Check Your AI Visibility: A Self-Test for ChatGPT and Google

What GEO is, and which measures help AI assistants recommend your business, is covered in Generative Engine Optimization explained. This article is the hands-on companion: before you improve anything, you want to know where you stand.

Step 1: Collect the right questions

Think about the questions your customers actually ask, not your business name. Anyone who already knows your name will find you anyway. What matters is whether you get mentioned when someone is looking for a solution.

Collect 10 to 15 questions from three groups:

Looking for a provider: "Who does bathroom renovations in Basel?", "Good hairdresser in Kleinbasel?", "Accountant for freelancers in Baselland?"
Questions with intent: "What does a bathroom renovation cost in Switzerland?", "What should I look for in an accountant?"
Questions about your business: "What does [business name] offer?", "Where is [business name] and when is it open?"

The first two groups show whether you're found. The third shows whether the AI describes you correctly.

Step 2: Test consistently

To make results comparable, test the same way every time:

Several assistants: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Microsoft Copilot. Their answers can differ quite a bit.
Google with AI Overviews: Enter the questions in Google too, and see whether an AI Overview appears above the results and who it names.
As neutral as possible: Use a private browser window or an account without history. Otherwise the assistant may only know your business because you've asked about it many times.
Always the same wording: Small changes to a question can change the answer.

Step 3: Record results in a table

A simple table is all you need. Here's my template:

Question	Assistant	Mentioned?	Details correct?	Who else is named?	Source linked?
Who does bathroom renovations in Basel?	ChatGPT	no		Business A, Business B
What does [business name] offer?	Gemini	yes	old address		own website

The "Who else is named?" column is often the most useful. Look at those businesses' websites: which questions do they answer clearly, where are they mentioned, how complete are their profiles?

Step 4: Don't forget Google

AI visibility builds on classic search visibility, and Google itself says there are no extra requirements for AI Overviews beyond regular SEO best practices (AI features and your website). So a quick Google check belongs in the test:

Is your site indexed? Search Google for site:yourdomain.ch. If your key pages appear, the foundation is there.
What are you found for? The performance report in Google Search Console shows which search terms your pages appear and get clicked for.
Visible locally? For businesses with a location, the Google Business Profile is central. My Google Business Profile guide explains how to set it up.
Don't forget Bing: Some AI assistants rely on Bing results. Bing Webmaster Tools show whether your site is indexed properly there.

What the results mean

You're described correctly when asked about your business, but not named for provider questions: The AI knows you but doesn't see you as the best answer. Usually clear service pages, answers to typical questions and mentions on other sites are missing.
The details are wrong or outdated: An old address, name or offer is still listed somewhere online. That's usually quick to fix.
You're not recognised at all: Often the foundation is missing, for example because the site isn't indexed, AI crawlers are blocked or your business details are inconsistent.
The answers fluctuate: That's normal. A single test says little. Repeat it monthly with the same questions and watch the trend.

Next steps

What you can improve is covered in detail in the GEO article. The short version: keep your business details identical everywhere, answer typical customer questions clearly on your site, add structured data, and make sure AI crawlers are allowed to read your pages. For businesses with local customers, local SEO is part of it too, see my Local SEO guide for Basel.

Conclusion

Checking your AI visibility isn't rocket science: 10 to 15 real customer questions, several assistants, Google with AI Overviews, everything in one table, repeated monthly. Afterwards you know whether you're found, whether your details are right and who gets named instead of you.

If you'd rather hand it off: my GEO check is a one-off CHF 590. I ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews 10 to 15 fixed questions, you get the results as a table, and I then optimise structured data, llms.txt and business details. After 6 to 8 weeks I check again with the same questions. For businesses with a local focus, the Local SEO & GEO setup is the better fit. Send me a short note or email hallo@linus-webentwicklung.ch. I'll tell you for free how much work it is.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I check my AI visibility?

Once a month with the same questions is enough. AI answers fluctuate, so the trend over several months tells you more than a single test.

Why doesn't ChatGPT mention my business when Google finds me?

AI assistants draw on different sources and summarise them. If your business details aren't consistent everywhere, other sites don't mention you, or your pages don't answer typical questions clearly, the AI tends to name other businesses.

The AI gives a wrong address or old prices. What can I do?

Check your own website, your Google Business Profile and the main directories first. The wrong detail is often still listed somewhere. Fix it everywhere, and AI systems pick up the new data over time.

Can I pay to be mentioned in ChatGPT?

No. Organic recommendations in AI answers can't be bought, and nobody can seriously guarantee them. What you can influence are the foundations AI systems look at.

What does a professional AI visibility check cost?

My GEO check is a one-off CHF 590. It includes 10 to 15 fixed questions to ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, optimising the foundations, and a follow-up check after 6 to 8 weeks.

Check your AI visibility: Can ChatGPT and Google find your business?