People don’t only type into Google any more. They ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Google’s own AI answers things like “who’s a good plumber in Liverpool?” and get a short list of names back. AI SEO is about making sure your business is one these tools understand, trust and mention.
There’s a lot of hype around it, and a lot of people selling expensive “AI packages”. Here’s what it actually means in practice for a local business, and what I do about it for clients as standard.
What is AI SEO?
It’s the work that helps AI tools find your business and recommend it. Some people call it GEO, short for generative engine optimisation. I’ve explained that term in what is GEO. The name doesn’t matter much. The aim is the same. When someone asks an AI for a business like yours, you want to be named.
Is normal SEO dead?
No. Google search still sends most local businesses the bulk of their enquiries. And the good news is that most of what helps you rank on Google also helps you show up in AI answers. It’s not a separate job so much as an extra layer on top of doing SEO well.
That’s why I build AI visibility into every SEO campaign as standard rather than selling it as an add-on. If anyone quotes you a separate fee for “AI SEO” on top of normal SEO, ask them exactly what they’d do differently.
How do AI tools decide which businesses to mention?
They pull from what they can read about you. Your website, your Google Business Profile, reviews, directories and anywhere else you’re mentioned online. If the picture is clear and consistent, they’re more confident naming you. If it’s patchy or contradictory, they’ll pick someone else.
Nobody outside these companies knows the exact workings, and anyone who claims to is guessing. But the patterns are clear enough to act on, and they line up closely with good old-fashioned local SEO.
Why does being clear matter so much?
Because AI tools can’t guess. A homepage that says “quality solutions for your needs” tells them nothing. One that says “family-run electricians in Crosby doing rewires, EV chargers and fault finding” tells them exactly who you are, what you do and where.
So say what you do in plain words near the top of each page, and name the towns you cover. Give each main service its own page. Include prices or price ranges if you can, because people ask AI tools about cost all the time. And keep an up-to-date about page that says who’s behind the business, like my own about page.
Do your business details need to match everywhere?
Yes. Your name, address and phone number should be identical on your website, your Google profile and every directory. Old addresses and dead phone numbers floating around confuse AI tools and Google alike. Tidying them up is dull work, but it pays off. Don’t forget the smaller platforms either. Copilot leans on Bing, which I cover in does Bing still matter for SEO?
Should your website answer customer questions?
Definitely. People ask AI tools full questions. “How much does a boiler service cost in Liverpool?” “Do I need planning permission for a fence?” If your site answers those clearly, with a direct answer first and the detail after, you give the AI something to quote.
FAQ sections on service pages are a simple way to do this. So are guides like the ones on this site. If your pages need rewriting to work this way, that’s what a content overhaul is for. Why content matters for SEO explains the thinking.
Does schema help with AI?
It helps. Schema is code in your page that spells out facts in a format machines read easily. Your business type, address, opening hours, services, reviews and FAQs. It’s not a guarantee of anything, but it removes guesswork. Every site I look after has it, and adding it to an existing site is part of my SEO fixes.
Do reviews affect AI recommendations?
They do. AI tools often mention review scores when they recommend a local business, and some summarise what customers say. A good number of recent, detailed Google reviews helps you get picked. See why Google reviews matter for how to get more of them.
How can you check if AI tools mention you?
Ask them. Try a few questions a customer might ask, like “recommend a dog groomer in Southport”. See who comes up and what’s said about them. Try it in more than one tool, because the answers differ. If you’re missing, look at what the named businesses have that you don’t. It’s usually reviews, clearer pages or more mentions around the web.
For a Merseyside view of all this, read AI search for Liverpool businesses.
Does AI know your business exists?
Fill in the form and I’ll check what ChatGPT, Google’s AI and Copilot say when someone asks for a business like yours, and what’s stopping you being named.
If you want me to crack on, it’s £125 a week, about £18 a day, on a 30 day rolling basis. AI visibility is included.
Free website check
Checked by me, not a tool.
Rather message? WhatsApp 07463 631121 or call 0151 402 0925.
Questions people ask me
Can I pay to appear in ChatGPT answers?
Not in the normal recommendations. You earn it by being clear, consistent and well reviewed.
Do AI tools replace Google?
Not for most local searches, not yet. They’re an extra place to be found.
How quickly can I appear in AI answers?
It varies by tool. Some update quickly, others take longer. Good SEO work helps across all of them.
Should I write my content with AI?
It can help with a draft, but it needs a human to make it accurate and sound like you.
Does my website need to be new?
No. Most of this is about content and details, not design.
What are Google’s AI Overviews?
The AI-written summaries that sometimes appear above normal results. They often cite websites as sources.
Does it cost extra?
Not with me. It’s part of the £125 a week.
Can you check how my business shows up?
Yes. Fill in the form above or send me a WhatsApp.
Keep reading
What is GEO goes deeper on the AI side. Voice search SEO covers people asking their phones, and the benefits of local SEO explains the foundations everything else sits on.
Hi, I’m PeteGet mentioned, not just ranked
Email, call or WhatsApp me your website. I’ll check what the main AI tools say when someone asks for a business like yours.
WhatsApp meSee SEO campaigns