The short answer
ChatGPT recommends businesses it can find clear, consistent and trustworthy information about. Make your business details identical everywhere, get listed on the directories it reads, collect Google reviews, add schema markup, and write pages that answer your customers’ questions directly.
Where does ChatGPT get its recommendations?
When you ask ChatGPT for a recommendation with web search switched on, it searches the web and summarises what it finds: your website, business directories, review sites and “best of” articles. It leans heavily on search engines such as Bing to find those pages.
If those sources disagree about your business, or don’t mention you at all, ChatGPT has nothing solid to go on, and it recommends someone else.
1. Make your business details identical everywhere
AI tools cross-check facts. If your website says one address, Google another and an old directory a third, they can’t be sure which is right.
- Use one business name, address and phone number, written the same way everywhere.
- Describe your services and experience the same way on every profile.
- Update or remove old listings with out-of-date details.
2. Get listed where AI looks
For “best [service] in [town]” questions, AI tools rely on directories and roundup articles. Make sure you’re on them.
- Google Business Profile and Bing Places – claim both and fill in every section.
- Industry directories relevant to your trade or profession.
- Review and comparison sites your customers use.
- Local “best of” articles – ask the authors to include you if you genuinely fit.
3. Collect Google reviews
Reviews are one of the clearest signals that a business is real and trusted. A steady flow of recent, genuine reviews helps on Google and in AI answers.
- Ask every happy customer, soon after the job is done.
- Send them your direct Google review link so it takes a minute.
- Reply to every review, good or bad.
- Never buy reviews or offer rewards for them – it breaks Google’s rules.
4. Add schema markup
Schema markup is code on your website that tells search engines and AI tools, in a format they read easily, exactly who you are: your business name, address, phone, services, prices and the areas you cover. It doesn’t change how your pages look, but it removes guesswork. Your web designer or SEO plugin can add it.
5. Write pages that answer questions
AI tools quote pages that state things plainly. Start each important page with two or three sentences that say what you do, who it’s for, what it costs and where you work. Add a short FAQ with the questions customers actually ask, and put prices on the page if you can.
How long does it take?
AI tools update what they know gradually. Fixing your listings and pages can take effect in weeks, but expect it to take a few months before you see a consistent change in what ChatGPT says about your business. Check by asking it the questions your customers would ask, once a month.
Checklist
- Business details identical on your website, Google, Bing and directories
- Google Business Profile and Bing Places complete
- Listed on relevant directories and review sites
- Regular Google reviews, with replies
- Schema markup on your website
- Answer-first service pages with prices and FAQs
- Monthly test searches in ChatGPT and Perplexity
Want this done for you?
I can do this work for your business as part of ongoing SEO for £200 a month.