How customers find businesses through ChatGPT and AI search, and what you can do about it.

The best free resources

• What 200k local AI searches tell us about what businesses get recommended
  Which local businesses ChatGPT and Google AI name, and why your website matters.
  Mike Hawkes, BrightLocal · Sep 2026

• NEW Research: AIs are highly inconsistent when recommending brands or products
  AI lists change almost every time, so distrust "AI ranking" reports.
  Rand Fishkin, SparkToro · Jan 2026

• Local Search Ranking Factors 2026
  First ranking of what gets local businesses into AI answers.
  Darren Shaw, Whitespark · Nov 2025

• AI features and your website
  Google: no special tricks or files needed to appear in AI Overviews.
  Google Search Central

• Why Personal Branding for Small Business Owners Is a Must in AI Search
  Why an owner's visible personal brand helps AI recommend the business.
  Melinda Emerson, Succeed As Your Own Boss · Apr 2026

Curated by effectiveAI. Every link checked November 2026. Know a better free resource? Tell us.