Last week, I created an Instagram post that struck the core of a follower. Honestly, it's rare for comments on any of my posts these days, so when a person does, I'm excited. However, this person clearly disagreed with my hook: "The #1 question business owners should be asking ChatGPT." If you want to read it, click here. It's ok. I respect their perspective, but I'm going to challenge it. Not using AI isn't an option or even realistic.
Newsflash... every business owner in the world is using AI, already - like it or not!
Artificial intelligence is changing the way customers find and research businesses. And whether you're embracing AI or keeping your distance, one thing is clear, AI is already forming an opinion about your business.
The question is, is it the right one?
This isn't a future problem. It's happening right now. If you are using Google or even posting on Instagram, you're content is available for citation on AI's. Business owners who understand that will have a significant advantage over those who don't.
I'm actually worried about businesses, especially those who didn't put a lot of attention into SEO in years past. If a business's website hasn't been updated or periodically monitored in the last ten years, even 5, it's likely behind. This concerns me. As GEO's (generative engine optimization) continues to advance, how customers search will evolve too.
Here are three things a business owner needs to know.
Takeaway #1: Customers Are Already Using AI to Find You
This isn't just about businesses adopting new technology. It's about understanding how your customers are changing the way they search, discover, and make decisions.
Think about how you used to find a business. You'd Google it, maybe check Yelp, ask a friend. That behavior is shifting. More and more, people are turning to AI tools to do that research for them. Instead of scrolling through search results, they're asking ChatGPT or Google's AI Overview a direct question and trusting the answer they get back.
It's no longer about search, it's about questions asked. See my example below.
"What's the best marketing consultant for a small ecommerce business?"
"Is [your business name] reputable?"
"Who offers website audits for growing businesses?"
Your customers are already using these tools in their everyday decision making — and that adoption is only going to grow. The businesses that show up clearly, consistently, and accurately in AI responses will earn trust faster than those that don't.
Takeaway #2: You Need to Know What AI Is Already Saying About You
Before you do anything else, go to ChatGPT and type:
"Tell me about [your business name]."
Read what comes back carefully. Is it accurate? Is it current? Does it reflect the business you've built today — not the one you had three years ago?
AI pulls information about your business from everywhere — your website, your Google Business Profile, your social media, your reviews, your directory listings. When that information is complete and consistent, AI builds a clear and confident picture of your business. When it's not, AI fills in the gaps. And not always accurately.
This is why two things matter more than ever right now:
Your Google Business Profile. If you don't have one, create one today. It's free and it's one of the most powerful signals AI uses to understand your business. Make sure it includes an accurate business description, your current services, up to date contact information and hours, recent photos, and responses to your reviews.
Consistency across the internet. Your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and core description should be identical everywhere — your website, Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, LinkedIn, and any industry directories. Not similar. Identical. Inconsistency confuses AI — and it confuses your customers too.
AI's will question that validity. If it doesn't view your business information as viable, it just won't mention it.
As a side note, backlinks are so important. Backlinks verify and validate your businesses credentials from other valid sources. Want to learn more about backlinks, I wrote a post about it a while back.
Takeaway #3: A Website Audit Is the Smartest Place to Start
If you've always followed good website practices — optimizing for SEO, using the right keywords, building quality backlinks, and staying consistent across platforms — you're already ahead of the curve. AI reads your content the same way search engines do. The fundamentals that helped you rank on Google are now helping AI understand and represent your business accurately.
But how do you know if you're actually there?
A thorough website audit looks at your current SEO health, content clarity, platform consistency, and how well your digital presence communicates who you are, what you do, and who you serve. It tells you not just what to fix — but what to prioritize first.
You have two options:
- Do it yourself — with the right tools and a clear framework, a business owner can run a solid audit and identify gaps. Find my audit here --> AI + SEO Business Visibility Audit
- Have someone do it for you — a professional audit goes deeper and gives you a prioritized action plan. I can help with this --> Book a Business Audit + Clarity Session
At Lora Bloom Consulting, I offer both. My audit isn't a free checklist pulled from AI's like I'm seeing from many other digital marketers and consultants. It's built on 15 years of real business experience in ecommerce, digital marketing, and brand building — the kind of insight that tells you what actually moves the needle, and what's just noise.
The Bottom Line
AI is reading your business right now. Your customers are using it to make decisions. And the businesses that show up accurately, consistently, and confidently are the ones that will earn their trust.
Don't leave that to chance or get behind.
Want more guidance? Let's talk.
— Tammy
