More than half of UK adults now use AI tools, according to Ofcom figures reported by Omni Eclipse. Many ask them for recommendations: "who's a good web designer near me?" or "which gyms in Bedford do personal training?" Here's how to give your business the best chance of being mentioned.
1. Say clearly what you do and where
AI tools favour pages that answer questions plainly. Each service should have its own page that says what it is, who it's for, where you work and what it costs or how to get a price.
2. Answer real questions
Add short FAQs to your service pages using the questions customers actually ask you. Clear question-and-answer text is easy for AI tools to quote.
3. Use structured data
Schema markup tells search engines your business name, location, services and reviews in a format they can read reliably. Most good SEO setups include it.
4. Keep your Google Business Profile complete
Google's AI answers lean heavily on Business Profiles for local searches. Keep categories, services, hours and photos up to date, and post regularly.
5. Earn reviews and mentions
AI tools look for signs that a business is trusted: reviews, local directories, press mentions and other websites linking to you. Ask happy customers for reviews every time.
6. Check what AI says about you
Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Google about your business and your services in your town. Note what's wrong or missing, fix it on your website and profiles, and check again in a month.
Is this different from SEO?
It builds on SEO. The foundations, a fast website, useful pages and a good reputation, are the same. The difference is extra focus on clear answers and trust signals.