A 30-minute AI search self-audit for any local business

You can check your AI search visibility in 30 minutes: ask five real customer questions in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google, record whether you appear and whether the facts are right, then fix the source of every wrong detail.

Before you start

Open a private browser window, note today's date and make a simple table: question, tool, did you appear, were the details right, notes. Results vary between runs and over time, so treat this as a snapshot.

Step 1: Ask five questions (10 minutes)

1. "Best [your service] in [your area]."
2. "[Your business name], is it good?" or "reviews of [your business name]".
3. "[Your service] near [a landmark]."
4. "[Your service] open now in [your area]" or a question about hours or price.
5. A question in the language your customers use, such as Hindi, Hinglish or a regional language.

Run each in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google. Record which businesses are named, and whether yours appears.

Step 2: Check facts (10 minutes)

Compare what they say with reality: name, address, phone, timings, services, price range and rating. In the 2026 vendor study we discuss in this article, most businesses were known by AI tools but only about 55% were described accurately, so wrong details are common.

Step 3: Trace each error to its source (10 minutes)

What to do next

1. Correct the source, not the AI tool. You cannot edit ChatGPT; you can fix the pages and profiles it reads.
2. Follow the Business Profile checklist.
3. Ask happy customers for reviews.
4. Repeat the audit in a month and note changes.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Insites: What AI uses to choose local businesses and what it ignores (vendor study, May 2026)
• Google Search Central: AI features and your website
• Google Business Profile Help: Tips to improve your local ranking

Keep reading

• What is AEO? Answer engine optimisation explained for Indian businesses
• How local businesses get recommended by ChatGPT and Perplexity: what the evidence says