Here's a question that might keep you up at night: When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity for a recommendation in your industry, are they hearing about you, or your competitors?
Most business owners have no idea. Let's fix that.
I'm going to give you a simple 5-minute test to check your AI visibility. No tools required, no technical knowledge needed. Just you and a chat window.
The AI Visibility Test
Open ChatGPT or Perplexity. Then try these prompts:
The Direct Ask
Ask for recommendations in your category and location.
The Problem Query
Ask about a problem your customers typically have.
The Comparison Ask
Ask AI to compare options in your space.
The Direct Name Check
Ask about your business specifically.
What Your Results Mean
Score Your Results
Why Some Businesses Show Up (And Others Don't)
AI models like ChatGPT and Perplexity build their knowledge from publicly available content: websites, reviews, articles, and social media. When they recommend a business, it's because:
- The business has comprehensive, specific content that answers the exact questions people ask
- The business is mentioned across multiple sources: their own site, review sites, local directories, news articles
- The content uses natural language that matches how people actually phrase questions
If AI doesn't know about you, it's usually one of these issues:
- Your website is too generic ("We offer professional services") instead of specific ("We specialize in emergency water heater repair for Louisville homes")
- You don't answer the questions your customers actually ask
- Your online presence is thin: minimal reviews, no local citations, sparse content
Remember: AI generates unique answers for every question. Your content needs to cover all the different ways customers might ask about your services. This is directly related to understanding the keywords your competitors rank for.
What To Do If You're Invisible
1. Expand Your Content
Create pages for every service you offer. Not just bullet points on your services page, but real, detailed pages. Add FAQ sections that answer the specific questions your customers ask. Write blog posts about common problems and solutions.
2. Use Customer Language
How do your customers describe their problems? Use those exact phrases. "My AC is blowing warm air" is a real search. "HVAC thermal output optimization" is not.
3. Build Your Digital Footprint
Get listed on relevant directories. Encourage reviews on Google, Yelp, and industry-specific platforms. The more places AI can find information about your business, the more confident it is recommending you. Learn more about getting Google reviews without being annoying.
4. Answer Questions Comprehensively
When AI pulls information to answer a question, it looks for complete, helpful responses. Don't just say what you do. Explain how, why, what makes you different, what customers can expect.
The Opportunity
Here's the exciting part: most of your competitors haven't figured this out yet.
While everyone obsesses over Google Map Pack rankings, AI search is growing explosively, and it's wide open. The businesses that optimize for AI now will dominate this channel before their competitors even realize it exists.
You don't want to rely on luck.
Want to discuss your AI visibility?
Let's talk about where your business is showing up in AI search and what you can do to improve it.
Get a Free Consultation