If AI tools can't find a Google listing for your business, they have almost nothing to recommend you on. This takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing — here's exactly how to do it.
Why this matters before anything else: AI tools like ChatGPT and Google AI build their local recommendations mostly from Google's own business data — not Facebook, not Instagram, not Yelp. A business with a great Instagram and no Google listing is still functionally invisible to them.
Sign in with any Google account — it doesn't need to be tied to your business email. You can change that later.
Google often already has a basic, unclaimed listing built from public records or past searches. If one comes up, claim it — don't create a duplicate.
Don't just fill the required fields — these are the ones AI tools weigh most heavily when deciding who to recommend:
Google will offer postcard, phone, or email verification depending on your business type and history. Postcard is most common and takes about 5 business days — everything else on your profile can go live while you wait.
A profile with zero reviews reads as untrustworthy to both people and AI tools. You don't need dozens — a handful of genuine, specific reviews makes a real difference.