A 30-minute self-check: what to ask each AI, how to log it and how to read the results.
Short answer
To find out whether ChatGPT recommends your business, ask it what a customer would ask ("who does X in Y?"), in a new or temporary chat and without naming your brand. Repeat the same questions on Gemini and Perplexity, note whether you show up, in what position and which sources it cites, and measure again once a month.
Put together 10 to 20 questions using these five types. Replace what's in brackets with your industry, your area and your service:
| Type | Example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Industry + area | Which [industry] would you recommend in [area]? | Whether you're associated with your area. |
| Specific service | Who does [specific service] in [city]? | Whether they understand exactly what you do. |
| Problem | I have [problem], who should I contact? | Whether they link you to the customer's pain point. |
| Comparison | What are the best [industry] options in [area] and how do they differ? | Who you're competing with in the answer. |
| Brand | What do you know about [your business]? | What information the AI has about you and whether it's correct. |
An example for a tire shop in La Plata: "where can I get wheel alignment and balancing in Gonnet?", "which tire shop in La Plata would you recommend that takes installments?", "I got a flat tire on a Saturday, which tire shop is open near City Bell?".
A simple spreadsheet is enough. One row per question and per AI, with these columns:
| Date | AI | Question | Do you show up? | Position | Sources cited | Correct details? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/10 | ChatGPT | Which [industry] would you recommend in [area]? | No | – | Directory X, competitor Y's website | – |
| 14/10 | Gemini | Same question | Yes | 3 of 5 | Google Maps | Outdated hours |
| 14/10 | Perplexity | Same question | Yes | 1 of 4 | Your website | Yes |
Illustrative example of how to fill in the spreadsheet.
The "sources cited" column shows you where the AI looks when it talks about your industry: a directory, a newspaper article, Google Maps or a competitor's website. Those sources are your to-do list.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You don't show up on any AI | They can't find you, or they don't associate you with your industry and area. | Check that your website is indexed on Google and Bing and that it says clearly what you do and where. |
| You show up on only one | Each AI uses different sources. | See which source the one that names you cites, and strengthen the others (for example, Bing for ChatGPT). |
| You show up with outdated details | Some source has outdated information. | Align your name, phone, hours and area across your website, Google Business and social media. |
| Competitors always show up | They have more mentions or better content. | See which sources cite them and what their website answers that yours doesn't. |
| You show up for the brand question, not the industry ones | They know you, but they don't associate you with the service. | Add pages per service and FAQs written in your customers' words. |
If you don't know where to start, adapt these to your case:
| Industry | Example questions |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Where can I eat homemade pasta in [neighborhood]? · Family-friendly restaurant with kids in [area] · Which steakhouse with a terrace would you recommend in [city]? |
| Auto shop or tire shop | Who does body and paint work through insurance in [town]? · Tire shop open on Saturday in [area] · Where can I get alignment and balancing in [neighborhood]? |
| Manufacturer or distributor | Which companies make [product] in Argentina? · [Supply] supplier that ships to [province] · Who sells [product] wholesale in [area]? |
| Professional services | Accounting firm for small businesses in [neighborhood] · Employment lawyer in [city] · Who can I ask about [paperwork] in [area]? |
| Tourism | Country house with animals near [city] · Cabins with a pool in [destination] · Where can I spend a day in the countryside with kids? |
First, confirm the basics: that your website exists, is indexed and doesn't block crawlers. Then work on the content and the data. The full steps are in how to show up on ChatGPT and the background, in what GEO is.
If you'd rather we do it, the assessment is free: we ask these questions for you on ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google, and show you what to change first. More detail in GEO and SEO for ChatGPT and Google.
We look at how people find you, how you respond and how you sell, and propose the next steps. If it doesn't help, you pay nothing.
