Can I pay to be recommended by ChatGPT?

No. There's currently no way to pay for organic recommendations in ChatGPT or similar tools. Visibility comes from a strong, consistent and trusted presence across the web.

What is an llms.txt file?

It's a simple text file on your website that summarises your business and key pages in a format that's easy for AI tools to read. It's a newer, optional standard that's quick to add.

Is AI search replacing Google?

Not replacing, but changing it. Google now shows AI Overviews for many searches, and more people use AI assistants. The good news is that the same foundations help with both.

How to Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT, Copilot and AI Search

By Zishan Ahmad, Managing Director · Updated 03 November 2026

Key takeaway: AI assistants recommend businesses they can find and trust across the web. Clear service pages, structured data, a strong Google and Bing presence, consistent details, genuine reviews and helpful answer-style content all improve your chances.

How AI search finds businesses

Tools like ChatGPT search, Google's AI Overviews, Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity don't have a secret list of businesses. They pull information from search indexes (mainly Google and Bing), business directories, reviews and websites, then summarise what they find.

So the businesses that get recommended are the ones that are easy to find, easy to understand and well reviewed across the web.

1. Make your website easy for AI to understand

Say clearly what you do, where you do it and who you help - on every key page
Answer common questions directly, in plain language, near the top of the page
Use structured data (schema markup) for your business, services and FAQs
Keep pages fast, secure and crawlable
Publish an llms.txt file that summarises your business for AI tools

2. Be visible in Bing as well as Google

Several AI assistants rely heavily on Bing's index. Submit your site to Bing Webmaster Tools and claim your Bing Places listing, as well as Google Search Console and Google Business Profile.

3. Keep your details consistent everywhere

AI tools cross-check information. Your business name, address, phone number and services should match on your website, Google, Bing, Apple Maps and directories.

4. Earn genuine reviews and mentions

Reviews on Google and other platforms, mentions in local news, chamber directories and partner websites all help AI tools trust that you're a real, reputable business.

5. Publish genuinely helpful content

Guides that answer real customer questions - costs, timescales, how-tos and comparisons - are exactly what AI tools like to quote and link to.

Every website we build is set up with these foundations as standard. Ask us for a free review to see how visible your business is in AI search today.