How to Get Your Business Cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI: A Practical Checklist

When someone asks ChatGPT “best car detailing studio in Lahore” or asks Perplexity “which agency builds n8n automations?”, the answer names a handful of businesses. Being one of them is the new version of ranking on page one.

This is often called AEO (answer engine optimisation) or GEO (generative engine optimisation). Nobody controls exactly what AI assistants say, but you can make your business much easier to find, understand and trust. Here is the checklist we use. You can check most of it automatically with our free AI website audit.

1. Let AI crawlers reach your site

AI tools can only cite what they can read. Check your robots.txt file (at yoursite.com/robots.txt) for rules that block these crawlers:

• GPTBot and OAI-SearchBot (OpenAI)
• ChatGPT-User (pages ChatGPT opens when a user asks)
• ClaudeBot (Anthropic)
• PerplexityBot (Perplexity)

Some security plugins and hosts block them by default. Note that Google-Extended controls whether your content is used for Google’s Gemini models; it does not stop Google Search or AI Overviews from showing your site, which rely on the normal Googlebot.

2. Put your content in the HTML

Many AI crawlers do not run JavaScript. If your page text only appears after scripts load, they may see an almost empty page. Make sure your main content, headings and contact details are in the HTML the server sends. Our audit counts how many words are readable without JavaScript.

3. Add structured data

Structured data (JSON-LD schema) tells machines exactly what your page is about. At minimum, add:

• Organization or LocalBusiness: name, logo, address, phone, opening hours, social profiles.
• Service or Product: what you sell, with descriptions.
• FAQPage: your frequently asked questions and answers.
• Article for blog posts, with author and date.

4. Make your business identity unmistakable

AI systems try to work out whether a business is real and trustworthy. Help them:

• A clear About page with who you are, where you are and since when.
• A Contact page with a real address, phone number and email.
• The same name, address and phone everywhere: your site, Google Business Profile, social media and directories.
• An up-to-date Google Business Profile with photos and reviews.

5. Answer the questions customers ask

AI assistants are asked questions, so pages that answer questions clearly get used. For each service:

• Write a short, direct answer in the first paragraph (“A ceramic coating costs… and lasts…”).
• Add an FAQ section with the real questions customers ask on calls and WhatsApp.
• Use descriptive headings that match how people phrase their questions.
• Include specifics: locations served, prices or price ranges, timelines, what is included.

6. Earn mentions on other sites

AI models learn from the wider web, not just your site. Reviews on Google, listings in industry directories, interviews, guest articles, case studies with clients and discussions on community forums all help AI tools connect your name with your expertise.

7. Publish an llms.txt file

An llms.txt file gives AI tools a short summary of your business and links to your key pages. It is a young convention and not a guarantee, but it takes minutes. Read what llms.txt is or create one with our free llms.txt generator.

8. Keep the basics strong

Classic SEO still matters, because AI search tools often start from search results:

• Unique page titles and meta descriptions.
• One clear H1 heading per page that says what you do.
• Fast loading on mobile.
• HTTPS everywhere.
• An XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console.

9. Measure what you can

You cannot see AI rankings like Google rankings, but you can:

• Ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google’s AI the questions your customers ask, every month, and note who gets named.
• Look for visits from chatgpt.com, perplexity.ai and similar sources in your analytics.
• Ask new customers how they found you.

Your 15-minute action plan

1. Run the free AI website audit on your homepage.
2. Fix any blocked AI crawlers and missing structured data first.
3. Create your llms.txt file.
4. Add an FAQ section to your most important service page.
5. Want it done for you? Talk to Corenetsol. We make websites fast, structured and AI-ready.