AI visibility: how to check whether ChatGPT and Google AI recommend your business
AI visibility is how often AI assistants name or cite your business when buyers ask questions you should win. To check it, write 10 to 25 buyer questions, ask each one in ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity and Google, and record whether you're named, where, and which sources the answer used. Repeat monthly with the same questions.
Your Google ranking is a number you can look up. Your standing with AI assistants isn't, which is why "AI visibility" became a search term in its own right: Ahrefs measured it at 4,400 US searches a month in 2026, up 145% in a year, with "ai visibility tracker" close behind. You don't need a tracker to get your first answer. You need a list of questions and 20 minutes.
Why this is worth 20 minutes
When someone is ready to buy, assistants go and look for businesses. OpenAI data reported by Passionfruit puts the share of commercial-intent prompts that trigger a web search at about 53%. And the leads are real: CallRail data published by Search Engine Journal found ChatGPT accounted for about 90% of AI-referred leads in its dataset.
If you're named, you get a call from someone who has already been told you're a good choice. If you're not, you never learn the question was asked.
Step 1: write your buyer questions
Write 10 to 25 questions the way a customer would type them. Mix four kinds:
| Type | Example for a dental clinic |
|---|---|
| Best / who | "Best dentist for nervous patients in Raleigh" |
| Problem | "Cracked tooth on a Saturday, who is open near me?" |
| Comparison | "Invisalign or braces for adults, and who does both in Raleigh?" |
| Price | "How much is a dental implant in Raleigh?" |
Add two brand questions: "Is [your business] any good?" and "What does [your business] charge?" These show what assistants believe about you.
Step 2: ask in five places
Use a private or logged-out window where you can, so your own history doesn't flatter the result.
- ChatGPT
- Google Gemini
- Microsoft Copilot
- Perplexity
- Google search (look for the AI Overview at the top)
Step 3: score each answer
Record four things per question, per assistant:
| Column | What to write |
|---|---|
| Named? | Yes or no |
| Position | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or "mentioned in passing" |
| Accurate? | Are your hours, services, prices and location right? |
| Sources | Which sites did the answer link to or clearly draw on? |
Your score is simple: the percentage of answers that name you. Run each question two or three times over a week, because answers vary.
Step 4: read the sources column
This column tells you what to fix. Patterns we see most often:
- Directories dominate. The assistant is leaning on Yelp, Healthgrades, Avvo, Houzz or a "best of" list. Claim and complete your profile on the ones that appear.
- Competitor pages are quoted. They have a page that answers the question directly. You need one too.
- Reddit or YouTube show up. Ahrefs' analysis of what correlates with being mentioned by AI found mentions on YouTube among the strongest signals. A few genuine videos and community answers help.
- Your own site never appears. Often a crawl or content problem: thin pages, no prices, no FAQs.
What the results mean
| Your score | Reading | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| Named in under 10% | Assistants don't know you | Business facts, listings, Google Business Profile |
| 10% to 40% | Known, not preferred | Answer-first service pages, reviews |
| Over 40% | Strong | Protect it: keep facts current, add cited content |
| Named but wrong | Risky | Correct the source, then your site |
Five fixes that move the score
- State the facts plainly on your site. Services, areas, hours, prices or price ranges, who you're best for.
- Answer the tested questions on a page. Put the answer in the first two sentences.
- Fix every listing so name, address, phone and hours match.
- Ask for reviews that mention the service and the town. Assistants read them.
- Get mentioned elsewhere: a local news piece, a supplier's partner page, an industry directory.
How often to check
Monthly, with the same questions, on the same day. Add new questions only when you add a service. A stable list is what turns a pile of screenshots into a trend line.
If you'd rather not run it yourself, our AEO & GEO service tracks 25 buyer questions across five platforms every month, and the free AI visibility check gives you a first snapshot. For the reasoning behind the fixes, read how to get recommended by ChatGPT.
Frequently asked questions
What is AI visibility?
It's a measure of how often AI assistants and AI search results mention, recommend or link to your business for the questions your customers ask.
Why do I get different answers each time I ask?
Assistants vary their answers by wording, location, conversation history and the sources they fetch at that moment. That's why you test a fixed list of questions several times and look at the pattern, not one reply.
Do I need a paid AI visibility tool?
Not to start. A spreadsheet and 20 minutes a month is enough for a local business. Paid trackers earn their fee when you monitor hundreds of questions or many locations.
What if AI says something wrong about my business?
Find the source it's drawing from, usually an outdated listing or page, and correct it there. Then make the correct fact obvious on your own site.
Want this done for you?
Every plan lists what's included and the price. Or book a free 30-minute call and get a straight recommendation.