AI search: how to get ChatGPT to recommend your business in Atlanta
45% of consumers already ask AI for local business recommendations. What that means for your business and what you can do starting today.
A couple of years ago, to find a good electrician in Decatur or a restaurant in Sandy Springs, people searched on Google or asked a neighbor. Today, more and more people ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Google's AI Mode: "Who's a reliable Spanish-speaking electrician in Decatur?"
The shift is happening fast
According to BrightLocal (March 2026):
- 45% of consumers use AI tools to ask for local business recommendations. A year earlier it was 6%.
- 31% used ChatGPT for this in the last 12 months, and 23% used Google's AI Mode.
- Among adults aged 30 to 44, 64% have already done it.
- AI is now the third most-used tool for local recommendations, after Google and Facebook.
- But 97% of AI users then check real reviews to confirm.
How does AI decide who to recommend?
AI doesn't make up the recommendation: it builds it from the information it finds online. Your Google profile, your website, your reviews, directories and mentions on other sites. If that information is incomplete or contradictory, the AI simply recommends someone else.
What you can do starting today
- A complete, up-to-date Google profile with services, areas and languages.
- A clear website that says what you do, where and for whom: "Residential plumbing in Decatur, Tucker and Stone Mountain. We serve customers in English and Spanish."
- FAQs on your website, written the way a customer would ask them.
- Recent reviews that mention the service and the city.
- The same details everywhere: name, address, phone and hours.
- Useful content, like blog articles that answer real questions.
One more reason not to rely only on Instagram
When someone asks AI "who should I hire?", the answer doesn't come from your Instagram stories. It comes from everything else. Digital marketing isn't just social media: it's building a complete presence that even artificial intelligence can understand and recommend.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay to have ChatGPT recommend me?
Not directly. AI recommends based on the information it finds online, which is why a complete, consistent presence matters.
Is this replacing Google?
Not for now. Google is still the most-used tool, and most people who use AI check real reviews afterward.
What should I do first?
Complete your Google profile, have a clear website with FAQs and get recent reviews.
Want to know which pieces your business is missing?
Take our free assessment: eight yes-or-no questions, and in one minute we'll tell you where to start. Or message us on WhatsApp: we work in English and Spanish from Norcross, Georgia, with businesses across the southern U.S.