7 Common AI Visibility Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
The most frequent reasons businesses don't get recommended by ChatGPT—and practical solutions for each.
AI Visibility Consultant · 10+ years in tech
Most businesses making AI visibility mistakes don't even know they're making them. Here are the seven most common issues we see—and how to fix each one.
Mistake #1: Vague or Clever Messaging
The Problem:
Your website says things like "We empower businesses to achieve their potential" or "Innovative solutions for modern challenges." Sounds good to humans, means nothing to AI.
The Fix:
Be boringly specific. "We're an accounting firm for tech startups in London. We handle R&D tax credits, EMI schemes, and scale-up finance."
AI needs to understand exactly what you do to recommend you for relevant queries. Clarity beats cleverness every time.
Mistake #2: No Third-Party Presence
The Problem:
Your business only exists on your own website. No reviews, no directory listings, no mentions anywhere else.
The Fix:
Build your presence across Google reviews, industry directories, social platforms, and review sites. AI synthesises information from across the web—you need to be everywhere.
Mistake #3: Inconsistent Business Information
The Problem:
Your address is slightly different on your website, Google Business Profile, and LinkedIn. Your business name varies across platforms. Your phone number is formatted differently everywhere.
The Fix:
Audit every online presence and standardise your NAP (Name, Address, Phone). Use identical formatting everywhere. Update old listings that have incorrect information.
Mistake #4: Missing Location Signals
The Problem:
Your website doesn't clearly indicate where you're located or what areas you serve. Someone asking for "the best accountant in Leeds" won't find you even if you're based there.
The Fix:
Add your location to your footer, create location-specific service pages, claim and optimise your Google Business Profile, and mention your service areas throughout your content.
Mistake #5: No Social Proof
The Problem:
Your website has no testimonials, no case studies, no client logos, no reviews. AI has no evidence that you're actually good at what you do.
The Fix:
Actively collect and display testimonials. Write detailed case studies. Encourage clients to leave Google reviews. Add client logos with permission. Display any industry awards or certifications.
Mistake #6: Outdated or Thin Content
The Problem:
Your website has a handful of pages with minimal content. Your blog hasn't been updated in two years. There's not enough substance for AI to understand your expertise.
The Fix:
Create comprehensive service pages. Build out your About page. Add an FAQ section. Publish helpful content regularly. Each piece of quality content helps AI understand what you do and how well you do it.
Mistake #7: No Structured Data
The Problem:
Your website is just HTML and text with no schema markup. AI has to work harder to understand your business entities and information.
The Fix:
Implement schema markup: Organization, LocalBusiness, Product/Service, FAQ, and Review schemas. This helps AI parse your information accurately and completely.
How to Prioritise Fixes
Don't try to fix everything at once. Here's the order that typically has the most impact:
- Homepage messaging: Quick win, high impact
- Google Business Profile: Critical for local visibility
- Reviews and testimonials: Build credibility
- NAP consistency: Foundation for trust
- Service pages: Detail what you offer
- Structured data: Technical enhancement
- Content creation: Ongoing investment
Not sure which mistakes you're making?
Our AI Visibility Audit identifies exactly which issues are affecting your business and provides a prioritised action plan to fix them.
Get your AI visibility audit →The Compound Effect
Each fix builds on the others. Clear messaging makes your reviews more impactful. Consistent NAP makes your directory listings more valuable. Structured data makes everything more understandable to AI.
Start with the basics and build from there. Most businesses see meaningful improvement within weeks of addressing their core issues. The key is identifying your specific problems and fixing them systematically.
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