How to check if customers can find you on Google and ChatGPT.
Most owners check by searching their own business name. They show up, so everything looks fine. But new customers don’t know your name yet. They search for what you sell and where: “AC repair Miami”, “dentist near me”, “Cuban restaurant in Doral”. That’s the search you need to check.
1. Check Google.
Open a private window in your browser, so Google doesn’t use your own history. Search for your main service and your city, the way a customer would. Look at three things:
- The ads at the top. Who pays to show up first?
- The map box with three businesses. Are you one of them?
- The results under the map. Which spot are you in, if you’re there at all?
Search from where your customers are. Results in Miami can look different from results in Fort Lauderdale.
2. Check Google Maps.
Do the same search in the Google Maps app. Most people tap one of the first few businesses. If you’re not near the top, many customers won’t scroll down far enough to see you.
3. Ask ChatGPT and other AI tools.
More people now ask AI who to call. Ask the way a customer would, without your business name: “I need AC repair in Miami. Which local businesses would you recommend?” Then ask Gemini, Perplexity, Claude and Grok the same question. Write down who each one names.
If they name other businesses and not you, the customers who ask them may never hear about you. See real answers for five kinds of business: who AI recommends in Miami.
Why your results can change.
Google and AI tools change their answers by location, device and day. One check is a snapshot, not a final grade. Check again every month, with the same searches.
The faster way: our free check.
Doing all of this by hand takes a while. Our free check does it in about 30 seconds. You type your business name, what you sell, your city and your state. We search Google, Google Maps, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Grok from your city, without saying your name, and give you a score out of 100. The full report is free too, by email.
What to do if you’re not showing up.
- Complete your Google Business Profile. Our Google Business Profile checklist goes through it step by step.
- Give every service its own page on your website, in plain words.
- Follow our seven steps to show up in ChatGPT.
Questions.
Is the check really free?
Yes. Your score is free, with no signup. The full report is free too: we ask for your email and phone so we can send it.
Why do I show up first when I search my own name?
Because you searched your name. A new customer searches for what you sell, and that search can show other businesses first.
How often should I check?
Once a month is enough for most businesses. Use the same searches each time, so you can see what changed.
Want help?
If the check shows you’re missing, book a call. We’ll go through your results with you and tell you honestly what makes sense.