Guide
How to check if ChatGPT recommends your business
Write three questions a customer might ask about your service and city. Ask each question in a new chat several times and record the business names and source links in every answer. Compare your appearances with the other businesses named. This is a starting point for investigation, not proof of how every customer will see you.
Four assistants, repeated asks, competitors and sources
Step 1: write the questions your customers actually ask
Use the words a customer would type, not your marketing language. Always include the city, because assistants answer local questions differently without one.
- Discovery: “What are the best [category] businesses in [city]?”
- Urgent need: “I’m in [city]. Recommend a [category] near me that’s open now.”
- Service: “Who offers [your main service] in [city]?”
- Fact check: “What is the address and phone number of [your business] in [city]?”
Step 2: ask each question several times
AI assistants generate a new answer each time, and the businesses they name can change between asks. One answer can make you look invisible — or safe — by chance. Start a new chat for each ask, and ask each question at least three times.
If you are logged in, the app may use your location and past conversations. That can make results look better than what a new customer would see, so treat your own app as a rough check, not a measurement.
Step 3: record every business named
| Question | Ask 1 | Ask 2 | Ask 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best dentists in Oshawa | Lakeview, Simcoe Smiles, You | Lakeview, Simcoe Smiles | Lakeview, North Oshawa Dental |
| Dentist near me open now | Simcoe Smiles | Lakeview | Lakeview, You |
Illustrative example with fictional businesses. In this tally you appear in 2 of 6 answers (33%) while Lakeview appears in 5 of 6.
Step 4: check the facts and the sources
- Is your phone number and address correct in the fact-check answer? A wrong number costs calls.
- Open the sources the assistant cites. Directories and review sites that appear repeatedly are where you need an accurate listing.
Step 5: decide what to fix
- Wrong facts → correct them on your website, Google Business Profile and every directory that shows them.
- Not named for a service → create a page for that service naming your city.
- Competitor named from a directory you’re missing from → get listed there accurately.
- Still invisible → check robots.txt allows AI search crawlers.
How to read the results carefully
With only six answers, the difference between appearing twice and three times is mostly luck. Look for large, consistent gaps — a competitor in nearly every answer while you’re in almost none — and re-test with the same questions after making changes. AIRank automates this with more repeats, four assistants and a confidence range on the result.
Frequently asked questions
Why does ChatGPT give different answers each time?
Language models generate text with some randomness, and assistants that search the web may retrieve different pages each time. That is why a single answer is not a reliable measure.
Should I test in incognito mode?
Logged-out or fresh sessions reduce personalization, but assistants may still use approximate location. Results are a rough indicator, not a ranking.
See what AI says about your business
$39 CAD per business, per report, plus applicable tax. Enter your business details, complete payment, then receive your report after it’s prepared.
Have AIRank do this for youLast updated . We use each assistant’s business-facing connection (API). Answers can differ from its app. A report records the answers collected on the assessment date; future answers may change.