Let's be honest. A lot of us have stopped scrolling through search results. We ask ChatGPT, Gemini, or read the AI summary at the top of Google. "Who is the best accountant near me?" "Where can I get a custom sign made in Miami?"
So here is the question every business owner should be asking right now: when someone asks, does your business get named?
The good news is that there is no secret trick. Google itself has said there are no extra requirements to show up in its AI Overviews or AI Mode beyond being a normal, indexed, helpful result. The not so good news? The basics have to be solid. And many businesses we meet are missing at least two or three of them.
Here is your checklist.
1. Complete your Google Business Profile
This is the foundation. Choose the right primary category first, then fill in your hours, services, website, photos, and description. Every empty field is a missed chance to tell Google (and AI tools) exactly what you do and where you do it. If you have not touched yours in a while, start here.
2. Collect real reviews, consistently
Reviews are one of the strongest signals out there. Ask every happy customer, ask quickly while the experience is fresh, and make it easy with a direct link. Keep it honest: no filtering out unhappy customers, no asking people to stuff keywords into their review, and please no AI-written reviews. Real words from real customers always win.
3. Keep your information the same everywhere
Your business name, address, phone number, and hours should match on your website, Google, Facebook, Instagram, and every directory you appear in. An old phone number sitting on a forgotten listing can confuse both people and machines.
4. Make sure your website is easy to read and easy to find
A clear website that explains what you do, who you serve, and where you are located gives AI tools something solid to work with. It also needs to be open to search crawlers. Most Wix and Shopify sites are fine out of the box, but it is worth a check, especially if someone changed settings along the way.
5. Get mentioned in other places
AI answers often pull from local roundups, chamber of commerce pages, association member lists, and "best of" articles. Find the lists that already show up for your type of business and see how you can be included.
Test it yourself
Once a month, grab your phone and ask five or six questions the way a real customer would, including your city or neighborhood. Try ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google. Write down who gets mentioned, who does not, and whether your details are correct. It takes ten minutes and it will teach you more than any report.
What does not work
Google has been clear that you cannot pay for a better local ranking, and special tricks or files promising AI visibility are not what moves the needle. Good, consistent, helpful information does.
Want us to take this off your plate?
At Etc Marketing Services, we are a Miami-based team of designers and digital marketers with more than 80 websites built across different industries. We can set up and optimize your Google Business Profile, clean up your listings, and build a website that tells your story clearly, so people (and AI) find you first.
Ready to get your business named? Request a quote and tell us about your business and goals.