Why your business isn't showing up on ChatGPT
When someone types "best HVAC company near me" into ChatGPT or asks Google's AI to recommend a plumber, those platforms aren't searching the web in real time. They're drawing on data they've already indexed — and most local businesses have almost none of that data structured in a way AI can read.
The result: AI platforms recommend whoever has the most structured, consistent, authoritative data about their business — not necessarily the best business in your market.
73%
of local businesses score under 30 on AI platforms
58%
of consumers now use AI to find local services
4x
more likely to be recommended with proper schema markup
The 4 fixes that actually work
After scanning thousands of local businesses, Signal Engine has identified the four highest-impact changes that consistently improve AI visibility scores. These aren't SEO tricks — they're the specific signals AI platforms use to decide who to recommend.
01
Add LocalBusiness Schema Markup
This is the single highest-impact fix. Schema markup is structured data in your website's code that tells AI platforms exactly who you are, what you do, where you operate, and how to contact you. Without it, AI has to guess — and it usually guesses wrong or not at all. Signal Engine generates your complete schema code automatically and delivers it ready to paste.
02
Consistent NAP Across All Directories
NAP = Name, Address, Phone. AI platforms cross-reference your business across Google Business, Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Maps. If your name, address, or phone number is slightly different across platforms — even just "St." vs "Street" — AI treats them as different businesses and reduces your authority score. Signal Engine generates optimized, consistent listing copy for all four platforms in one scan.
03
AI-Optimized About Page Copy
LLMs pull heavily from About pages when building recommendations. Most local business About pages say something like "We've been serving the community since 1998." That's not enough. Your About page needs to clearly state your business name, city, service area, specific services, and differentiation — written in the way AI platforms parse and summarize content. Signal Engine writes this copy for you automatically.
04
Prompt-Bait FAQ Content
AI platforms love Q&A content. Adding FAQ entries that mirror exactly how people ask AI for recommendations — "Who is the best HVAC company in Stockbridge GA?" — trains AI to include you in relevant results. These entries need to be specific to your business, city, and vertical. Signal Engine generates 5 ready-to-publish FAQ entries per scan.
Get all 4 fixes generated for your business — free
Run a scan, enter your email, and Signal Engine delivers your complete fix kit: schema code, listing copy, about page, and FAQ — all ready to use.
Run My Free Scan →
How long does it take to see results?
Schema markup and directory consistency can begin affecting AI recommendations within 2-4 weeks as AI platforms re-index your business data. About page and FAQ improvements take slightly longer — typically 4-8 weeks — as AI platforms update their training data from web crawls.
The businesses that see the fastest improvement are those that implement all four fixes simultaneously and track their score monthly. Signal Engine's paid plans include automatic monthly re-scans and alerts when your score changes.
What about Google's AI Overviews?
Google AI Overviews (formerly SGE) follow similar signals to ChatGPT and Claude. Schema markup, consistent NAP data, and authoritative About page content all improve your chances of appearing in AI Overviews for local service queries. The same four fixes apply.
Related guides
Complete AI Search Optimization Guide for Local Businesses →
What is Revenue Intelligence? →