In 2026, a customer might ask ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode or Perplexity for a local plumber, electrician, physio or accountant. Will your business be mentioned?
There is no switch that guarantees an AI recommendation. But you can make it easier for search systems and potential customers to understand who you help, what you do and where you work.
I think getting mentioned by ChatGPT is interesting. Getting a real enquiry is what actually matters.
How do I get my business recommended by ChatGPT and Google’s AI?
The aim is not to game one answer. It is to make the business itself clear, accurate and easy to verify across the places customers may look:
- Say exactly what services you provide, who you help and which areas you serve.
- Give useful answers to the questions customers ask before they book.
- Keep your website and Google Business Profile details complete and up to date.
- Show real evidence of your work, experience and customer feedback.
- Make sure your important pages can be reached and read by search engines.
These steps do not guarantee that an AI tool will mention your business. They give people and search systems clearer information to work with.
Google’s published guidance for AI features points website owners back to sound search fundamentals: make pages accessible and focus on helpful, reliable, people-first information. OpenAI says public websites can appear in ChatGPT search, and publishers can allow its search crawler to access their pages. Neither source promises a specific business will be surfaced for a particular question.
Try these three questions tonight
For a quick personal check, open a fresh, unpersonalised search and consider questions a customer might ask:
- “Who is a reliable plumber in [your town]?”
- “Which [your service] businesses serve [your suburb or region]?”
- “What should I look for when choosing a [your service] near [your town]?”
Then repeat the same questions in a separate session. Results can vary, so one answer is not a definitive visibility score. Note whether your business appears, which other businesses are named, and what sources are linked. Don’t treat this small manual check as a comprehensive audit.
If your business is missing, check the foundations
Is the service specific? A page that says “quality solutions” gives little context. Name the actual work you do and the customers it is for.
Is your service area clear? State the towns or region you genuinely serve. Keep the information consistent across your site and business listings.
Can a customer see why they should trust you? Show relevant experience, genuine reviews, qualifications or examples where appropriate. Never add credentials or claims you cannot substantiate.
Can search systems access the information? Check that key pages load, are not blocked from indexing, and are easy to navigate. If you are unsure, ask your web or SEO provider to check.
Is your Google Business Profile accurate? Keep contact details, services, hours and service areas current. Google says complete and accurate profile information can help it understand which local searches may be relevant. Local results also depend on factors such as relevance, distance and prominence, so a profile alone cannot guarantee a particular position.
Being found is the start, not the result
Visibility matters when it brings the right person to a useful next step. If someone finds your business but cannot tell whether you solve their problem, or how to call you, the visit may go nowhere.
That is why I look at the whole journey: whether people can find the business, whether the website gives them confidence to enquire, and what happens after an enquiry arrives.
If you would like a short, practical look at where your business appears and what to check next, request a Free AI Visibility Snapshot. It is a small visibility check, not a full SEO audit or strategy document.
Request your Free AI Visibility Snapshot and choose “Free AI Visibility Snapshot”.
Common questions
