Guide · AI search
Be the business AI recommends.
People now ask ChatGPT, Google and Copilot “who's good near me?”. Here's how those assistants pick the businesses they name, and what makes them pick yours.
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How AI assistants find local businesses
Every AI assistant that answers “who's best near me” searches the web first, then picks the businesses it can read and trust. They don't all search the same web:
- Google (AI Overviews, AI Mode, Gemini): Uses Google's own search results and your Google Business Profile. If Google can find and understand your site, its AI can too.
- ChatGPT: Searches the web with its own crawler, OAI-SearchBot, and opens pages live with ChatGPT-User when someone asks. Sites that turn OAI-SearchBot away aren't shown in ChatGPT's search answers.
- Copilot: Uses Bing's search index. Bing Webmaster Tools now shows which of your pages Copilot quotes.
- Perplexity and Claude: Run their own search crawlers (PerplexityBot, Claude-SearchBot) and fetch pages live when someone asks.
Different assistants, one rule: they recommend the businesses they can reach, read and quote.
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What they read
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The 5 checks that make AI pick you
We score every site against our AI readiness checklist. These are the 5 groups, the same ones the free checker uses.
- Can AI reach you? Your site lets search and AI assistants in. Your security settings don't turn them away. You have a sitemap with dates, and one secure address.
- Can AI read you? Your words are in the page itself, not only built by JavaScript. Your business details are set out in the format Google and AI read (name, area, phone), with links to your other profiles.
- Can AI quote you? One plain opening sentence: what you do and where. Real questions answered, prices shown, and hours and booking easy to find.
- Do your details match? The same name, phone number and address everywhere: on your site, your Google profile and every listing.
- Is it quick? A site that loads fast on phones gets read, and gets used.
See your score in 30 seconds. Free, for any website.
Check your site free - 04
Quick wins you can do today
- Start your home page with one sentence: what you do and where. “Electricians in Poole for homes and landlords.”
- Add your 5 most-asked questions to your site, one clear answer each.
- Show a price, or a “from £” figure, for your main services.
- Put your phone number and opening hours on every page.
- Check your name, phone and address are the same on your website and your Google profile.
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How we can help
SEO & AI set-up →For the website you already have: your services, areas and reviews set out for Google and AI, the fixes that help them trust you, and a clear report of what we changed.£1,000–£1,500, one-offSEO & AI every month →New pages and guides for the searches you're missing, your details right across the main directories, local links, and a monthly ranking and AI check.From £495/monthA new website, built ready for AI →SEO Pro: every page written to be found.from £3,000
Good questions
Does ChatGPT use Google?
No. ChatGPT search uses its own crawler and other search providers, so a business can show on Google and still be missing from ChatGPT. Being readable by both is what counts.
How do I know if AI can see my website?
Run our free check at gb.social/ai-check: it tests whether AI assistants can reach, read and quote your site, and gives you a score out of 100 with the fixes in order.
Do I need an llms.txt file?
It's a short plain summary of your business for AI tools, and it takes minutes to add. We include one in every site we build. The basics matter more: clear pages, business details and matching listings.
Should I block AI bots?
Block the ones that only copy content for training if you like, but let in the ones that search and answer questions (Googlebot, Bingbot, OAI-SearchBot, ChatGPT-User, Claude-SearchBot, PerplexityBot). Those are the ones that send customers.
Does my Google Business Profile matter for AI?
Yes. Google's AI answers draw on your profile, and other assistants check that your details match. Keep it complete and current: our Google Business Profile guide shows how.
How long until AI assistants mention my business?
Fixes to access and business details are picked up as soon as the assistants revisit your site, often within days. New pages and listings build up month by month.