SEO and AI search visibility for small businesses
More customers now ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Google's AI Overviews to recommend a business. I improve the information and signals that help search engines and AI platforms understand your business, trust it and show it to people.
Search is becoming a conversation.
- "Who are the best accountants for a small business near me?"
- "Which local company can help me improve my website?"
- "Is there a good independent physiotherapist in Solihull?"
Instead of typing "accountant near me" and comparing ten websites, people increasingly ask a question and get a single answer, often with only a handful of businesses named in it.
That answer is built from information the AI platform can find and trust: your website, your Google Business Profile, directories, reviews and what others say about you. If that information is unclear, inconsistent or missing, you're less likely to be mentioned.
Traditional SEO still matters a great deal, because many AI tools draw on search results. But clarity, consistency and structure matter more than ever.
What I set up, and what I look after
I set up
- Review of website structure and service descriptions
- Business information and listings consistency
- Structured data (schema) for your business, services and FAQs
- Expertise, author and About content
- FAQs that answer real customer questions
- Test questions across leading AI tools
Each month
- AI and search visibility check
- Business information updates
- New FAQ and content opportunities
- Competitor monitoring
- Findings included in your monthly report
An honest note: no one can guarantee that ChatGPT or any other AI tool will recommend your business. I improve the signals you can influence, which also strengthens your Google visibility.
Four simple steps
Test
I ask leading AI tools the kinds of questions your customers ask, and record whether and how your business appears.
Review
I assess your website, structured data, Business Profile and wider presence against the signals AI platforms rely on.
Fix
I make the priority improvements, or brief your web developer.
Monitor
Each month I re-test, update information and look for new opportunities.
Five things that influence how AI understands your business
Clear business information
Search systems can tell exactly what you do, who you serve and where.
Machine-readable structure
Key information marked up with schema so machines can read it reliably.
Consistent trust signals
Your name, details and reviews match across Google, directories and social profiles.
Useful expertise
Your site shows real knowledge, experience and credentials.
Question-led content
Your pages answer the questions customers actually ask, directly and clearly.
Better Google results too
Almost everything that helps AI search also helps traditional SEO.
How to show up in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
To show up in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews and other AI answers, your business needs to be easy to find in search, clearly described on your own website, and mentioned consistently by other trusted sites. Google says there are no special technical tricks for its AI features: a page simply needs to be indexed and eligible to appear in normal search results.
You may also hear this work called GEO (generative engine optimisation) or AEO (answer engine optimisation). In practice, it is good SEO with extra attention on clarity, consistency and trust. These five steps are where to start.
Be findable
Make sure Google and Bing can crawl and index your site. ChatGPT, Copilot and others draw on search indexes, so Bing matters as much as Google.
Say clearly what you do
Open each key page with one plain sentence: what you do, who it is for and where. AI tools quote short, direct answers.
Keep your details consistent
Use the same business name, contact details and description on your website, Google Business Profile, directories and social profiles.
Answer real questions
Add FAQs and articles that answer the questions customers actually ask, in plain sentences, with structured data where it fits.
Earn reviews and mentions
Genuine reviews, directory listings and mentions on trusted websites are what AI tools rely on when they recommend a business.
Then test it: once a month, ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Copilot the questions your customers ask, and note whether your business is named and which sources they cite.
Get Found in AI Search: the plain-English guide
Eight practical steps to help ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot and Google's AI understand, trust and recommend your business, with worked examples, checklists and a 30-day plan. 22-page PDF, £19.
SEO & AI Search: common questions
What is AI search visibility?
It's how easily AI-powered platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI Overviews can understand, trust and mention your business when people ask for recommendations or information.
Can you guarantee ChatGPT will recommend my business?
No, and nobody honestly can. What I can do is improve the information and signals that AI platforms rely on, so your business is easier to understand and verify.
What are GEO and AEO?
They are newer names for helping your business appear in AI-generated answers. GEO stands for generative engine optimisation and AEO for answer engine optimisation. Both build on SEO: clear business information, structured data, consistent listings, useful content and genuine reviews and mentions.
Is this different from SEO?
It builds on SEO. Most of what helps AI platforms (clear information, structured data, consistent listings and useful content) also helps you rank on Google. That's why it's part of every package rather than a separate project.
How do you measure AI visibility?
I run a consistent set of test questions across leading AI tools each month and record whether and how your business appears, alongside your normal search and Google Business Profile data.
SEO & AI Search is part of these packages
Works well with
Local SEO & Google Maps
Monthly Google Business Profile and local SEO management for UK small businesses: posts, photos, listings, local rankings and competitor checks, personally delivered.
Learn more →Get ChosenSEO Content Writing
Expert-led SEO content writing: SEO articles, service page improvements, Google Business Profile posts and FAQs, checked for accuracy and tone.
Learn more →Stay VisibleMonitoring & Reporting
A simple SEO and visibility dashboard, alerts for technical issues, and a one-page monthly summary with the three things worth doing next.
Learn more →Get found, get chosen and win more enquiries.
Start with an AI & Visibility Review: an honest view of where you stand and where AI can help.
Book a review