More and more people use AI-powered tools to research products, services and local businesses. Instead of typing a few keywords into Google, they ask a question in full: "Who's the best person to help my small business with Google Ads?" and get a written answer.
That raises an important question for business owners: when someone asks an AI tool about your industry, does your business come up? And if it does, is the information accurate?
The good news is you can check. Below are ten practical tests, each with example prompts you can copy and use.
A quick note before you start: AI answers vary. The same question can produce different responses depending on the tool, the wording, whether the tool searches the web, the user's location and even the time of day. Treat these tests as a snapshot, not a final verdict.
10 Tests to Check Your AI Visibility
1. Ask ChatGPT what it knows about your business
Start with the simplest test. Ask directly and see what comes back.
Example prompt: "What do you know about Digital AdDoctor in Tunbridge Wells?"
Check whether the details are correct: your services, location, founder and website. If the answer is vague or wrong, that's a sign your information isn't clear or consistent enough online.
2. Ask ChatGPT to recommend businesses in your industry
This is how many customers will actually use AI. They won't ask about you by name.
Example prompts: "Who are the best SEO consultants in Tunbridge Wells?" or "Which digital marketing agencies in Tunbridge Wells offer SEO and PPC?"
Note which businesses are mentioned and why. The reasons given often hint at what the AI found most convincing.
3. Ask AI about your competitors
Ask the same questions about the businesses you compete with.
Example prompt: "What services does [competitor name] offer, and what are they known for?"
If a competitor is described in rich detail and you aren't, compare what they publish online with what you publish.
4. Test customer questions with strong buying intent
Think about the questions people ask when they're close to choosing a provider.
Example prompts: "Recommend a Google Ads specialist in Kent." or "Who can help my small business get more enquiries from Google?"
These are the conversations that lead to enquiries, so they're the most important ones to monitor.
5. Check Google AI Overviews and AI Mode
Search Google for your key services and questions, and see whether an AI Overview appears. Where AI Mode is available, try a conversational question and follow-up.
Example search: "how much does SEO cost for a small business in Tunbridge Wells"
Look at which websites are cited as sources. Are any of them yours, or websites that mention you?
6. Search your business in Perplexity
Perplexity lists its sources clearly, which makes it useful for understanding where information comes from.
Example prompt: "Tell me about Digital AdDoctor and the services it offers."
Check the cited sources. Outdated directory listings or old articles may be shaping how you're described.
7. Ask AI which services your business specialises in
Being mentioned isn't enough if you're described inaccurately.
Example prompt: "What does Digital AdDoctor specialise in?"
If the answer misses your main services or includes ones you no longer offer, your website and listings may need clearer, more consistent service descriptions.
8. Check business information consistency across the web
AI tools often draw on many sources. Search for your business name and check your Google Business Profile, Bing Places, social media profiles, directories and any press coverage.
Example prompt: "What is the address, phone number and website for Digital AdDoctor?"
Your name, address, phone number and website should be identical everywhere.
9. Check website indexing and crawl accessibility
If search engines can't access your pages, AI tools that rely on search results are less likely to find them either.
Search Google for "site:yourwebsite.co.uk" to see which pages are indexed, check Google Search Console for indexing issues and make sure your robots.txt file isn't blocking important pages.
Example prompt: "Summarise the services listed on [your website address]."
10. Repeat the tests and track visibility over time
Because answers change, one test tells you little. Keep a simple spreadsheet of your prompts, the date, the tool and the answer, and repeat the same tests every month or two.
Example prompt to reuse: "Which digital marketing agencies in Tunbridge Wells offer SEO and PPC?"
Over time, you'll see whether your visibility is improving and which changes seem to help.
What Is Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)?
Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is the practice of making your business easier for AI-powered search tools to understand, trust and reference.
It's closely connected to SEO. Many AI tools use search engine results and web content as sources, so strong SEO foundations are usually the starting point for GEO. Where GEO adds focus is in making information clear, factual, well-structured and consistent across the web, so it can be easily summarised and cited.
It's important to be realistic. Nobody can guarantee that a business will appear in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity or any other AI-generated answer. AI recommendations can change frequently, and each tool works differently. GEO is about giving your business the best possible chance, not a guaranteed placement.
How to Improve Your Business's AI Search Visibility
Clear service pages
Give each core service its own page, explaining what it is, who it's for, where you offer it and how it works.
Helpful, original website content
Answer the real questions your customers ask, using your own experience and examples rather than generic content.
Relevant case studies
Real examples of your work, shared with permission, demonstrate expertise in a way that claims alone can't.
Consistent business information
Keep your business name, address, phone number, services and website consistent across every platform.
Genuine reviews and third-party mentions
Reviews, local press, industry publications and reputable directories all help establish that your business is real and trusted.
Technical SEO
Make sure your website loads quickly, works on mobile and can be crawled and indexed properly.
Local SEO
A complete, accurate Google Business Profile and Bing Places listing help AI tools understand where you operate.
Structured data where appropriate
Structured data, such as LocalBusiness or Organization markup, can help search engines interpret key facts about your business. Use it accurately and only for information that's visible on your website.
Building genuine expertise and authority
Speaking, writing articles, sharing knowledge and doing great work all build the kind of reputation that tends to be reflected across the web.
AI search is just one of the places customers look. For the bigger picture, read 30 ways customers search for your business.
If you'd like help improving your visibility, explore our SEO, GEO and AI search services, or get in touch for a chat about your business.
Is Your Business Visible in AI Search?
