AI Search Visibility for Small Business

Why does it matter if ChatGPT doesn't mention your business?

Someone shared a story online from a family-law firm owner, 12 years in business. Prospects had told them: "I asked ChatGPT for a lawyer and your firm didn't come up."

That stings. Twelve years of good work, and a new type of search simply skips you. More and more people start with an AI answer rather than ten blue links, so if you're missing from that answer, you're missing from the shortlist.

The first check is straightforward.

The 5-minute AI visibility test

Do this before you pay anyone for anything:

Write down five questions clients genuinely ask before they hire you ("Who's the best physiotherapist for a running injury in Tampines?").
Add your town or area to each.
Ask them in ChatGPT, and for good measure in Google (look at the AI Overview) and Perplexity.
Note whose websites come up, and what those pages have in common.
Note what the answer says about you, if anything; and whether it's accurate.

What you'll usually find is that the businesses that appear aren't doing anything exotic. They're just easy to understand.

What does Google actually say about AI search?

Google's own guidance on AI features in Search says the best practices for SEO remain relevant to AI Overviews and AI Mode. There are no additional requirements or special optimisations, and no special AI files are needed. (Google Search Central: AI features and your website)

So the unglamorous basics still do the heavy lifting.

The four basics that improve AI search visibility

Basic	What "good" looks like	Common gap we see
1. Consistent business details	Same name, address, phone and services everywhere	Old address on a directory, different business name on Facebook
2. Complete Google Business Profile	Categories, services, hours, photos, reviews replied to	Half-filled profile, no services listed
3. Clear service pages	Each page says who you help, where you are, and what real clients say	One vague "Services" page covering everything
4. Genuine local mentions	Real listings on relevant local directories and associations	Bought links or no mentions at all

1. Your name, location and services written the same way everywhere

AI tools and search engines cross-check what they read. If your website, Google profile and directory listings disagree, you look less certain; and less likely to be recommended.

2. A Google Business Profile that's complete and up to date

It's free, and it's one of the clearest signals of who you are and where you operate. Fill in every section and keep it current.

3. Service pages that answer real questions

One page per main service, written in your clients' words, saying who it's for, where you work and what real clients have said. This is the content an AI answer can actually quote.

4. Genuine mentions, not bought ones

Local lists, industry associations and directories where your clients actually look. Quality over quantity.

No dark arts. Just faithful housekeeping, done consistently. Not very exciting, I know, but it's exactly where we start at Roquepress.

Want someone to run this test with you and fix the gaps? See our packages
Prefer to ask a question first? Send us an enquiry via our contact page.

Should I do this myself or get it done for me?

Be honest about your time.

Do it yourself if you're comfortable editing your website and profiles, and mainly need a simple all-in-one system to capture and follow up enquiries. That's what our sister platform Mulacan is for.
Get it done for you if you'd rather have a strategy and the implementation handled; SEO, service pages, website care and the follow-up system behind it. That's Roquepress.

Relevant Roquepress services:

SEO services; technical, local and AI search visibility
Web Care Plan; keeping your site current, fast and accurate
Professional services websites; for firms like the one in the story
All services and pricing (SGD)

Further reading on our blog: How to get mentioned by ChatGPT, GEO, AEO and LLMO explained and SEO for modern websites.

FAQ

How do I check if my business shows up in ChatGPT?

Type five questions your clients actually ask, plus your town, into ChatGPT. Note which businesses are named and which websites are cited. Repeat in Google's AI Overviews and Perplexity. If you're missing or described inaccurately, start with your business details and service pages.

Do I need an llms.txt file or special AI files?

Not to get started. Google says you don't need special AI files to appear in its AI features, and that SEO best practices remain relevant. Get your business details, Google Business Profile and service pages right first; extras come later, if at all.

Is AI search optimisation different from SEO?

Mostly no. GEO, AEO and LLMO are new labels, but the foundations are the same: be clear, consistent and genuinely helpful, with trustworthy mentions elsewhere. The difference is that answers matter more than rankings, so pages that answer real questions clearly do best.

How long does it take to improve AI search visibility?

It varies by industry, competition and how much needs fixing, so we don't promise timelines. Fixing inconsistent details and a thin Google profile is quick work; building strong service pages and genuine mentions takes steady, ongoing effort.

How much does Roquepress charge?

Our prices are in Singapore dollars and depend on scope. See roquepress.com/pricing, or send us an enquiry via our contact page and we'll recommend what fits.

Find out where you stand

Run the 5-minute test, then pick the package that fixes what you found. Get your AI website: see our packages

Prefer to ask a question first? Send us an enquiry via our contact page.

Nazreen Daud is the founder of Roquepress and helps service businesses set up websites, AI search visibility and follow-up systems that don't need babysitting. About Nazreen