How to Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT and AI Search in NZ
Short answer: AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity recommend businesses they can clearly understand and that trusted sources agree about. To improve your chances, make your website easy for AI to read, state plainly what you do and where, answer the questions customers really ask, keep your business details consistent everywhere, and earn mentions on reputable NZ websites. This work is called Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO).
No one can guarantee an AI recommendation. But the businesses that show up in AI answers tend to have the same foundations in place. Here is how New Zealand businesses can build them.
How AI search decides which businesses to mention
When someone asks “who’s a good SEO agency in Auckland?” or “best physio near Ponsonby”, an AI assistant usually combines what it learned during training with live web results. It looks for businesses that:
- clearly match the service and location in the question,
- appear consistently across their own website, Google Business Profile, directories and reviews,
- are mentioned or recommended by other credible sources, and
- have pages that directly and accurately answer the question.
9 steps to get your business recommended by AI
1. Say exactly what you do and where
Your home page, page titles and service pages should state your service and location in plain language, for example “SEO agency in Auckland” rather than only “Grow your brand”. AI systems can’t recommend you for a city or service they can’t connect to you.
2. Give every service its own page
A single page listing everything is hard to match to specific questions. Separate pages for each service, with clear descriptions, pricing guidance and FAQs, give AI more precise content to cite.
3. Answer real customer questions
Write direct answers to the questions people ask before buying: cost, timeframes, process, what’s included, and how you compare with alternatives. Lead with the answer, then explain. Short, factual answers are easy for AI to quote.
4. Add structured data (schema)
Schema markup tells search engines and AI tools, in a machine-readable way, your business name, type, location, services, contact details, social profiles and FAQs. LocalBusiness, Service and FAQPage schema are especially useful for local service businesses.
5. Make sure AI crawlers can access your site
Check that your robots.txt doesn’t block crawlers such as Googlebot, Bingbot, GPTBot, ClaudeBot or PerplexityBot. Many AI-powered search tools use search engine indexes, so being well indexed in Google and Bing matters too. An llms.txt file summarising your business can also help.
6. Keep your business details consistent
Your business name, phone number, website and location should match across your website, Google Business Profile, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and NZ directories. Inconsistent details make it harder for AI to be confident that all those mentions refer to the same business.
7. Build your Google Business Profile and reviews
For local searches, Google Business Profile is one of the strongest signals. Choose accurate categories, list your services, add photos, post updates and ask happy customers for reviews that mention the service they received.
8. Earn mentions from trusted sources
Being featured in local media, industry associations, supplier pages, podcasts, “best of” lists and partner websites helps establish your business as a known entity. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.
9. Show real expertise
Publish case studies, real team bios, genuine client logos and testimonials, and helpful articles written from experience. Remove any template or placeholder content: it undermines trust with both people and AI systems.
How to check whether AI recommends you
Ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Mode the questions your customers would ask, such as “best [service] in [your city]”. Note which businesses appear, which sources are cited, and how your business is described. Repeat monthly, and check your analytics for referral traffic from AI tools.
GEO and SEO work together
Generative Engine Optimisation doesn’t replace SEO. A technically sound, well-structured website with strong local SEO is the foundation that AI search builds on. The difference is that GEO focuses on being understood and trusted as an entity, not only ranking a page for a keyword.
Frequently asked questions
What is Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)?
GEO is the process of improving how clearly AI-powered platforms such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity can understand, trust and reference your business. It covers website content, technical structure, structured data, consistent business information and online authority.
Can an agency guarantee that ChatGPT will recommend my business?
No. No agency can guarantee an AI recommendation. GEO improves your eligibility and the likelihood that AI tools understand and reference your business accurately.
How long does GEO take to work?
Technical fixes such as schema and crawler access can be done quickly, but building authority and consistent mentions is ongoing work. Most businesses should assess progress over several months.
Does Ghost Monkey offer GEO in New Zealand?
Yes. Ghost Monkey is an Auckland-based digital marketing agency that provides Generative Engine Optimisation and AI visibility audits for businesses across New Zealand and Australia.
Want to know how AI tools currently describe your business? Contact Ghost Monkey for an AI visibility audit, or learn more about our AI search optimisation service.
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