How to Check If ChatGPT and Other AI Assistants Recommend Your Business

Short answer: To find out whether AI recommends your business, write 6 to 8 questions your customers would really ask, put each one to ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, and record whether you are mentioned, how you are described and who else appears. It takes about 15 minutes and needs no tools.

Step 1: Write your question list

Think like a customer, not like a marketer. Use the words people actually use, and include your city.

Examples for a Toronto business (replace with your own):

• "Best [service] in Toronto"
• "Who offers [service] near [neighbourhood]?"
• "Reliable [service] in the GTA with good reviews"
• "How much does [service] cost in Toronto?"
• "[Your business name] reviews"
• "Is [your business name] good?"

Include three types: discovery (no brand name), comparison (you versus others) and brand (your name).

Step 2: Ask each assistant

Ask the same question in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. Use a fresh chat each time so earlier conversation does not influence the answer. Ask each question twice; answers vary from run to run.

Step 3: Record what you see

Use a simple table. The row below is an example of how to fill it in, not a real result:

• Mentioned? Yes or no.
• Position: first, in a list of five, at the end.
• Notes: whether the description is accurate (name, address area, hours, services, prices), which websites the assistant cites if it shows them, and which competitors appear.

Step 4: Read the results, including when AI recommends someone else

• Not mentioned anywhere: the assistant may not have enough clear information about you. Look at your website and listings.
• Mentioned but wrong: outdated or conflicting information exists somewhere. Look at the sources it cites.
• Competitors named repeatedly: open their pages and note what they state clearly that you do not.
• Mentioned only for your brand name: you are known, but not yet found by people who do not know you.

Step 5: Fix one thing, then repeat

Change one or two things, wait a few weeks, and ask the same questions again. Keep your table so you can compare.

Limits of this test

• It is a sample, not a measurement. Answers change by day, by account and by location.
• Assistants with web browsing behave differently from those without.
• A single result proves little. Look for patterns across several questions and repeats.

Prefer to have it done for you?

Book a free consultation and we will talk through what the assistants currently say about your business. Learn more about our AI visibility optimization service.

FAQ

Do I need a paid account? No. Free versions are enough for a first look, though features differ between free and paid.

Why do I get different answers each time? These systems generate responses, so wording and ordering vary. That is why this test asks each question twice and looks for patterns.

How often should I check? Monthly is a reasonable rhythm.

Further reading: OpenAI: overview of its crawlers and user agents.

Written by the Miri Team.