AI Visibility: Answers to Common Questions

AI visibility refers to how well AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity understand your business and recommend it to users. When someone asks an AI "What's the best plumber in Manchester?" or "Can you recommend an accountant for my small business?", AI visibility determines whether your business gets mentioned.

Unlike traditional SEO where you compete for rankings on a page of 10+ results, AI visibility is winner-takes-most. AI assistants typically recommend only 1-3 businesses, and if yours isn't included, potential customers never know you exist.

AI visibility depends on several factors: • How clearly your website explains what you do and who you serve • Structured data (schema markup) that helps AI parse your content • Trust signals like reviews, testimonials, and authoritative mentions • Whether your content directly answers the questions customers ask • Your overall online reputation across multiple platforms

Most businesses (87%) are currently invisible to AI search. This creates a significant first-mover advantage for those who optimise now.

**SEO (Search Engine Optimization)** focuses on ranking your website in traditional search engine results like Google. Users see a list of 10+ results and choose which to click.

**GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)** focuses on getting your business recommended by AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. AI doesn't show a list — it recommends 1-3 businesses directly.

| Aspect | Traditional SEO | GEO (AI Visibility) | |--------|-----------------|---------------------| | Goal | Rank on page 1 | Be recommended | | Competition | 10+ results shown | 1-3 recommended | | User action | Click and browse | Trust and act | | What matters | Keywords & links | Clarity & reputation | | Measurement | Rankings & traffic | Recommendations |

The key difference is stakes: with SEO, even page-two rankings get some clicks. With AI, if you're not recommended, you're completely invisible to that user.

GEO requires different optimisation strategies: • Crystal-clear positioning over keyword stuffing • Comprehensive structured data • Strong reputation signals • Content that directly answers questions • Consistent presence across authoritative platforms

Most businesses that do well in SEO are still invisible to AI because they haven't optimised for how AI parses and recommends.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the emerging discipline of optimising your business's online presence to be recommended by generative AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity.

Unlike traditional SEO which optimises for search engine crawlers and ranking algorithms, GEO optimises for how large language models (LLMs) understand, synthesise, and recommend businesses.

**Core principles of GEO:**

1. **Clear, Specific Positioning** — AI needs to understand exactly what you do and who you serve. Remove ambiguity.

2. **Comprehensive Structured Data** — Schema markup (LocalBusiness, Organization, Service, FAQ, HowTo, Review) helps AI parse your content accurately.

3. **Authority Building** — Mentions and citations from reputable sources train AI to trust your business.

4. **Question-Oriented Content** — Create content that directly answers the questions your customers ask AI.

5. **Consistent Identity** — Your business information should be identical across all platforms AI might reference.

6. **Trust Signal Amplification** — Reviews, testimonials, and social proof that AI can detect and cite.

GEO is still emerging, which creates opportunity. Businesses that optimise now gain first-mover advantage while competitors focus solely on traditional SEO.

ChatGPT and other AI assistants use multiple signals to determine which businesses to recommend:

1. **Clarity of Positioning** ChatGPT needs to understand exactly what you do, who you serve, and what problems you solve. Vague marketing language like "innovative solutions" gets ignored. Specific statements like "We're a personal injury solicitor in Bristol helping accident victims get compensation" get recommended.

2. **Structured Data (Schema Markup)** Schema markup is machine-readable code that explicitly tells AI what your business is, where it operates, what services it offers, and other key details. Businesses with proper LocalBusiness, Organization, Service, and Review schema are far more likely to be recommended.

3. **Trust Signals** ChatGPT looks for evidence that your business is reputable: customer reviews on Google and industry platforms, testimonials, awards, accreditations, and mentions from authoritative sources.

4. **Authoritative Mentions** Being cited or mentioned on respected websites, industry publications, and directories helps establish authority. ChatGPT synthesises information from across the web.

5. **Question-Answering Content** If your website content directly answers the questions customers ask — "How much does X cost?", "What should I look for in Y?", "How does Z work?" — AI is more likely to associate your business with those topics.

Most businesses fail on the fundamentals: unclear positioning and missing structured data. These are fixable issues.

If ChatGPT isn't recommending your business, it's likely due to one or more of these issues:

**1. Unclear Positioning** Your website doesn't clearly state who you help and what problems you solve. AI can't recommend you if it doesn't understand what you do.

**2. Missing Structured Data** You don't have schema markup telling AI your business type, location, services, and other key details. Without this, AI has to guess — and often guesses wrong.

**3. Weak Differentiation** There's no clear reason why someone should choose you over competitors. AI recommends businesses that stand out, not those that sound like everyone else.

**4. Missing Trust Signals** Lack of reviews, testimonials, or third-party validation makes AI hesitant to recommend you.

**5. Poor Machine Readability** Your content might be visually appealing but technically difficult for AI to parse — hidden in images, JavaScript, or poorly structured HTML.

**6. Content Doesn't Answer Questions** Your website talks about you but doesn't address what customers actually want to know: pricing, process, qualifications, locations served.

**7. Competitor Advantage** Your competitors may have already optimised for AI visibility, making it harder for you to break through.

An AI visibility review identifies exactly which issues are blocking you and provides a prioritised action plan to fix them.

To check your AI visibility, test across multiple AI assistants with queries your customers might actually ask:

**Step 1: Identify Relevant Queries** Think about what your customers ask when looking for businesses like yours: • "What's the best [your service] in [your location]?" • "Can you recommend a [your industry] for [specific need]?" • "Who should I use for [problem you solve]?" • "What are the top [your category] companies in [your area]?"

**Step 2: Test Across Multiple AI Platforms** • ChatGPT (chat.openai.com) • Claude (claude.ai) • Gemini (gemini.google.com) • Perplexity (perplexity.ai)

Each may give different results based on their training data and methods.

**Step 3: Document Results** For each query, note: • Were you mentioned? • Was the information accurate? • Which competitors were mentioned instead? • How were you described (if mentioned)?

**Step 4: Test Variations** Try different phrasings, locations, and specificity levels. AI responses can vary significantly.

**What you're looking for:** • Consistent recommendations across platforms • Accurate information about your business • Being mentioned for relevant queries in your area

If you're not appearing — or appearing with incorrect information — you have AI visibility issues that need addressing.

For a comprehensive assessment, consider a professional AI visibility review that tests 50+ queries across all major platforms.

AI visibility is particularly valuable for:

**Local Service Businesses** Plumbers, electricians, builders, cleaners, mechanics, locksmiths. When someone asks ChatGPT "Who's the best plumber near Bristol?", being recommended means direct calls.

**Professional Services** Solicitors, accountants, financial advisers, consultants. High-value decisions where people increasingly ask AI for recommendations.

**Healthcare Providers** Dentists, physiotherapists, opticians, private clinics. People ask AI which providers to choose for specific needs.

**Hospitality** Restaurants, hotels, cafés, event venues. AI increasingly handles "Where should I eat in [location]?" queries.

**Home Services** Estate agents, interior designers, architects, gardeners. "Recommend a good estate agent in Manchester" is a common AI query.

**Specialist Retailers** Niche shops where customers ask "Where can I buy [specific product]?"

**Why these businesses benefit most:** • Their customers ask AI for recommendations • Decisions are local and trust-dependent • Competition is often invisible to AI (87% of local businesses) • Being recommended directly drives revenue

Businesses with national/international scope also benefit, but local businesses see the most immediate impact because AI increasingly handles local recommendation queries.

The getfoundbychatgpt AI visibility review costs **£190** as a one-off payment. There's no subscription or ongoing commitment.

**What's included:**

1. **Full AI Audit** — We test how ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity understand and recommend your business across 50+ relevant queries.

2. **AI Readiness Score** — A clear score showing where you stand across key visibility factors: clarity, audience, use cases, differentiation, trust signals, and machine readability.

3. **Competitor Comparison** — See who AI recommends instead of you and understand why.

4. **Blockers Identified** — Specific issues preventing your visibility, with explanations of why they matter.

5. **Prioritised Action Plan** — Fixes ordered by impact, with quick wins highlighted so you know what to tackle first.

6. **30-Minute Walkthrough Call** — A live call where we explain every finding and answer your specific questions.

**Turnaround:** 24 hours from purchase to receiving your report.

**Guarantee:** Follow the roadmap we provide and get recommended by ChatGPT for your area — or your money back.

The price is £190 as a one-off payment.