You're Invisible to AI

Here's a quick experiment. Open ChatGPT and ask: "What's the best [your service] in [your city]?"

Did your business come up? If you don't know, that's a problem. If the answer is no, that's a bigger problem.

The Assumption That's Costing You Customers

Most business owners we talk to assume the same thing: "If I rank well on Google, customers can find me."

A few years ago, that was true. Today? It's increasingly wrong.

57% of consumers now use AI-powered search to find local services. Meanwhile, traditional SEO traffic has declined 22% since AI adoption accelerated. Here's the thing though - that traffic isn't just disappearing. It's being redirected to the businesses that AI decides to recommend.

SEO and AI Play by Different Rules

Think of it like two different games with two different rulebooks. What wins in one doesn't necessarily win in the other.

See the difference? Google gives you a list of options. AI gives you a recommendation. One is a library, the other is a trusted friend telling you exactly where to go.

How AI Actually Decides Who to Recommend

AI doesn't rank - it selects based on confidence. Here's what it's looking for:

1. Entity Clarity: Does AI actually understand what you do and where you do it? (Sounds simple, but most businesses fail here)
2. Authority: Are you mentioned on platforms AI considers trustworthy?
3. Sentiment: Not just star ratings - what do your reviews actually say about the experience?
4. Consistency: Is your information the same across the web, or is AI seeing conflicting signals?

The Window Won't Stay Open Forever

Here's what makes this moment interesting: most businesses aren't thinking about AI visibility yet. That's exactly why you should be.

AI visibility compounds over time. The businesses that establish strong presence now are building authority that becomes increasingly difficult for competitors to displace later.

Three Things You Can Do Right Now