5 FREE Ways to Get Your Business Mentioned by AI Tools (Like ChatGPT)
No budget required. No tech skills needed. Real results in under 30 minutes each.
Why This Matters Right Now
AI tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, and voice assistants are answering millions of customer questions every day. When someone asks "Who's the best [your service] near me?" or "How do I [solve problem you fix]?" - is your business getting mentioned?
Most small business owners think they need expensive SEO agencies or fancy websites to show up. Wrong. You need Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and you can start today with zero budget.
Quick Win #1: Update Your Google Business Profile Description (10 minutes)
What to do right now:
- Log into your Google Business Profile
- Rewrite your description to answer the question: "What does [your business name] help people with?"
- Start with: "[Your business] helps [target customers] [solve specific problem] by [your unique approach]"
Example: Instead of: "Lee Plumbing - Licensed and insured since 1995" Write: "Lee Plumbing helps homeowners fix emergency leaks and install reliable fixtures by providing same-day service with upfront pricing"
Why this works: AI tools pull business descriptions when answering local service questions.
When you'll see results: 1-2 weeks for Google AI Overviews, 2-4 weeks for ChatGPT and other AI tools
Quick Win #2: Create a Simple FAQ Document (15 minutes)
What to do right now:
- Open Google Docs or your website
- Write down 3 questions customers ask you most
- Answer each in 40-60 words, directly and clearly
- Title it "[Your Business] Frequently Asked Questions"
Pro tip: Start each answer with the exact question. AI tools love this format.
When you'll see results: 2-3 weeks once posted publicly online
Quick Win #3: Claim Your Bing Business Listing (5 minutes)
What to do right now:
- Go to Bing Places for Business
- Search for your business
- Click "Claim" if it exists, or "Add a business" if it doesn't
- Use the same description format from Quick Win #1
Why most people skip this: Everyone focuses on Google. Bing powers many AI assistants, and there's less competition.
When you'll see results: 1-3 weeks for Bing-powered AI tools (Copilot, some ChatGPT searches)
Quick Win #4: Answer Questions in Your Social Media Posts (Ongoing)
What to do starting today:
- When you post on social media, format it as a question and answer
- Use natural language like customers actually speak
- Include your location in local service posts
Example post: "Question we got today: How quickly does mould spread after a water leak? Answer: Mould starts growing within 24-48 hours. That's why we offer emergency water extraction service in Toronto within 2 hours of your call."
When you'll see results: 3-6 weeks (social posts take longer for AI tools to index and reference)
Quick Win #5: Update Your Website's About Page (20 minutes)
What to do right now:
- Find your About page
- Add a section called "How We Help"
- List 3-5 specific problems you solve
- Write each as: "We help [type of customer] who [specific situation] by [what you do differently]"
This works because: AI tools scan About pages to understand what businesses actually do.
When you'll see results: 1-2 weeks if your website gets regular traffic, 3-4 weeks if it's newer
What You've Accomplished
In under 60 minutes total, you've:
- Made your business more visible to AI tools
- Created content that answers real customer questions
- Set up multiple touchpoints where AI can find you
- Done it all without spending a dollar
The Bigger Picture
These quick wins are just the beginning. Businesses that master AEO are:
- Getting mentioned in AI answers 3x more often
- Attracting higher-quality leads who already trust them
- Building competitive advantages while others ignore AI
But there's a systematic approach that goes much deeper:
- Advanced content strategies that make AI tools prefer your answers
- Technical optimizations that boost your visibility
- Measurement systems to track what's working
- Ongoing optimization to stay ahead of changes
Ready for the Complete System?
These 5 quick wins give you a taste of what's possible. The full AEO system includes step-by-step worksheets, live training, troubleshooting sessions, and a community of business owners getting results.
Join our email list to get notified about upcoming AEO workshops where you'll get the complete system, templates, and personal support to make AI tools your most reliable source of new customers.