Answer Hub
How Do I Make My Business Visible to ChatGPT?
You need structured data, answer-optimized content, and third-party citations. Most businesses have none of these — which is why AI assistants don't mention them.
Why AI Can't Find Most Businesses
When someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Claude for a recommendation — "best plumber in Asheville" or "CRM for small law firms" — the AI draws from structured data it can parse. Most small business websites are built for humans: pretty images, vague taglines, buried contact info. AI models can't extract useful facts from that. If your business isn't represented in a way AI can understand, you don't exist to it.
The Signals AI Models Look For
AI assistants weight several signals when deciding what to recommend: (1) Structured schema markup on your website that explicitly states what you do, where you operate, and what you offer. (2) An llms.txt file — a plain-text business descriptor designed for AI consumption. (3) A brand-facts.json file at a standard location that machines can read directly. (4) Answer-formatted content that directly addresses the questions people ask. (5) Third-party mentions and citations from directories, reviews, and industry publications. None of these are optional extras — they're the foundation of AI discoverability.
What You Can Do Today
Start with three things: First, add schema markup to your website — LocalBusiness and Service schemas at minimum. Most website builders support this through plugins. Second, create an llms.txt file at your website root with a plain-English description of your business, services, and service area. Third, publish content that directly answers the questions your customers ask. Not blog posts about industry trends — actual answers to "how much does X cost" and "what should I look for in Y." These are the pages AI models pull from when generating recommendations.
The Bigger Picture: Answer Engine Optimization
Traditional SEO optimized for Google's link-based ranking. The next wave — Answer Engine Optimization — optimizes for AI recommendation engines. The businesses that set up structured data, answer-optimized content, and machine-readable brand facts now will have a significant head start. AI traffic converts at higher rates than search traffic because the user already has intent and trust in the recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ChatGPT actually recommend local businesses?
Yes. When users ask for recommendations, ChatGPT draws from its training data and any structured information it can access. Businesses with proper schema markup, llms.txt files, and answer-optimized content are significantly more likely to be mentioned.
How long does it take to show up in AI recommendations?
It depends on the AI model's data refresh cycle. Structured data and llms.txt files can be picked up relatively quickly. Building citation authority through third-party mentions takes longer — typically 2-6 months to see consistent results.
Is this different from regular SEO?
Yes. Traditional SEO focuses on ranking in search engine results pages. AI visibility focuses on being mentioned in AI-generated answers. The tactics overlap (structured data helps both), but the content strategy differs — AI models favor direct answers over keyword-optimized pages.
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