Is ChatGPT Recommending You or Your Competitors?
Homeowners are asking AI for recommendations. AI doesn't show 10 results. It picks 2-3 businesses. Here's how to check if you're one of them.
The Shift That's Already Happening
When someone Googles "plumber near me," they see a list of options. They compare, click around, maybe check a few websites.
When someone asks ChatGPT "recommend a plumber in Phoenix," they get 2-3 names. That's it. The AI picks who it trusts, and the person calls those businesses.
If you're not one of those 2-3 names, you never had a chance.
This isn't about ads. These businesses aren't paying for placement. They're showing up because AI has decided they're the answer.
Traditional SEO
How you won in search. Optimizing to rank in a list of 10 results.
AEO & GEO
How you win the recommendation. Optimizing to be the answer AI gives.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) are the new disciplines. The game has shifted from generating traffic to earning influence: being the business AI trusts enough to recommend.
Step 1: Check Your AI Visibility Right Now
Open ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity and try these prompts with your service and city:
"Recommend a [YOUR SERVICE] in [YOUR CITY]"
Example: Recommend a plumber in Phoenix
Does your business name appear? Are you in the top 3?
"What's the best [YOUR SERVICE] company in [YOUR CITY]?"
Example: What's the best HVAC company in Dallas?
AI often picks ONE business as 'best' - is it you?
"Who should I call for [SPECIFIC PROBLEM] in [YOUR CITY]?"
Example: Who should I call for a clogged drain in Houston?
Problem-specific queries show if AI trusts you for emergencies
"[YOUR COMPETITOR NAME] vs alternatives in [YOUR CITY]"
Example: Smith Electric vs alternatives in Denver
See if you come up as a recommended alternative
Pro Tip: Test Your Competitors Too
Search for your top 3 competitors by name. See who AI recommends as alternatives. This shows you exactly who you're losing to in AI search.
Step 2: Understanding What You Find
After running those tests, you'll fall into one of three categories:
You're Being Recommended
Great. You're ahead of most competitors. But AI recommendations change as new data comes in. The question now is how to maintain and strengthen your position.
You Show Up Sometimes
AI has some information about you, but not enough to consistently recommend you. You're on the edge. Specific improvements could push you into the top recommendations.
You're Not Showing Up
AI doesn't have enough trust signals to recommend you. Every time a homeowner asks AI for a recommendation in your service area, you're invisible. Your competitors are getting those calls.
Step 3: How AI Decides Who to Recommend
When someone asks "recommend a plumber in Phoenix," AI doesn't just search. It reasons. It breaks down the query, looks for commercial signals, checks contextual relevance, and formulates a response with explanations.
AI pulls from three data sources: your website, crawled data across the web, and third-party platforms (Google Business, Yelp, directories). Here's what it weighs:
Machine-Readable Structure
AI needs structured data to understand your business. LocalBusiness schema, Service schema, FAQ markup, and AggregateRating schema help AI parse who you are, what you do, and how customers rate you.
Intent-Matched Content
AI interprets queries as intents. Your content needs to answer real questions directly. Front-load descriptions with: who you serve, what problem you solve, and what makes you different.
Review Sentiment & Volume
AI reads review content to make natural-language recommendations. Reviews mentioning specific outcomes ('fixed the leak same day', 'explained everything clearly') give AI reasons to recommend you for those needs.
Consistent Data Across Platforms
AI pulls from three sources: your website, crawled data across the web, and third-party platforms. Your name, address, phone, services, and hours must match exactly everywhere or AI gets confused about who you are.
Authoritative Citations
Being featured in expert reviews, local news, industry publications, and authoritative directories builds credibility. AI prioritizes trustworthy sources. If credible sites mention you, AI trusts you more.
Verified Trust Signals
Certifications, licenses, BBB accreditation, manufacturer partnerships, and verified credentials act as factual entities AI can reference. 'Licensed and insured', 'BBB A+ rated', 'Carrier Factory Authorized' are signals AI uses to establish authority.
Step 4: What You Can Do About It
Improving AI visibility isn't a quick fix. It requires building genuine authority signals across the web. Here's the honest breakdown:
"Completeness beats cleverness. Businesses with more filled-in fields and complete information rank higher. Period."
Most businesses already have the information they need. It's just buried, incomplete, or inconsistent across platforms.
Audit All Three Data Sources
AI pulls from your website, crawled data across the web, and third-party platforms. Check each one:
- • Your website: Is every service page complete? Do you have FAQ content?
- • Google Business Profile: All categories, services, hours, photos filled in?
- • Directories: Yelp, BBB, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack. Is the info consistent everywhere?
Structure Content for Intent
AI interprets queries as intents. Structure your content to match how people actually ask:
- • Front-load benefits: Who you serve, what problem you solve, what makes you different
- • Add use-case context: "Best for emergency repairs" or "Specializing in homes built before 1980"
- • Mirror real queries: Create headings like "How much does a water heater replacement cost in [City]?"
- • Write descriptive titles: "24/7 Emergency Plumber in Phoenix | Licensed & Same-Day Service"
Build Authoritative Citations
AI prioritizes trustworthy sources. Get mentioned on sites AI already trusts:
- • Local news features or "best of" lists
- • Industry publications and trade associations
- • Chamber of commerce and business associations
- • Manufacturer partner pages (if you're a certified installer)
Generate Reviews That Give AI Reasons
AI reads review content to make natural-language recommendations. Reviews with specific outcomes help:
- • "Fixed the leak same day" → AI recommends you for emergency calls
- • "Explained everything before starting" → AI recommends you for transparency
- • "Fair price, no hidden fees" → AI recommends you for honest pricing
- • "Showed up exactly when they said" → AI recommends you for reliability
Common Questions
Want a Deeper Analysis?
We'll audit your AI visibility across ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. We'll identify the specific gaps keeping you out of recommendations. No pitch, just data.
15-minute call • No obligation • See exactly where you stand