You can check whether AI assistants recommend your business in about 20 minutes: ask each one the questions your customers ask, and write down who gets named. Do it once a month and you'll see whether your visibility is growing.
Here's the exact method we use as an AI SEO agency in Denver.
Step 1: Write five customer questions
Use the words real customers use, with your service and area. For a Denver plumber:
- Who is the best plumber in Denver?
- I need an emergency plumber in Lakewood tonight. Who should I call?
- Which plumbers in Denver have the best reviews?
- How much does it cost to replace a water heater in Denver? Who does it?
- Recommend a plumber near Cherry Creek.
Mix "best" questions, urgent questions and price questions. Include the neighborhoods you most want.
Step 2: Ask each AI assistant
Ask all five questions in each of these:
- ChatGPT
- Google Gemini
- Perplexity
- Microsoft Copilot
- Claude
- Google Search, to see if an AI Overview appears
Use a private or logged-out window where possible, so past chats don't affect the answers. Answers vary from one try to the next, so ask each question twice.
Step 3: Record the results
Use a simple scorecard:
| Question | ChatGPT | Gemini | Perplexity | Copilot | Claude | AI Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best plumber in Denver | Named / Not named | |||||
| Emergency plumber Lakewood | ||||||
| Best reviews | ||||||
| Water heater cost | ||||||
| Near Cherry Creek |
Also note which competitors are named, and which websites the AI links or cites as sources.
Step 4: Read what the sources tell you
The cited sources show where AI is getting its information:
- Google or Bing listings cited: work on your Business Profile and Bing Places
- Review sites cited (Yelp, Angi, Healthgrades): get listed and earn reviews there
- "Best of" articles cited: find out how to get included in those lists
- Competitors' websites cited: their pages answer the question better than yours do
Step 5: Fix the gaps, then check again
Use what you found to pick the next tasks. Our guides on getting recommended by ChatGPT and how Google AI Overviews choose local businesses explain each fix. Check again monthly with the same questions so the results are comparable.
FAQ
Why does ChatGPT give different answers each time?
AI answers vary by wording, location and timing. That's why you ask each question twice and track trends over months, not one answer.
What if AI names my business with wrong details?
Check where the wrong details come from, usually an old directory listing, and correct it there. Then make sure your website and Business Profile are accurate.
Is there a faster way?
Yes. Our free AI visibility check scores your business across AI search, Google, your website and listings. Learn the difference between the types of AI search in GEO vs AEO vs SEO.
