Here’s a test you can run right now, with your phone, in about five minutes. It will tell you whether AI tools are recommending your business or sending your customers to a competitor.
No software. No login. Just a few questions typed the way your customers type them.
Step 1: Pick your tools
Open the ones your customers are most likely to use: ChatGPT, Google (look at the AI Overview at the top of the results), Gemini, and Perplexity. You don’t need all four, but two is the minimum. They don’t always agree, and that’s useful.
Step 2: Ask like a customer, not like an owner
Don’t search your business name. Your customers don’t know it yet. Ask the questions they actually ask. Swap in your service and your town:
- “Who’s the best [service] in [city]?”
- “I need a [service] near [neighborhood]. Who should I call?”
- “What [service] companies in [city] have good reviews?”
- “Who does [specific job you want more of] in [city]?”
- “Is [your business name] any good?”
For example: “Who’s the best commercial roofer in Summerville?” or “I need an HVAC company near Mount Pleasant. Who should I call?”
Step 3: Score it
For each question, write down one of three results:
- ✅ Named: you’re in the answer.
- ⚠️ Mentioned, but wrong: old phone number, wrong services, wrong area, or a competitor described better.
- ❌ Invisible: not there at all.
Then look at who did get named, and click the sources if the tool shows them. That’s your map. Those are the sites the AI is trusting instead of yours.
Step 4: Read the results
Named on most questions
Nice. Now protect it. Keep reviews coming, keep your Google Business Profile current, and make sure your site clearly explains every service you want to be known for.
Mentioned but wrong
This one is fixable fast. AI tools pull from your website, your Google Business Profile, directories, and review sites. If they disagree with each other on your name, phone, address, hours, or services, the AI guesses. Make them all match.
Invisible
You’re not alone, and it’s not about how good your work is. It usually comes down to a few things: thin service pages, inconsistent listings, not enough reviews, and not enough other websites talking about you. The businesses getting named are the ones that give AI clear, consistent, trustworthy information to work with.
What actually moves the needle
- A dedicated page for each service, written in plain language that answers the questions customers ask.
- A complete, active Google Business Profile with photos, services, and fresh reviews.
- Consistent listings across directories and review sites.
- Mentions on other trusted sites: local news, chambers, associations, suppliers, “best of” lists.
- Structured data on your site so machines can read who you are, what you do, and where.
Want the deeper version? Read how to get your business cited in ChatGPT answers and AI search in Charleston.
Want us to run it for you?
Hannah runs our Carolinas desk out of Summerville. She’ll run the full visibility check on your business across Google and the major AI tools, show you where you show up and where you don’t, and tell you what’s in the way. Free, no pitch.
Call (843) 582-0690 or visit our Charleston & Carolinas page.
FAQ
How do I know if ChatGPT recommends my business?
Ask it the way a customer would, without using your business name: “Who’s the best [service] in [city]?” Try several variations, and repeat the test in Google’s AI Overviews, Gemini, and Perplexity.
Why does AI recommend my competitor instead of me?
AI tools lean on information they can find and trust: clear service pages, consistent business listings, reviews, and mentions on other websites. Competitors with more of those signals get named more often.
How often should I run this test?
Once a month is plenty. AI answers change over time, so tracking results monthly shows whether your visibility is improving.