Not long ago, ChatGPT was mostly seen as a novelty. A tool people used to write poems, summarize emails, or brainstorm ideas. But that’s changing fast.
Today, more people are using ChatGPT and other AI tools to research businesses, compare options, and ask for specific service or product recommendations. Whether they’re looking for the best CRM for a small team or a web design agency in Connecticut, they’re typing those queries into ChatGPT instead of Google.
So, it’s no surprise that business owners and marketers are now asking: How do I get my company to show up in those answers? How do I get recommended by ChatGPT?
This article breaks down how ChatGPT (and other AI assistants) "find" and recommend businesses, and what you can do to make your business one of them.
ChatGPT doesn’t search the internet in real time the way Google does. Instead, it pulls from a combination of sources:
So, when someone asks ChatGPT to recommend a business, it doesn't run a fresh Google search. It responds based on what it has already learned or can access via integrations.
That means if your business doesn’t have a strong digital presence, ChatGPT likely doesn’t know you exist.
And even if it does, it may not recommend you, unless your content, profiles, and authority signal that you're a trustworthy option.
Here’s the good news: everything you’ve been doing to build your SEO presence also supports your visibility in AI tools.
ChatGPT’s responses tend to echo what already ranks well or is considered reliable by search engines. That means authoritative, well-structured, human-focused content is still your best long-term strategy.
If your content is:
Then you're far more likely to be "seen" and recommended by tools like ChatGPT.
In other words, your content is no longer just for Google. It’s for every AI system trying to help people make decisions.
There’s no shortcut or trick to being recommended by AI. But there are very real steps you can take to increase your visibility.
Google is still one of the most trusted data sources in the world, and ChatGPT leans heavily on it when offering local recommendations. Make sure your profile is complete, accurate, and regularly updated.
Include detailed business categories, hours, photos, service areas, and links to your website. Encourage customers to leave honest, detailed reviews; these get picked up in structured data and help reinforce credibility.
You already know that publishing content builds trust with buyers. Now it also helps you get found by AI.
Focus on content that:
The more clearly you explain your business, the more likely AI will be able to explain it to others.
AI models look for patterns. If your business name, address, services, or messaging are inconsistent across platforms, that sends mixed signals.
Make sure your brand is accurately represented across your website, social profiles, directories, and partner listings. Use the same core language to describe your services and value.
External validation matters. ChatGPT often references sites like Yelp, G2, Trustpilot, and Google when recommending service providers or software.
Make a habit of asking for reviews from happy customers, and look for opportunities to be mentioned in articles, comparison pieces, or roundups in your industry.
The more third-party sites mention or review you, the more visible you become to AI tools.
If you want ChatGPT to recognize your company as an expert on a topic, give it somewhere obvious to learn that from.
Create dedicated pages or blog posts for your most important topics. For example:
Structure your content with clear headers, FAQs, and internal links. This helps both humans and AI understand what you're offering.
There are a few traps to steer clear of:
If you want to be recommended by ChatGPT, think long-term. Build your brand like you’re trying to earn a human buyer’s trust, because that’s exactly what you’re doing.
Search is evolving. People are relying more on AI assistants, and the line between search engine and chatbot is getting blurrier.
That means your business needs to show up wherever people are asking questions. This means in search engine results pages, chat windows, smart speakers, and AI-powered tools.
To stay visible, focus on these long-term strategies:
These are the same principles we coach using the Endless Customers System™, and they’re even more important in an AI-driven world.
You can’t pay to show up in ChatGPT. You have to earn it.
That means showing up with content that answers questions clearly. Building a digital presence that’s trustworthy, consistent, and helpful. And owning your expertise instead of hoping a third party tells your story.
If you want ChatGPT to recommend your business, start acting like a business worth recommending.
Want help building a digital content strategy that makes you visible to buyers and AI alike? Let’s talk about how we can coach your team to create content that earns trust and drives results on every platform that matters.