What is AI search optimisation?

It is the work of making your business easier for AI tools to understand and mention. You may see it called AEO or GEO. It builds on good SEO rather than replacing it.

Can anyone guarantee my business will appear in ChatGPT?

No. AI tools decide for themselves what to show, and they change often. Treat any promise of a guaranteed mention with caution.

Does my Google Business Profile affect AI answers?

It can. It is one of the trusted sources used for local businesses, so keep it complete, accurate and up to date.

Do I need a separate strategy for AI and for Google?

Mostly no. The same things help both: clear pages, structured data, consistent business details and genuine reviews.

AI Search

How to get your business mentioned in ChatGPT and Google AI answers

Markos Media · 28 September 2026 · 3 min read

Laptop and tablet showing AI search answers, with planning notes and question cards on a sunlit desk

More people now ask AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for recommendations before they buy, and Google shows AI answers at the top of many searches. If your business is not mentioned in those answers, some customers will never see you. This change is still early, so businesses that act now face less competition for attention.

Why this matters for local businesses

When someone asks an AI tool for a good clinic, jeweller or interior designer in Surat, it gives a short list, not pages of results. Being on that list matters. Businesses with clear, consistent information online are much easier for these tools to describe correctly, including location, services and opening hours.

How AI tools decide what to mention

They draw on information published across the web: business websites, directories, reviews and listings such as your Google Business Profile. They tend to mention businesses they can clearly understand and that appear consistently in trusted places. No one controls exactly what these tools say, but you can make your business easier to understand and trust.

Five steps to improve your chances

1.Make your website clear. Give each main service its own page, state your location and service areas plainly, and answer common customer questions.
2.Add structured data. This is hidden code that describes your business name, address, services and opening hours in a format machines understand.
3.Keep your details the same everywhere. Use one version of your name, phone number and address on your website, Google Business Profile and directories.
4.Earn genuine reviews and mentions. Ask happy customers for honest reviews, and look for real chances to be featured on local and industry websites.
5.Answer real questions in your content. Write clear articles and FAQs for the questions your customers actually ask.

How to check where you stand

1.Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity the questions your customers would ask, including your city.
2.Search for your business name in each tool and check whether the details are correct.
3.Repeat the same questions every month to see what changes.

Mistakes to avoid

•Using different business names or phone numbers on different websites.
•Service pages that list what you offer without explaining it.
•Buying fake reviews, which damages trust with people and platforms alike.
•Putting key details such as areas served or opening hours only inside images, where they are harder to read.
•Expecting fast results. Changes can take weeks or months to show in AI answers.

The short version

AI tools recommend businesses they can understand and trust. A clear website, structured data, consistent details, genuine reviews and helpful content improve your chances, and they strengthen your normal Google presence at the same time.

Markos Media helps businesses in Surat and across India with search and AI visibility. You can also take our free Brand Scorecard to see where your brand stands today.