5 Ways to Get Recommended by AI

If you've discovered that AI assistants like ChatGPT and Gemini don't recommend your business, you're not alone. The good news is that there are concrete steps you can take — starting today — to change that.

Here are five practical tactics that have proven effective for local businesses looking to improve their AI visibility.

1. Add LocalBusiness Schema Markup to Your Website

Time to implement: 1-2 hours

Schema markup is structured data that helps AI understand exactly what your business is, where it's located, and what you offer. Without it, AI has to guess — and it often guesses wrong or skips you entirely.

Here's what to include in your LocalBusiness schema:

• Business name (exactly as it appears everywhere else)
• Full address with city, state, and zip
• Phone number in international format
• Business hours for each day of the week
• Services offered with descriptions
• Price range indicator
• Geographic service area
• Accepted payment methods

You can generate schema markup using free tools like Google's Structured Data Markup Helper, then add it to your website's header. If you use WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help.

Why it works: Schema markup is the most direct way to communicate with AI models. It's like handing them a business card instead of hoping they'll figure out who you are from context clues.

2. Claim and Optimize Every Directory Listing

Time to implement: 2-3 hours

AI models build their understanding of businesses by cross-referencing multiple sources. The more consistent and complete your listings are, the more confident AI becomes in recommending you.

Priority directories to claim and optimize:

• Google Business Profile — The most important single listing. Complete every field, add photos weekly, and respond to every review.
• Yelp — Still heavily weighted by AI models for local recommendations.
• Industry-specific directories — For dentists, it's Healthgrades and Zocdoc. For lawyers, it's Avvo and FindLaw. For restaurants, it's TripAdvisor and OpenTable.
• Better Business Bureau — An authority signal that AI models trust.
• Local chamber of commerce — Establishes local credibility.

The critical rule: Your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) must be identical across every listing. Not similar — identical. "123 Main St" and "123 Main Street" are different to an AI model.

3. Get Mentioned in Local Publications

Time to implement: Ongoing (start this week)

AI models heavily weight mentions in trusted publications. A single mention in your local newspaper or a respected industry blog can dramatically improve your AI visibility.

Strategies to earn mentions:

• Offer expert commentary — Reach out to local journalists covering your industry. Offer to be a source for articles about dental health, legal rights, home improvement, etc.
• Sponsor local events — Event coverage often includes sponsor mentions in local media.
• Write guest posts — Contribute articles to local business blogs, industry publications, or community websites.
• Issue press releases — For genuine news (new location, award, milestone), distribute through local press release channels.
• Partner with local organizations — Collaborate with schools, nonprofits, or community groups that have established web presences.

Why it works: AI models treat mentions in authoritative publications as strong endorsement signals. One article in your local newspaper can outweigh hundreds of directory listings.

4. Create Content That Directly Answers AI Queries

Time to implement: 1-2 hours per piece

Think about the exact questions your customers ask AI, then create content that directly answers them. This increases the chances that AI will reference your content when generating recommendations.

Example queries to target:

• "Best [your service] in [your city]"
• "[Your service] near me with good reviews"
• "How much does [your service] cost in [your city]?"
• "What should I look for in a [your profession]?"
• "[Your service] for [specific need] in [your area]"

For each query, create a dedicated page or blog post that:

• Answers the question directly in the first paragraph
• Includes your city and service area naturally throughout
• Provides genuinely helpful information (not just self-promotion)
• Links to your service pages and contact information
• Includes relevant statistics or expert insights

Why it works: AI retrieval systems scan the web for content that matches user queries. Content that directly addresses common questions is more likely to be surfaced and referenced.

5. Actively Manage Your Review Profile

Time to implement: 15 minutes daily

Reviews are one of the strongest signals AI models use when making recommendations. But it's not just about having reviews — it's about having the right kind of reviews.

Quantity matters, but quality matters more. A business with 50 detailed, specific reviews will often outrank one with 200 generic "Great service!" reviews. AI models can parse review content and extract meaningful signals.

Respond to every review. Your responses demonstrate active management and provide additional context for AI models. A thoughtful response to a negative review can actually improve your AI visibility.

Encourage specific reviews. Instead of asking customers to "leave a review," ask them to mention specific aspects of their experience: the service they received, what made it special, and whether they'd recommend you for specific needs.

Diversify review platforms. Don't put all your eggs in the Google Reviews basket. Encourage reviews on Yelp, industry-specific platforms, and Facebook. AI models cross-reference multiple review sources.

The Compound Effect

None of these tactics works in isolation. The real power comes from implementing all five together. Schema markup tells AI what you are. Directory consistency confirms it. Publication mentions endorse it. Targeted content answers questions about it. And reviews validate it.

Start with the tactics that take the least time (schema markup and directory cleanup), then build toward the ongoing strategies (publication mentions and content creation). Within 30 days, you should see measurable improvement in how AI assistants describe and recommend your business.

Want to measure your progress? Get a free AI Visibility Audit before you start, then re-audit after 30 days to see your improvement.