Getting found in ChatGPT: what AI search means for small businesses

For years, getting found online meant one thing: ranking on Google. That's changing. More and more people now ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity directly: “What's a good pet food brand in South Africa?” or “Who can help me build an app for my business?”

If your business isn't part of those answers, you're invisible to a growing group of customers, even if your website is beautiful.

How AI assistants decide who to mention

AI tools pull from what's written about you across the web. They look for clear, consistent information: what you do, who you serve, where you are, and whether other sources back that up.

Five things you can do now

• Say clearly what you do on your homepage, in plain language.
• Keep your details consistent everywhere: Google Business Profile, directories and social pages.
• Answer real questions your customers ask, in articles and FAQs.
• Collect reviews and mentions on trusted sites.
• Keep your site fast and well structured so tools can read it easily.

Search, AI and local, together

The businesses that win from here won't choose between Google and AI. They'll show up in both, plus on maps when someone searches nearby. That's the approach I take with clients who want to keep growing after launch.