How to Check If ChatGPT Recommends Your Business (and What to Do If It Doesn't)

A 20-minute check to see whether ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity mention your business when customers ask for a recommendation, plus the fixes that matter most.

Why this matters now

More people now ask an AI assistant for a recommendation instead of scrolling through search results. The assistant usually names a few businesses and moves on. If you are not one of them, that customer may never see your website at all.

The good news: these tools pull from public information you can influence. The first step is simply finding out where you stand.

Run the check

1. Write five real customer questions

Think about how a customer would ask a friend. Include your city or neighborhood, and mix broad and specific questions. For example:

• "Who is the best plumber in Mesa, AZ?"
• "Plumber near Dobson Ranch who does same-day water heater repair"
• "Is [your business name] good?"

2. Ask in a private window

Open a private or incognito browser window so the answers are not shaped by your own history. Then ask each question in three places:

• ChatGPT at chatgpt.com
• Gemini at gemini.google.com (also check the AI Overview at the top of a regular Google search)
• Perplexity at perplexity.ai

3. Record what you see

Make a simple table with four columns: the question, the tool, the businesses named, and the websites cited as sources. Perplexity and Google show their sources clearly. In ChatGPT, look for the small source links under the answer.

Read your results

• You are named often: great. Note which sources mention you and keep them up to date.
• Competitors are named, you are not: look at the sources cited for them. Those sites are where you need to show up.
• The AI gets your details wrong: your hours, address, or services are inconsistent somewhere online. Fix that first.
• Nobody local is named: an opportunity. The first business with clear, well-cited information often wins.

Fix what is missing

Complete your Google Business Profile

Fill in every field: categories, services, hours, service area, photos, and a description in plain words. Google's AI features lean on this profile heavily.

Make your details match everywhere

Your business name, address, and phone number should read exactly the same on your website, Google, Yelp, Facebook, and any directory you are listed in.

Add a page that answers questions directly

AI tools like pages that answer a question in the first sentence or two. Add a services or FAQ page with headings like "How much does a water heater repair cost in Mesa?" and answer each one plainly before adding detail.

Keep reviews coming

A steady trickle of recent reviews matters more than a big batch from years ago. Ask happy customers, and reply to reviews so the profile looks active.

Show up where the AI is looking

Go back to your table and list the websites that were cited. Local news, industry directories, "best of" lists, and community sites come up a lot. Getting listed or mentioned on those is often the fastest way into the answers.

Common questions