region.
- Vary the wording. Try several ways a customer might ask it.
- Look at the sources. Some AIs show which sites they used — are yours among them?
- Repeat over time. Answers change; track whether you’re named more often.
How to increase the chance
- Strong, clear content. Answer your audience’s questions clearly and in depth.
- Structure & schema. Headings, FAQs and structured data help AI understand you.
- Consistent entity. Same company name and details everywhere, so AI recognises you as one source.
- Authority. Mentions, reviews and good content build the trust AI needs. Also read what is AEO?
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I appear in ChatGPT?
Ask it the questions your customers would ask, in your field and region, and see whether you’re named. Vary the wording and repeat over time, since answers change.
Can I pay to appear in AI answers?
No, not directly. Unlike ads, it’s about earned visibility: strong, trustworthy and well-structured content that the model trusts and cites.
How long until AI picks me up?
Like SEO, it’s a build-up. Technical improvements show within weeks; consistent mention in AI answers builds over months with authority and good content.
Does my regular SEO help for AI too?
Yes, strongly. AI models largely draw from the same well-ranking, trustworthy pages. A solid SEO foundation is the best base to also be named by AI.
Ready to start?
Read our approach to SEO & AEO, or request a quote. You’ll hear back within one working day, with a fixed price or a few focused questions.
