How to get recommended by ChatGPT and Gemini in Austin

What is changing. In BrightLocal's 2026 survey of 1,002 US adults, 45% had used generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for local business recommendations, up from 6% a year earlier. Google was still the most used source, at 71%. Pew Research found people clicked a regular result in 8% of Google visits that showed an AI summary, compared with 15% of visits without one. Being the business an AI answer mentions is now worth earning.

What AI tools draw on

We cannot see inside these systems, and they differ by tool and change often. In practice they draw on the same things customers do: your website and other pages, business listings, reviews and mentions, and structured facts. If those are missing, inconsistent or hard to read, AI tools pass you over or get you wrong.

Seven steps

1. Write down the questions your customers ask

• "Who is the best [your service] in Austin?"
• "Who should I call for [a problem you solve] in [your neighborhood]?"
• "Is [your business] good, and why?"
• "Which [your service] near [landmark or neighborhood] is open now?"

2. Test them, and record what you see

Ask each question in ChatGPT, Gemini and Google (look for the AI Overview), each in a fresh session. Note whether you appear, what is said and which sources are cited. Results vary by tool and by day, so look for patterns, not single answers.

3. Fix your facts

Use the same name, address or service area, phone number, services, hours and credentials on your website, Google profile and major listings. Correct anything outdated at the source.

4. Publish answer-first pages

Start each section with a clear answer, then explain. Write for the questions in step 1, in plain language, with specifics such as services, areas and hours. Pages that are easy to quote get quoted.

5. Add structured data

Schema markup tells search systems exactly who you are and what you offer. It does not guarantee anything, but it removes guesswork.

6. Earn real reviews and mentions

Reviews that mention what you did and where are especially useful. See our reviews guide, and keep it honest.

7. Check every month, and fix wrong answers

Repeat the same questions monthly and compare. If a tool says something wrong, trace where the fact came from, such as an old listing, and correct it there.

Related readingHow to rank in the Austin Google Maps pack: a 12-step checklist

What does not work

• Fake reviews or fake mentions
• Mass-produced pages with the city name swapped
• Hidden text or keyword stuffing
• Anyone who sells a guaranteed AI mention

We run this check every month for clients. Read about our AI SEO service or ask for a free audit.