There’s no switch that makes ChatGPT or Gemini recommend you, and nobody outside those companies knows the exact recipe. What you can do is make your business easy to find, easy to verify and easy to describe. That raises your odds without gimmicks. In practice, to get recommended by ChatGPT, you work on the sources it already uses.
Here are the eight steps we’d follow, based on what Google documents and what independent tests have observed. Nothing here is a trick to get recommended by ChatGPT overnight.
First, how do these assistants choose a business?
They don’t all do it the same way. In a small UK test by Whito (36 answers, June 2026), ChatGPT mostly pulled from Google’s local listings, Gemini surfaced businesses from Google Maps cards, and Perplexity often pointed to directories. The three engines rarely agreed. Steady, honest work is how you get recommended by ChatGPT over time.
That sample is small and the author notes results vary by account, location and time. But it points to something practical: the assistants lean on sources that already exist, such as maps, listings, review sites and your own website. So you work on those sources.
Step 1: Get the Google basics right to get recommended by ChatGPT
Claim and verify your Google Business Profile, choose the most specific primary category, and keep hours and contact details current. Google’s AI documentation specifically recommends keeping Business Profile information up to date. We cover the full checklist in our local SEO work, and it’s the single highest-value starting point.
Step 2: Make your details identical everywhere
Use the same business name, address, phone number and website on your profile, your site, Apple Maps and any directories you appear in. Mismatches create doubt about which listing is the real one. This is one of the most repeated practical tips among practitioners, though it’s experience-based rather than a published ranking factor.
Step 3: Say what you do in plain text on your website
Give each core service its own page. State the service, the area you cover, who it suits, how it works and how pricing is decided. Keep the key facts in normal text, not inside images or pop-ups. Google’s guidance says the same: important content should be available in text form, and structured data should match what is visible on the page.
Step 4: Answer the questions customers actually ask
Add a short FAQ to your main pages. Use the phrasing real people use, for example “How long does a root canal take?” or “Do you serve Mohali?”. Short, direct answers are easy for people and for AI systems to quote. Don’t stuff them with keywords.
Step 5: Earn reviews honestly and reply to them
Ask happy customers for a review using your Google review link or QR code. Google says offering discounts or freebies in exchange for reviews is strictly prohibited, so don’t. Reply to reviews in a specific, human way. Reviews also show up in what people check after an AI mention. We go deeper in our related services for reputation work.
Step 6: Add structured data if it fits, but don’t expect miracles
Google says you don’t need special markup to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode. LocalBusiness markup is still useful for regular search and Maps, as long as it matches your visible content. Think of it as tidy housekeeping, not an AI hack.
Step 7: Be present where your category is listed
Every industry has a few directories or marketplaces that customers and assistants use. Find yours by searching your service in your city and noting who ranks. Make sure your listing there is complete and accurate.
Step 8: Test it and keep a log
Pick eight to ten prompts such as “best [service] near [area]” and “who should I call for [problem] in [city]”. Run them in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI Mode once a month. Record whether you appear, who else does and what sources are cited. Don’t panic over one miss, because the same analysis notes a single test is only a sample.
If you want to get recommended by ChatGPT, consistency beats shortcuts. If you’d like us to run this audit and build a plan around it, see our AEO and GEO service and packages, or just book a short call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay to be recommended by ChatGPT or Gemini?
Not in the sense of buying an organic recommendation. Be cautious of anyone who says they can. Paid advertising inside some AI products is a separate and evolving topic, and it’s different from being recommended on merit.
How long does it take to start showing up?
There’s no fixed timeline. Changes to your profile or website need to be crawled and picked up first, which can take days to months according to Google’s own documentation on recrawling. Expect gradual improvement, not an overnight jump.
Does my website need to be in English?
Write in the language your customers search in. For many Indian local businesses that means English, sometimes with Hindi or Punjabi terms for areas or services. Keep names and spellings consistent across your listings.
Is llms.txt worth adding?
It’s optional and not a requirement. Google says no special AI files are needed for its AI features, and independent writers describe llms.txt as helpful only for some compatible tools. Fix your profile, site and reviews first.
What if an AI assistant shows wrong information about my business?
Correct the sources it likely drew from: your Google profile, website and directory listings. You can’t edit the assistant’s answer directly, but accurate and consistent source data is the best long-term fix.