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How to check if ChatGPT recommends your business: a 15-minute test
By Visibility Audit Co. Published October 28, 2026.
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Why one screenshot isn't an answer
Ask ChatGPT the same question twice and you can get two different lists. That's normal. It's also why a single screenshot, good or bad, tells you very little. When we run audits we test each prompt on two different days. You should do the same, even for a quick check.
Set up a clean test
- Use a logged-out browser window or a temporary chat, so your own history is less likely to shape the answer.
- Make sure search is on, so ChatGPT looks things up and shows sources.
- Put your city or area in every local question.
- Use the same wording each time you re-run the test.
Write the right prompts
You need two kinds of prompts.
Unbranded buyer prompts are what new customers ask. They tell you whether you get recommended:
- "Best [service] in [city]"
- "[Service] near [neighborhood] open on weekends"
- "How much does [service] cost in [city], and who should I call?"
- "Who's the most trusted [business type] in [city]?"
- For software: "best [category] tool for [use case]"
Branded fact-check prompts use your name. They tell you whether what ChatGPT says about you is correct:
- "What does [your business] do, and where is it?"
- "What are [your business]'s hours and prices?"
What to record
Copy this table into a spreadsheet and fill in one row per prompt, per engine, per day:
| Date | Engine | Prompt | Named? | Position | How we're described | Competitors named | Sources cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 | ChatGPT | best estate planning lawyer in Tampa | No | - | - | Firm A, Firm B, Firm C | avvo.com, firm-a.com |
The example row is made up, to show the format.
Check the other engines too
Your customers don't all use ChatGPT. Run the same prompts in Perplexity, in Google (looking at AI Overviews and AI Mode when they appear), and if you have time, in Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. Each one searches and cites differently, so a business can show up well in one and not at all in another.
Read the sources column
This is the most useful part of the log. If the same directories and review sites keep getting cited when competitors are named, those are the places you need to be listed, accurately and completely. If your own site is never cited, look at whether search crawlers can reach it and whether your pages answer the questions plainly.
If you're missing: the first fixes
- Crawler access. OpenAI's documentation says sites that opt out of OAI-SearchBot won't be shown in ChatGPT search answers. Check robots.txt and your firewall.
- Consistent details. Name, address, phone and hours should match everywhere.
- Google Business Profile. Complete and current. Google lists this among the basics for its AI features.
- Schema. Clear, accurate structured data. See our LocalBusiness schema guide.
- Third-party mentions. The directories and review sites from your sources column.
For more detail by industry, read our guides for law firms, contractors and dentists.
DIY, free tools or a paid audit
The test above costs nothing but time, and for many businesses it's enough to spot the big problems. Free AI visibility checkers are a fast first look, but most run each prompt once, and some query the AI through its developer API rather than the consumer app, which can give different results from what customers see. Keep those limits in mind.
A paid audit is the done-for-you version. Our $49 Snapshot runs 10 buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, scans your site's AI readiness and sends your top 5 fixes. The full audit runs 40 prompts across 5 engines, twice, and compares you with 3 competitors. You can see a sample AI visibility audit first, or read about our audits for local businesses.
Don't have time to run and log 10 prompts across 3 engines? The $49 Snapshot does it and sends your top 5 fixes in 48 hours. It's refunded if late, and credited toward the full audit.
FAQ
How do I see what ChatGPT says about my business?
Ask it directly with search on: what your business does, where it is, its hours and prices. Then check the answer against your real details and note which sources it cited.
Why does ChatGPT give different answers each time?
AI answers aren't fixed. The same question can produce different wording, different businesses and different sources from one run to the next. That's why you should test each prompt on more than one day.
Should I include my business name in the prompt?
Not for the recommendation test. Real customers who don't know you won't type your name. Use your name only in separate fact-check prompts.
Does being logged in change results?
It can. Your chat history and settings may shape answers. A logged-out window or a temporary chat gives a cleaner picture of what a stranger sees.
Are free AI visibility checkers accurate?
They're a useful first look, but many run each prompt once and some use the developer API instead of the app customers use. Treat a single result as a hint, not a verdict.
How often should I check?
Monthly works for most businesses, plus after big changes like a new website, a move or new services.
What if ChatGPT states wrong facts about my business?
Look at the sources it cited and fix the wrong details there first, starting with your own site, your Google Business Profile and the main directories. Then re-test after a few weeks.