How AI assistants choose which local business to recommend
ChatGPT, Gemini and Google’s AI Overviews now shortlist local businesses for customers. Here is what they look at, and what you can do about it.
Ask an AI assistant to recommend an electrician, dentist or arborist near you and it will usually name two or three businesses with a short reason for each. For many customers, that answer is now the shortlist.
Where the answer comes from
AI assistants do not have a secret directory. They assemble answers from sources they can find and trust: business websites, Google Business Profiles, review platforms, directories, news and industry sites. When those sources agree about who you are, what you do and where, the assistant has confidence to recommend you.
The signals that matter most
- Clear, consistent business facts: name, services, location, hours and contact details everywhere
- Pages that answer real questions directly, like cost factors, timeframes and permits
- Structured data that labels your business, services and FAQs for machines
- Reviews that mention specific services and suburbs
- Mentions on trusted local and industry websites
What you can do this month
Check your Google Business Profile is complete and matches your website exactly. Add an FAQ section to your main service pages answering the questions customers ask on the phone. Ask happy customers to mention the job and suburb in their review. These steps help classic SEO too, so nothing is wasted.
If search engines do not understand and trust your business, AI assistants will not recommend it.
Want to know how AI assistants describe your business today? Our free growth audit includes an AI visibility check.
