How to check whether ChatGPT recommends your business
Ask ChatGPT the question a customer would ask before they know your name. Save the answer, the question and the sources. Then run the same test again later. A screenshot tells you what happened once; a small, consistent sample gives you something to compare.
Start with a genuine buying question
Use a real service, market and constraint. For an independent SEO consultant, a sample question might be: “Who helps established Melbourne service businesses diagnose why their website isn't generating enquiries?” Write two variants: one for a different job your ideal customer needs, and one asking how to choose a provider. Keep branded accuracy checks separate.
Save enough detail to repeat it
Use a fresh conversation. Record the exact wording, date, location stated in the prompt, and whether the answer used web search. Save the complete answer and links. Mark separately whether the business was named, whether its own site was cited and whether the description was accurate. If you cannot tell whether search ran, record that as unknown.
Follow the evidence
Open the cited pages. Does each actually support the statement? An incorrect service area might be traceable to an old listing or an ambiguous page. A competitor appearing may simply reflect how the question was framed. Write down the next check before proposing a fix.
Repeat the original questions under comparable conditions. If you change the wording or tool, label it as a separate experiment. See how to measure AI visibility, or ask Wade to investigate the broader search evidence.