What does AI need to know about my business before it can recommend me?
Key takeaway
AI needs to understand the same basic things a new customer needs to understand. Who are you? What do you actually do? Where do you work? Which problems can you solve? And what gives someone a good reason to trust you?
Pretend the customer has never heard of you
A slogan like “quality service you can trust” may sound nice, but it could belong to almost any company in town. It does not tell a frightened homeowner whether you handle a burst pipe, a roof leak, a broken air conditioner, or something else.
Clear language helps. “We remove water, dry flooded homes, and handle sewage cleanup in Clearwater, Dunedin, and Largo” tells a person much more. It also gives AI a much clearer picture of when your business may fit a question.
Your best knowledge may be stuck in your head
Most good local business owners know things their websites barely mention. You know the warning signs that make a problem urgent. You know the mistakes homeowners make. You know when a cheap fix will fail and when a customer may not need your service at all.
If that knowledge only comes out after someone calls you, it cannot help the person before the call. Publishing real answers lets the customer meet your judgment before they ever meet you.
Make it easy to answer five simple questions
A stranger should be able to look around the web and quickly understand who your company is, what problems you handle, where you work, how you help, and why your claims are believable.
When those answers are clear on your site and supported by reviews, examples, videos, interviews, local mentions, and other useful material, your business becomes easier for both people and AI to understand.
Sources checked
- Google Business Profile Help — Understand how Google sources & uses info in Business Profiles & local search results
- Google Business Profile Help — Manage your service areas for service-area & hybrid businesses
- Google Business Profile Help — Guidelines for representing your business on Google
- OpenAI Help Center — Publishers and Developers FAQ