Google & AI search
How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT and Google
More and more people are skipping the list of links and asking an AI instead: "Who's a good commercial cleaner in Knoxville?" or "Find me an insurance agent near me who answers the phone." Tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, Gemini and Perplexity give one answer, often naming just a few businesses. So how do you become one of them?
There's no secret switch. AI tools recommend businesses they can find clear, consistent, trustworthy information about. The steps that help are the same ones that help on Google, with a few extra points that matter more now.
1. Say exactly what you do and where, in plain words
AI tools read your website like a very literal customer. If your home page says "Excellence in every detail" but never says "commercial cleaning in Knoxville, Tennessee," it's hard for them to recommend you for that. Put your main service and your cities in your headings and in the first lines of your pages.
2. Answer the questions your customers actually ask
AI answers are built from content that directly answers questions. Add a FAQ section to your service pages: how much it costs, how long it takes, what areas you serve, what's included. Write the answers the way you'd say them on the phone.
3. Keep your Google Business Profile complete and active
Google's AI and the map pull from your Business Profile. Complete every field, choose accurate categories, add photos and keep collecting reviews. (I wrote a whole post on Google Business Profile fixes.)
4. Make your information match everywhere
When your name, address, phone number, hours and services are the same on your website, Google, Facebook, Yelp and industry directories, AI tools can be more confident that the information is right. Conflicting details make you easier to skip.
5. Earn reviews that mention specifics
A review that says "They cleaned our Knoxville office every week and were always on time" tells both people and AI what you do and where. When you ask for a review, it's fine to suggest customers mention the service they got.
6. Add structured data to your website
Structured data (often called schema) is behind-the-scenes code that labels your business name, address, hours, services and reviews so search engines and AI tools can read them reliably. Most visitors never see it, but it helps machines understand you. If your designer hasn't added it, ask.
7. Get mentioned on other trusted sites
Local chamber of commerce listings, industry associations, local news, partner businesses and community sponsorships all help. AI tools look at what others say about you, not just what you say about yourself.
The bottom line
Being recommended by AI comes down to being easy to understand and easy to trust. A clear website, a strong Google profile and good reviews do most of the work. If you'd like a second set of eyes, book a free 15-minute Website & Google Checkup and I'll show you three changes that would help you get found.
Book your Checkup or call 865-243-0962.
