If you want your business to show up when someone asks ChatGPT for a recommendation, you need to follow some best practices.
It’s not a trick, it’s just good marketing, done well and with AI in mind. This is a practical guide to being seen when your ideal customers ask AI for recommendations
TL;DR (Too long; didn’t read)
- Be clear about what you do and where you do it
- Optimise your website for search (especially Bing)
- Create useful content that answers real customer questions
- Get mentioned in directories, blogs and “top 10” lists
- Track Bing traffic and look for signs of referral growth
Why AI search visibility matters
More and more people are skipping Google and going straight to AI tools like ChatGPT. Instead of typing “web designer Oxfordshire” into a search bar, they ask something like:
“Who are the best web agencies near me?”
If your business shows up in the answer, that’s powerful. It gives you instant trust and visibility, often with less competition than traditional search.
And this is just the beginning. AI-driven search is evolving fast. The earlier you adapt, the more chance you have to lead in your space.
People don’t just rely on Google anymore. They ask ChatGPT things like:
“Who are the best accountants in Reading?”
“Top web agencies in Oxfordshire?”
And ChatGPT replies with real businesses, based on what it finds online. If you show up in those answers, that’s targeted visibility that can lead directly to more traffic and revenue.
In fact, early studies show AI-powered search is already influencing buying decisions. Being one of the few businesses mentioned in an AI recommendation gives you a head start in a less crowded space.
How ChatGPT chooses who to recommend
When someone asks for businesses in a location or niche, ChatGPT:
- Uses Bing, not Google, to search
- Looks at real websites, reviews, directories and blog posts
- Picks businesses that are easy to find, well-presented and clearly relevant
So, to be included, your business needs to be visible and credible online. It’s that simple.
Where to start (if time or budget is tight)
If you do nothing else, start here:
- Make sure your Google Business Profile and Bing Places listing are up to date
- Say clearly on your homepage what you do and where you do it
- Get mentioned in one “Top 10” or “Best of” blog post relevant to your sector or location
These three steps give you the best shot at quick wins.
What else you should do
1. Say who you are and where you are
Your website should clearly explain what you do and where you’re based. This helps search engines connect you with local queries.
Do:
“We’re a small accountancy firm in Reading helping businesses with tax, payroll and growth planning.”
Don’t:
“We help you do more with your finances.”
2. Get listed on local directories
Make sure your business appears (with consistent details) on:
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places
- Yell.com
- Yelp
- Industry directories
- Local business listings
This builds trust and boosts visibility in search results.
3. Be featured in “Top 10” lists
ChatGPT pulls info from blogs and articles titled things like:
- “Top 10 wedding venues in Oxfordshire”
- “Best IT support companies in Berkshire”
Find these posts and ask to be included. Offer a case study, review or expert quote in return. Relationships with local journalists or bloggers can go a long way here.
4. Create helpful content on your own site
Write pages or blog posts that match what your ideal customer might ask. This improves your AI search visibility and helps your content get picked up by tools like ChatGPT.
You don’t want to strike a chord that’s in AI minor – your content should be clear, direct and tuned to what people are actually asking.
Examples:
- “5 things to look for in a local web agency”
- “How to pick the right florist for your Oxfordshire wedding”
This boosts search visibility and builds trust.
Examples:
- “5 things to look for in a local web agency”
- “How to pick the right florist for your Oxfordshire wedding”
5. Make your website trustworthy
To stand out in a list of businesses, your site needs to feel reliable. A poor experience on mobile or a slow-loading site could mean you’re skipped over by users and AI alike.
Make sure you have:
- A fast-loading, mobile-friendly design (check out our website support services)
- Clear contact information
- Real team photos
- Testimonials or reviews
- HTTPS security. Make sure you have:
- A fast-loading, mobile-friendly design
- Clear contact information
- Real team photos
- Testimonials or reviews
- HTTPS security
6. Get mentioned by other websites
Links from other sites act as proof that your business is worth recommending.
- Ask happy clients to link to you
- Get mentioned in local news or partner blogs
- Take part in awards or feature roundups
How to know if it’s working
You can’t track ChatGPT traffic directly yet. But here’s how to measure impact:
- Monitor changes in Bing traffic via GA4 or Bing Webmaster Tools
- Search ChatGPT manually with relevant prompts to test visibility
- Watch for new backlinks from blogs, directories or awards you’ve targeted
- Look at lead sources and ask new enquiries how they found you. You can also check Bing Webmaster Tools to see what keywords you’re starting to rank for in AI results (set it up here)
Real-world example
An industrial/manufacturing company followed these steps: they identified keywords frequently used in AI-generated responses, optimised their website content to answer those questions clearly, and secured backlinks from relevant sources. Within a few months, they ranked for 90 new keywords and saw a 2,300% increase in AI-driven referral traffic.
How to adapt this for your business
You don’t need to be in manufacturing to get the same results. Here’s how to apply this process to your business:
- Find the right questions
Think like your customers. What are they asking ChatGPT? Try prompts like “best [your service] in [your town]” and see who gets mentioned. If it’s not you, make a note of what does appear. - Answer those questions clearly on your website
Create or update pages that give direct, helpful answers. Use headings, bullet points and summaries that AI can easily interpret and quote. - Make your site trustworthy
If your website feels out of date, slow or vague, it won’t stand out. Add real testimonials, team bios and clear service pages that show you’re the right choice. - Earn mentions from credible sources
Ask partners, suppliers or happy clients to mention and link to you. Backlinks are still a powerful trust signal for both search engines and AI.
Do the opposite of most people; don’t generate an AI action figure of yourself! Everyone looked the same; boxed, filtered, forgettable. That’s not how you stand out in AI search.
- Track what changes
Use GA4 to watch Bing traffic. Run your own ChatGPT searches to see if you’re now being picked up. Record lead sources so you can connect actions to results.
Quick checklist
- You say what you do and where you do it
- Your Google and Bing profiles are up to date
- You appear in trusted directories
- You’ve written content that answers real customer questions
- You’ve been included (or are working to be included) in relevant “Top 10” or “Best of” posts
- Your site feels human and trustworthy
- Other websites link to you or mention your name
- You’re tracking Bing performance and mentions manually
- You’ve tested how ChatGPT responds to common customer queries
- You’ve created content that directly answers AI-friendly questions
Frequently asked questions
Q: How does ChatGPT decide which businesses to recommend?
A: ChatGPT uses Bing search to find real websites, directories, and content that match the user’s query.
Q: Can I control how often my business appears in ChatGPT results?
A: You can’t directly control it, but you can influence it by improving your website’s visibility, credibility and relevance to the questions being asked.
Q: Is showing up in ChatGPT results better than ranking on Google?
A: It’s not a replacement, but it offers a growing new channel for visibility and trust, often with less competition.
In short
This isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about doing what good businesses do already: showing up, helping people and being credible. AI tools just raise the bar a little.
Start small. Be clear. Keep improving. And if you want help making it all happen, you know where we are.
Want to know if your site would show up in ChatGPT today? Speak to us about analysing your website.