Short answer: to get your business recommended by ChatGPT, make it easy for AI to understand and trust you. Check what it says about you now, describe what you do in one clear sentence everywhere, build a website with service pages and FAQs that answer real questions, collect reviews and case studies as text, get mentioned on other trusted sites, and test again every month. There's no way to pay for a recommendation, so clarity and proof are what count.

By Laurie Burrows, marketing and sales strategist. Last updated Thursday 15th October 2026.

Imagine your ideal client typing "who's the best person to help me with [your thing]?" into ChatGPT. Right now, someone is being recommended. The question is whether it's you.

Here are the seven steps I'd follow, in order.

1. Find out what AI says about you now

Before you change anything, get a baseline. Open ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity and run these prompts. Use a private or logged out window if you can, so your own chat history doesn't skew it.

Screenshot the answers and keep them somewhere. You'll want to compare in a month.

2. Describe what you do the same way everywhere

AI tools piece together who you are from lots of sources. If they all say something slightly different, the picture gets blurry. Write one sentence and use it on your website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, podcast bios and anywhere else you appear.

Keep your name, business name and job title consistent too. If you go by a nickname online, make sure your website connects the two.

3. Give every service its own page

If all your services are crammed onto one "work with me" page, AI struggles to work out what you actually offer. Give each one its own page with:

• What it is, in plain words
• Who it's for and who it's not for
• What's included and how it works
• The price or a starting price
• Proof from people who've done it
• FAQs about that service

4. Answer the questions people actually ask

AI tools are answering questions, so they look for content that answers questions. Take the questions you get asked all the time and turn each one into a blog post or FAQ that starts with a short, direct answer.

5. Turn your proof into text

Screenshots of lovely messages are great on Instagram, but AI can't always read them. Write your testimonials and case studies out as text on your website, with the client's permission, their name if they're happy to share it, and the specific result. Only use real results you can back up.

6. Get mentioned in other places

When other trusted websites mention you, it confirms you're real and credible. Some easy wins:

• Guest on podcasts and make sure the show notes describe you properly
• Speak at summits and events, and ask for a speaker page
• Write guest blogs for sites your clients read
• Make sure your Google Business Profile and any industry directories are up to date
• Collaborate with people who serve the same audience

My guide to summits and collaborations has more on this.

7. Make your website easy to read

None of this works if AI can't read your website properly. Check your pages load quickly, work on mobile, have proper titles and headings, and aren't blocking AI crawlers. I've put every check into Is Your Website Ready for AI Search?

How long does it take?

Honestly, it varies. Some changes show up within weeks, especially in tools that search the web live, like Perplexity and ChatGPT's search. Others take months, because some AI tools only update what they know every so often. The businesses that win are the ones that start now and keep going.

Want the bigger picture? Read The Ultimate Guide to Getting Clients With AI. For the checklist and prompts in one place, download my free guide Get Found By AI.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay ChatGPT to recommend my business?

No. ChatGPT's normal answers aren't for sale. You get recommended by having clear, consistent and trustworthy information about your business online.

Why does ChatGPT recommend my competitors and not me?

Usually because there's more clear, consistent information about them online: better service pages, more reviews, more mentions on other sites. Work through the seven steps above and test again in a month.

Does posting on Instagram help with AI search?

It can help, because some AI tools read public profiles and posts, and a strong social presence often leads to mentions elsewhere. But your website is still the most important thing to get right.