By skyforbes 
You might be wondering: How can I get my business to show up on ChatGPT?
You’ve done everything right. Your SEO is strong, your website ranks on Google, and your reviews look solid.
But when you ask ChatGPT about businesses like yours, your name doesn’t come up.
It’s frustrating, and it’s costing you opportunities. As more people use AI tools for research and recommendations, being invisible in these results means losing customers.
Here’s the truth: AI doesn’t use magic — it uses data.
And much of that data comes from the same sources that power Google search.
That’s why strong SEO is quickly becoming AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). That’s the practice of being discoverable not just on Google, but on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and other AI-driven platforms.
The good news is that you don’t need a new strategy. You just need to modernize the one you already have.
In this article, I’ll walk through the most common reasons businesses don’t appear on ChatGPT and how to fix them using better SEO, quality content, and smart social strategies.
1. Your Website Isn’t Indexed Properly
If your site isn’t being crawled by Google, it’s invisible to AI tools that rely on that same data. ChatGPT pulls much of its knowledge from web pages that are indexed and publicly available.
First, check your site in Google Search Console. Then, check your website settings to ensure you aren’t blocking AI crawlers. You don’t want tags blocking key pages relevant to searches.
2. Your Content Lacks Depth
AI systems favor sites that demonstrate real authority within a topic. If you only have a few short pages with surface-level info, ChatGPT is unlikely to see you as a reliable source. Build depth by publishing educational posts, FAQs, and guides related to your industry so your site becomes a go-to resource on that subject.
3. You Don’t Have Enough Backlinks
ChatGPT weighs domain authority indirectly through signals like backlinks — just as Google does. If few other sites link to yours, AI models have little “proof” that your business is trusted or established. Focus on getting quality mentions from directories, local media, partnerships, and blogs relevant to your niche.
4. Your Brand Isn’t Mentioned on the Web
Even if your website is solid, AI engines pull information from around the web — Reddit, Quora, news articles, reviews, and forums. If your business name doesn’t appear in public conversations or listings, ChatGPT won’t have much to work with. Encourage mentions by participating in online communities, responding to reviews, and sharing useful insights where your customers hang out.
5. You Don’t Have Enough Social Proof
AI tools are designed to highlight trustworthy businesses. Lack of Google reviews, testimonials, or any visible reputation online reduces your perceived credibility. Start gathering real reviews from happy customers and feature them prominently on your site and Google profile.
6. Your Content Isn’t Conversational
ChatGPT is trained to mimic how humans ask questions. If your website only has formal or salesy language, it may not align with how users actually search or talk. Create content that answers real questions in plain English, using “how,” “what,” and “why” phrasing — the same style people use when talking to AI.
Showing up in ChatGPT isn’t a magic trick. It’s the result of clear signals, consistent proof, and helpful content that the web can vouch for. If you modernize your SEO into AEO, you won’t just rank on Google; you’ll be eligible for AI answers everywhere people search.
If you want a second set of eyes, I’m happy to help.
Email me: [email protected]
Send your website URL + your primary service + city/market. I’ll reply with a quick mini checkup and, if you want the full audit, you can opt into the paid deep dive.
Looking forward to helping you get found where people actually search now.